Trying to plan 10 days in France in March with wife and kids (9,12). I am in the wine industry so I know the deal with the wine regions. Trying to split the trip into Paris, a quick stop in Burgundy or Northern Rhone and then finish off the trip down south along the Mediterranean for kicking back. Looking for ideas off the beaten path in Paris. Trying to explore and avoid the usual tourist stuff as much as possible. We are not going to wait in line for hours to see the Mona Lisa. Museums, parks, thrift/unique shopping and food. Since this is a family trip we will be looking for great causal dining, but we will probably splurge one night. Been thinking of renting an apartment so that we can cook at home for some meals.

Any recommendations for Lyon or further South along the coast? Driving around vs. flying around?

RyanZ wrote: Fri Dec 30, 2022 11:27 pm Any recommendations for Lyon or further South along the coast? Driving around vs. flying around?

My travel experiences in France are limited to two visits to the French Alps in and around the city of Annecy. Incredible mountain and lake scenery there. Would recommend a stop there if you have time.

RyanZ wrote: Trying to plan 10 days in France in March with wife and kids (9,12). I am in the wine industry so I know the deal with the wine regions. Trying to split the trip into Paris, a quick stop in Burgundy or Northern Rhone and then finish off the trip down south along the Mediterranean for kicking back. Looking for ideas off the beaten path in Paris. Trying to explore and avoid the usual tourist stuff as much as possible. We are not going to wait in line for hours to see the Mona Lisa. Museums, parks, thrift/unique shopping and food. Since this is a family trip we will be looking for great causal dining, but we will probably splurge one night. Been thinking of renting an apartment so that we can cook at home for some meals.

Any recommendations for Lyon or further South along the coast? Driving around vs. flying around?

I haven't been to Paris since the '90s, so I got nothing firsthand. But a somm friend of mine who goes often is nuts for Le Chateaubriand, Septime, and Le Baratin for great food and no-bullshit wines. Not sure of the fanciness level of these restaurants, but I trust this man w/my life and I'd make it a point to visit at least one of them.

The Jura is just north of Lyon and could be fun and certainly not so touristy if your family is into mountain scenery and weird wine. Might be kinda cold in March, though.

I’m headed to Belize in a few days. Staying in San Pedro for a week. Any recommendations?

OrthodoxEaster wrote: Sat Dec 31, 2022 5:15 pm

RyanZ wrote: Trying to plan 10 days in France in March with wife and kids (9,12). I am in the wine industry so I know the deal with the wine regions. Trying to split the trip into Paris, a quick stop in Burgundy or Northern Rhone and then finish off the trip down south along the Mediterranean for kicking back. Looking for ideas off the beaten path in Paris. Trying to explore and avoid the usual tourist stuff as much as possible. We are not going to wait in line for hours to see the Mona Lisa. Museums, parks, thrift/unique shopping and food. Since this is a family trip we will be looking for great causal dining, but we will probably splurge one night. Been thinking of renting an apartment so that we can cook at home for some meals.

Any recommendations for Lyon or further South along the coast? Driving around vs. flying around?

I haven't been to Paris since the '90s, so I got nothing firsthand. But a somm friend of mine who goes often is nuts for Le Chateaubriand, Septime, and Le Baratin for great food and no-bullshit wines. Not sure of the fanciness level of these restaurants, but I trust this man w/my life and I'd make it a point to visit at least one of them.

The Jura is just north of Lyon and could be fun and certainly not so touristy if your family is into mountain scenery and weird wine. Might be kinda cold in March, though.

I did all the tourist things too, but I think Parisians mostly like to walk around, smoke hash by the Seine, and drink wine in parks. I was there visiting as a student, and that was what my local friends did. There is no need to eat fancy. Lots of inexpensive ethnic places, very nice Falafel, and baguette sandwiches will easily feed you for a short trip. it's any easy town to enjoy without much effort. If you get bored or tired, I can say that the cinema programming there is second to none, and you will no doubt find something in English. Kid s all seem to want expensive PSG football souvenirs with jumpman on it. Watch out for the dog shit, and feel free to urinate anywhere!

Dave N. wrote: Sun Jan 01, 2023 6:13 pm I’m headed to Belize in a few days. Staying in San Pedro for a week. Any recommendations?

We did our honeymoon there - on Ambergris Caye - over the summer.
Waruguma is a good, casual open air restaurant. I had lobster tacos, which were very good.
They have a few casinos, if that's your bag.
If you go to the northern part of the Caye - over the bridge - check out The Truck Stop. Like an outdoor food court, with live music most nights. Fun atmosphere.

The best thing we did was tour the Mayan ruins of Xunantunich, on the mainland. I had never been to anything like that before, it was very cool.

Not sure what the bug situation is like in January, but we got bit by mosquitos a lot our first night there. Bring insect repellant.

RyanZ wrote: Fri Dec 30, 2022 11:27 pm Trying to plan 10 days in France in March with wife and kids (9,12). I am in the wine industry so I know the deal with the wine regions. Trying to split the trip into Paris, a quick stop in Burgundy or Northern Rhone and then finish off the trip down south along the Mediterranean for kicking back. Looking for ideas off the beaten path in Paris. Trying to explore and avoid the usual tourist stuff as much as possible. We are not going to wait in line for hours to see the Mona Lisa. Museums, parks, thrift/unique shopping and food. Since this is a family trip we will be looking for great causal dining, but we will probably splurge one night. Been thinking of renting an apartment so that we can cook at home for some meals.

Any recommendations for Lyon or further South along the coast? Driving around vs. flying around?

Aix-en-Provence, Antibes, Arles, Toulon, Le Muy, Sainte-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume - all beautiful towns with lots to see, do and eat. Accommodation in March shouldn’t be too pricy either - check out Gites de France https://www.gites-de-france.com/en

For northern Rhone, Orange is a beautiful little town with a roman amphitheatre and its own Arc de Triomphe

Driving is easy in France in my experience so I’d do that.

I’ve never been anywhere in France that doesn’t have a market at least once a week. Buy lots of merguez and barbecue them. Buy rotisserie chickens with the veg cooked in the roasting juices. Buy celeriac remoulade. Buy duck rilettes and Maille cornichons and have them on bread.

Also, regarding Paris - it’s fuckin huge so you don’t really need to do the mega tourist stuff if you don’t want to. Last time I was there I stayed in the 12th arrondissement which was very nice. The Marché d’Aligre is there and is mindblowingly good.

zircona1 wrote: Mon Jan 02, 2023 2:41 pm

Dave N. wrote: Sun Jan 01, 2023 6:13 pm I’m headed to Belize in a few days. Staying in San Pedro for a week. Any recommendations?

We did our honeymoon there - on Ambergris Caye - over the summer.
Waruguma is a good, casual open air restaurant. I had lobster tacos, which were very good.
They have a few casinos, if that's your bag.
If you go to the northern part of the Caye - over the bridge - check out The Truck Stop. Like an outdoor food court, with live music most nights. Fun atmosphere.

The best thing we did was tour the Mayan ruins of Xunantunich, on the mainland. I had never been to anything like that before, it was very cool.

Not sure what the bug situation is like in January, but we got bit by mosquitos a lot our first night there. Bring insect repellant.

We’re doing a Mayan ruins tour and some cave tubing. I like caves and I like tubing, so it sounds pretty great to me. I’d like to do some snorkeling on the reef, but I haven’t signed up for anything.

An American tourist was killed in San Pedro a few nights ago, outside of a popular nightclub on the town square. Makes me a little nervous.

Update: I’m sitting at a bar in Belize City, waiting for the rest of my crew to get here. This is some next-level humidity. It’s fine when the wind is steady, but as soon as it stops…shit.

When we went to Paris last July, we rented an apartment in the 19th arrondissement - well away from the touristy areas, but convenient to the Metro and the Rosa Parks station for suburban trains if you want to explore other parts of town. Walking around the neighborhood will reveal lots of street art, great North African food, bookstores, and bike paths (not unique to the neighborhood - Paris is a good cycling city). Within a short walk is the delightful Parc de la Villette, which is worth visiting regardless of where you stay.

Aside from the big tourist attractions, I recommend visiting the Sewer Museum to see the history of the infrastructure and workers that allowed the city to grow.

Carl wrote: When we went to Paris last July, we rented an apartment in the 19th arrondissement - well away from the touristy areas, but convenient to the Metro and the Rosa Parks station for suburban trains if you want to explore other parts of town. Walking around the neighborhood will reveal lots of street art, great North African food, bookstores, and bike paths (not unique to the neighborhood - Paris is a good cycling city). Within a short walk is the delightful Parc de la Villette, which is worth visiting regardless of where you stay.

Aside from the big tourist attractions, I recommend visiting the Sewer Museum to see the history of the infrastructure and workers that allowed the city to grow.

That's all great stuff, yes.

Just left Paris after a week. Very nice stay. A lot of post-lockdown energy in the town, even more fun than usual.

We were more central, in Latin Quarter. Hotel Atmospheres, nicely pitched mid-range boutique place. Not cheap, but it was all credit card points...I think I'd pay regular money to stay there? It was very easy and comfortable, zero stodge. Though I think I would prefer the eastern Bastille area next time, given less need to hit the more-tourist type of stuff with our kid.

We did a lot of the touristy things we hadn't done before. We felt like we owed it to each other to fill in some of the gaps. Champs Elysee is exactly what you'd expect. We actually went there for NYE--super packed, not unfun, good to have done once, never again. The Louvre also exactly what you'd expect, too fucking jammed. Maybe there are off times you can go. If you do go, there are so goddamn many cool things that are not the main attractions, which are overrun to the point of being hard to enjoy. We spent a couple of hours there, and I was quite enamored of some of the more flagrantly goth old-ass paintings.

I love the Musee d'Orsay, and it is fantastic always. The main modern art museum is good, permanent collection is free, was closed by the time we showed up.

Eiffel Tower was cooler than I expected. We went at night and I'm glad we did. Le Marais has changed quite a bit in the last ten years--just more commercial and less cool. Still fun, if you drink and/or party it's probably a much much different experience.

We didn't eat any place super well-known--would have gone to either Clamato or Septime, but they were closed. Went to one not-good regular bistro, one satisfying one, and one quite good one (Cocorico). One very good, subtle seafood place with set menu (Le Vent d'Armor). Street food all good to great. Could live quite happily on baguettes, whatever fresh veg and charcuterie, coffee, and the occasional bunch of oysters.

I would recommend both Mokoloco and Mokonuts very very highly--same owners, same basic aesthetic, very different food. Just great food that is really innovative yet still comfort food somehow. Doesn't make a big deal out of itself. Just easy and fun and delicious. Three of us ate everything on the menu in both places, like 50 euro each.