Terre d’Auge is a region of Normandy located between Caen and Honfleur in the Calvados Department. Pont-l’Évêque is the main town at the heart of this territory, and the perfect starting point for exploring the area’s cuisine, surrounding villages, and outdoor activities. Pont l’Évêque sits at the intersection of 3 rivers, which once made it an important center of trade and commerce. Gustave Flaubert features the town in his classic book, “Un coeur simple.” Today, it’s known for its historic city center which features Pans de Bois-style buildings and a summer market that brings together local producers and artisans who…

The Pic du Midi de Bigorre is located in the Hautes Pyrénées department and the Occitanie Region. The observatory perched on top of the 2877-meter summit allows for panoramic views across the 300 km mountain ranges that run along the French and Spanish border. Visitors reach the Pic by cable car and then can visit a history museum inside or dine at the restaurant which features everything from fast food to local dishes fit for gourmands. One can also choose to come in the evening, gaze at the stars through various telescopes, and then spend the night in one of the observatory’s cozy rooms.…

La Drôme is found in Southeast France, with the Rhône River running along its western border and the city of Grenoble just to the east. Within this incredibly diverse corner of France, one can see mountains just to the east, as well as some of Provence’s famed lavender fields. In between, there is remarkable camping and hiking, including the Huguenots Exile Trail and the Val de Drôme. La Drôme’s most renowned tourist attraction is the Palais Idéal du Facteur Cheval or the Mailman Cheval’s Ideal Palace. This is an astounding piece of folk art built meticulously over 33 years by local mailman Ferdinand…

The Pyrénées-Orientales is the far eastern part of the mountain range that stretches across the French-Spanish borders. Having once been part of Spain, it still clings to those roots in calling itself Pays Catalan. Indeed, the Catalan flag is as common as the French flag in this region. At that far eastern edge, there are spectacular beaches. But during a two-week trip last summer, we spent most of our time exploring its natural wonders further inland. This includes some of the best thermal baths we have found in France. Not only did we visit a couple of thermal stations, but we also wandered out…

Tucked between Cannes and Nice along the Mediterranean coast, the Cap d’Antibes peninsula has a spectacular coastline that connects the neighboring resort towns of Antibes and Juan-les-Pins. Antibes is known for its old town center that is surrounded by ramparts and a marina, and is overseen by Fort Carré. Juan-les-Pins is famous for its nightlife and an international jazz festival. Both have a variety of beaches that make it easy to find a stretch of coast to suit any taste.

Just 90 minutes southeast of Paris, the city of Auxerre (pronounced Aussere) is located in the Yonne Department and the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region. Or, what is simply known to most English-speaking visitors as the Burgundy region. Auxerre’s highlights include the Abbey of Saint-Germain d’Auxerre sitting along the Yonne River, just one of several churches in the town worth visiting. The Medieval city center features a stunning astronomical clock. The city has both a natural history museum and a digital arts museum. And, of course, its many local restaurants allow visitors to experience Burgundy’s famed culinary delights. But Auxerre, Burgundy’s fourth largest…

Brittany remains one of France’s most untamed and vast territories. We spent a lovely two weeks camping there in 2017, and we still only saw a couple of tiny corners. One of the striking things about the Brittany coast is that it conjures a sensation of standing on the edge of the world. You can stay in Brest as a hub for discovering the region. But step away from the mainland to visit one of the islands off the coast…and you’ll really feel like you’re standing on the precipice. One of the best islands to get this experience is Ouessant…

It might be tempting to describe the Ardèche department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region by its proximity to other more famous places in France. Just south of Lyon. Just northeast of the Cévennes. West of Grenoble. Hugging the Rhône river that flows along its eastern border. Ardèche isn’t home to any great cities. But what this sparsely populated territory does have is some of the nation’s most spectacular scenery. That includes Les Gorges de l’Ardèche, a 30 km canyon in a natural reserve that runs along the Ardèche river that has carved deeply into the region’s limestone. You’ll find here the…