WATERSPORTS

With nearly 2000 miles of coastline, France offers plenty of opportunities to enjoy water sports. This coastline extends from the English Channel, winds northwards to the French Riviera, and stretches to the Mediterranean to the south. This is dotted with beach resorts that are fully equipped with water sports facilities. Why not go swimming, or try the snorkeling and diving in Porquerolles and Corsica. But if you want to try your hand at sailing, the beaches near the English Channel are best. Biarritz., on the other hand, is favored by urfing enthusiasts.

CANAL CRUISES

There are about 5313 miles of rivers and canals that wind across France. You can rent a house boat to tour the country through these waters: cruceros. For example, you can take the Lorient–Redon route, or take a wine tour through the Burgunday Canal. If you go to private operators they can help you secure the needed permits. The boats can also accommodate big groups of up to a dozen people.

FISHING

France is also a wonderful fishing destination, with the waters of Brittany rich with trout and salmon, while the Midi Pyrenees is renowned for its fario trout. You can also fish at the lakes of Franche-Comte or the coasts along the Atlantic. You’ll find a wide array of lobster, shrimps, mussels, crabs, crayfish. If you want to go deep sea fishing, head for the Cote d’Azur. Get river fishing permits from the city halls.

HIKING

France has several picturesque trails that stretch for several thousands of miles. They are called Sentiers de Grande Randonnee and you can find them marked on the maps with a white and red logo (GR). Along the routes you can find gites and mountain refuges, which offer very affordable and comfortable rooms.

CYCLING

Bicycle riding is heavily promoted in France. The country has nearly 20,000 miles of cycling paths which are clearly marked. You can rent bikes from tourist offices and at the railway stations. You can also find pistes cyclables (cycling paths) along the Atlantic coast, all the way down to the Spanish border.

HORSEBACK RIDING

Go to Camaregue where you can enjoy horseback riding in Camargue, one of France’s favorite destinations. Don’t worry if you’re not an experienced rider, since you will get much assistance, and the sandy beaches make for easy riding. You can hire horses from the stables.

GOLF

Choose from over 200 gold courses, or go on one of the many themed golf holidays. These let you try your favorite sport at different courses around the country while seeing the sights.

How do the French stay so thin when their food is so good? Tourists will have a field day exploring the wonders of famous French cooking. (Don’t worry, you can go back on your diet when you go home!)

You’ll enjoy French bread and pastries, from the thin loaf they call baguette (and all its many variants) to the whole grain pain complet and croissant. They’re usually served for breakfast, though you can enjoy a light and inexpensive sandwich. Find breads at patisseries and boulangeries.

You can also sample a wide variety of French dishes from different regions of France, that take advantage of their abundant harvest and fresh sea food. In the south west of France in Cassoulet, you’ll see a lot of duck dishes and a variety of processed meats like hams and sausages. In Alsace, be sure to try the sauerkraut and fermented cabbage. In the Alps, there’s a speciality dish of melted cheese, served hot with alcohol. Burgundy’s known for its fondue bourguignonne which consists of slices of beef that are delicately boiled in oil then served with an array of sauces. You should also try the slow-cooked stew called boeuf bourguignon (Burgundy).

In Marseille and the French Riviera, the best dish you’ll ever taste is the Bouillabaisse fish. This is seasoned with saffron, one of the most expensive spices in the world, and high quality fish. It’s quite pricey but don’t scrimp and go for the cheapest ones—they’re not authentic. The price is due to the high cost of the ingredients, and will run for about 30€ per serving. Anything that runs for half the price will also deliver half the flavor.

In Landes you’ll find the confit de canard, made with red wine and duck. It looks oily but it’s actually healthy because of the low cholesterol content and red wine—hence the French paradox of being able to eat rich meals and still enjoy a long life.

Of course what would a trip to France be without tasting foie gras. Get it at a good price at supermarkets during the holidays. Serve with champagne.

Are you excited about your tour of France? You should be—there are so many things to do and see. In fact, without a concrete itinerary, you may find yourselves overwhelmed about what you’ll do during your stay, or regret (when it’s too late!) that you didn’t make time for the most interesting destinations.

So one of the first things you should do—long before booking a plane ticket or searching for a hotel, is to do research on France. What region do you want to go to? What cities would you like to spend the majority of your stay? What are the nearby villages and towns that are worth a day trip? Try to find out as much as you can about the places there, from guide books, websites or discussion boards. You should also get an idea of the culture and history, so hat when you’re there, you’ll have a deeper insight and appreciation of the places.

The next step is to plot your itinerary. This will prevent you from wasting a lot of time and money from seeing things haphazardly. Don’t overbook your itinerary. It’s not fun, you’ll be too stressed and exhausted to really appreciate your tour, and you may end your vacation feeling that you need another one!

If you have a hard time deciding which places to go to, look at your own personality and preferences. What do you enjoy doing? What are the activities that get you excited? You can ask your travel agent to recommend the things that would best suit that, or you can post questions on travel websites. You can also Google it, using keywords to hunt down any reviews or write ups on related attractions.

You should also be realistic. Look at your budget, the ages of the people you’re traveling with (young kids may need a lighter itinerary, or you have to go to a resort that has babysitting services), and your own energy levels.

Last of all, do research before you decide what clothes to pack. Consider the activities you signed up for, the climate, etc. Pick wrinkle free clothes and bring separates that are easy to coordinate.