Multigenerational Trip Across France: 12-Day Itinerary

The perfect itinerary comes from understanding the desires of the group. Most flights arrive early morning and we recommend an activity on arrival day so everyone is busy and stays awake. Imagine your first day in Paris finding a hidden gem lunch in St. Germain, wandering to the best macaroons in the city and finally being greeted by a tuktuk to experience a full view of the city.

In Paris, the group saw the classic sites: admired the Eiffel Tower at night, explored the Louvre with an art historian, walked the Seine and visited St. Chapelle behind the scenes. But it was always the special experiences that the family loved most: a bespoke tour in an off-the-beaten-path residential neighborhood, a WW2 tour of the Latin Quarter, a painting class in Luxembourg Garden and time to shop and experience small cafes and Michelin-star restaurants.

After a quick train to Normandy, you arrive at a country Chateau on gated grounds. With a farm-to-table restaurant, a swimming pool serving Aperol Spritz’s and bikes on demand, the relaxation sets in.

Every visitor to Normandy should experience the sites of WW2, guided by a certified historian. Stopping along for a fresh-from-the-oven roadside lunch (or sampling the vending machine oysters), families can get out on the beaches, battlegrounds and bunkers and bring history to life. After a long day of touring, you can enjoy the casual or fine dining destination restaurant at the chateau.

For families with children, I always recommend adding a beach stay to every European city tour. It gives time to get off the "wake up and go" schedule so the family can sleep in and have a bit more downtime. The journey from Normandy to Brittany is a few-hour transfer, enabling a stop and hike through a world heritage site, Mont St. Michele, a 966-century abbey built on a rock in a tidal bay that changes at low and high tide.

The stay in Saint-Malo included a spa hotel on the beach boardwalk, with easy access to sailing, windsurfing, aqua walking and surfing lessons. The hotel is a true French destination spa, with more than 30 treatment rooms, spa menus and a circuit of various water features and hot tubs that were accessible via lift and usable by the teens and adults.

Saint-Malo offers a walled city, seaside restaurants and shopping. The various local beaches also include a public swimming pool built into the ocean’s edge, complete with lifeguards and a low and high dive - a unique thrill for teens to join in the local fun.

Outside the city is access to animal parks and amusement centers, as well as opportunities to take cooking classes, ride horses and tour the countryside by sidecar.

The Palace of Versailles is a wonderful stop on the way back from the coast. The palace grounds are best viewed by foot or bike or via golf cart to accommodate little legs or mobility challenges. A private guided tour enables a VIP entrance and the ability to go at your own pace in the palace. A pre-arranged elevator entrance enables all visitors to access the upper floors and see the personal chambers, including the Hall of Mirrors.

The town of Versaille has some wonderful restaurants and is a quick transfer to either Paris airport for the return journey home.