FAMILY HOLIDAYS IN THE SOUTH OF FRANCE : KRISTEN'S TOP 6 TOWNS
With its white sand beaches, bright blue skies, blooming flowers, picturesque villages, rich culture and history, the South of France is one of the country’s favourite family holiday destinations, after Paris of course!
Join Kristen, her husband Eric and their two daughters Elodie (10) and Honor (5) on their summer trip to the Côte d’Azur. Follow the family’s adventures in 6 of the top must-see towns : the vibrant seaside city of Nice, luxurious Monaco, the perched medieval village Gassin, quaint and charming Ramatuelle, glamorous Saint Tropez and enchanting Port Grimaud.
Find inspiration for your next getaway as you discover the best kid friendly activities, great restaurants, advice on where to stay and many more tips.
To learn more about Kristen, her love of France as well as Parisian traveling suggestions, read her previous articles.
WHY THE SOUTH OF FRANCE?
My family traditionally visits Paris annually; however, given the Olympics in the capital, we thought it may be best to avoid doing so this year. We decided to seek this opportunity to explore another region of France. Attracted by the world famous Nice and Saint Tropez, we chose to visit the South of France.
HOW DID YOU ORGANISE YOUR TRIP AND HOW LONG DID YOU STAY ?
The process of planning our vacations is something I truly enjoy. I began planning our summer vacation about a year in advance. My first steps were to secure places for us to stay followed by booking our airfare. For this trip, I didn't plan the activities until our arrival. We wanted a more relaxed vacation, so we took it as a day to day exploration.
We spent two full weeks in the area. I highly recommend a minimum 14 days to fully acclimate and truly embrace the culture. This also gave our daughters time to enhance their French language skills.
We split our trip into two parts. We spent the first week in Nice and its surroundings and the second one around Gassin.
To feel fully at home, we rented villas each time as opposed to staying in hotels.
We took a direct flight straight from NYC to Nice which was so much better than switching flights in Paris, especially with children. For Nice, we used public transportation but then rented a car to go to Gassin and explore its surrounding cities.
THE FAMILY’S ADVENTURES
In the paragraphs below, Kristen outlines the highlights of their holiday giving insight on what to visit, how to move around, where to eat, stay, along with useful advice for each of the 6 towns.
NICE
Villa renting :
We found a lovely villa rental through Riviera Holiday Homes @rivieraholidayhomes.
It had the most magnificent sea view along the Cap de Nice and provided easy access to downtown Nice, known as Vieux Nice as well as the breathtaking neighboring village of Villefranche-sur-Mer.
Transportation :
Getting around Nice and the surrounding areas is super easy. Public transportation named Ligne D’Azur works great. We would just hop on and off each day to get to our destinations.
The bus system is as easy as oui : all you need to do is buy a card at a local tabac and then use an app to purchase ride tickets. Once you get on the bus you just tap your card and voilà, you are ready to go!
The girls really enjoyed becoming bus savvy travelers. They loved admiring the gorgeous views along the coastline which made the journeys a fun adventure for themselves.
There is also a tramway and of course the train lines to Monaco and such.
Carousels :
Our girls love carousels so it’s always our first mission to find one whenever we travel. In Nice we actually found two. Our favorite one was located right along the Promenade des Anglais in the Jardin Albert Ier park. It was a two-level carousel with stunning views of the sea…truly magnifique!
This 45 min train tour is a great way to see the prominent city landmarks. The girls loved having their own headphones (which are available in English) and learned all about the famous landmarks.
The train also takes a 10 minute break at the top of Castle Hill which allowed us to take in the breathtaking views whilst grabbing a snack at Le Point de Vue which is a cute little café/snack shop. This was definitely a favorite activity for the whole family!
Shopping :
Shopping in France is always a treat! Whether it’s luxury shopping (Chanel, Louis Vuitton), a local market for fresh fruits and handmade crafts, or the quaint shops of Vieux Nice there is plenty to enjoy. Place Rossetti is particularly lively with typical boutiques, delicious restaurants, art galleries and the beautiful Cathédrale Sainte-Réparate de Nice.
We have a tradition in our family of lighting a candle/saying a prayer in each Church we encounter along our travels. France has an astounding number of churches with different architectures depending on their era of construction. They are truly magnificent and a joy to explore!
VILLEFRANCHE-SUR-MER
This picturesque seaside village was only a 5 min bus ride from our villa and definitely worth visiting. There are both a playground and carousel which are always a hit with children. The village is made up of stunning colorful buildings, narrow streets and gorgeous sea views!
We discovered a traditional French restaurant called La Grignotiere @la_grignotiere_villefranche and returned many times throughout the week! We enjoyed the outdoor sitting option allowing us to watch the village life. They don’t advertise it on the menu but do have a kids menu which our youngest loved! The favorite dish for me and Elodie was the warm goat cheese salad and for Eric, it was the duck.
MONACO
Monaco is only a 20 min train ride from the Villefranche-sur-Mer train station so we decided to take a day trip there.
The train was extremely CROWDED as to be expected but definitely not a relaxing experience especially with kids so perhaps an uber would be preferred.
We began with a Petit Train de Monaco tour (yes, same type as in Nice). This got us well acquainted with the city and allowed us to soak in those stunning sea views filled with many yachts!
The train tour concludes in front of le Musée océanographique de Monaco @oceanomonaco which is a fabulous aquarium! While at the museum be sure to take the elevator to the rooftop. There you will find a lovely children’s playground and a café so while the girls played, we could refresh with an aperitif and enjoy the city from above.
GASSIN
The village’s highlights :
Gassin, a medieval village perched high above sea level but only a 10 minute drive to downtown Saint Tropez was an absolute dream! The beautiful village is filled with the most gorgeous blooms everywhere you turn. It is known for its magnificent view of the Saint Tropez bay and home to the narrowest street in the world : The Androuno. The narrowest point measures 11.41 inches wide. The girls especially loved having us all fit through that narrow street.
The ladies who work in the office de tourisme (local tourism office) are absolute gems. They provided our daughters with an English scavenger hunt named “Les secrets de Gassin” which taught us all a lot about the village’s rich medieval history.
We also discovered an adorable playground right at the top of our hill which we passed each day on our walks into town and that provided the girls with hours of additional fun! There is even a small market at the foot of the hill where one can purchase daily essentials which we found quite helpful.
Villa renting :
I found a spectacular villa rental on the website Le Figaro Properties. The villa is gated and has beautiful gardens, a large pool as well as a complete pool house with kitchen, bath, etc. We fell in love immediately and the best part is it is located in the actual village which meant we could walk into town each day (and with kids that is a huge plus)!
Restaurants :
Promenade Dei Barri hosts several delightful restaurants with tables set out over the views. Our favorites were Bello Visto @bellovistogassin and La Casettina Ristorante @lacasettina_ristorante.
Bello Vista has both an upscale area which is great for an adult date lunch and an all day bar attached to the hotel where the girls would enjoy a sweet snack.
La Casettina was perfect for our family lunches (we tend to lunch out then do dinners in as it’s easier with our children's bed routine). If ever dining at La Casettina you must try their “boulettes d’aubergines”! It is their most requested appetizer and definitely not to be missed!
Finally, as ice cream is always a favorite for our girls, Gassin has the cutest ice cream shop, Glacier Saint-Laurent. This is the perfect spot to pick up an ice cream cone and enjoy the gorgeous golf views. Tropézienne was the favorite flavor discovered by our girls. It is inspired by the traditional dessert Tarte Tropezienne which is a brioche cake filled with a sweet vanilla filling.
RAMATUELLE
Ramatuelle is another charming medieval village perched high upon a hilltop overlooking various vineyards as well as the beach.
We went on a market day which was such a fun experience for all of us. Toys, spices, clothing, bags…such a variety of offerings to explore! There are markets every day of the week in the South of France, make sure to check the schedule.
The Camarat Lighthouse, which is the second highest in France, is a sight to behold. Driving up the winding roads to reach the top of the hill and admiring the view was lovely.
SAINT TROPEZ
Saint Tropez, known for glitz and glamour, did not disappoint! It can be very crowded making traffic a bit challenging but a real must-see.
Knowing we wanted to have an adult day to ourselves, I discovered a Kids Camp option at the stunning Chateau de la Massadière. @airellessainttropez
This luxury hotel was the perfect spot for our girls to enjoy a 5-star experience. A golf cart transported them to their magnificent play area for the day which includes pools, a farm, and more.
Meanwhile we were able to shop at the beautiful Chanel store. This is not your typical store, it’s actually in a beautiful mansion with a pool/garden area out back. Truly a delight to experience!
We also wanted the girls to discover Saint Tropez so we took them in the early evening as it was less crowded then. We discovered two carousels and they loved admiring the window displays of the boutiques in town as well as the yachts along the water.
Beach club :
One cannot visit Saint Tropez without experiencing a proper beach club. We found the perfect family friendly one : Cabane Bambou. The beach beds situated along the edge of the water allowed us to lounge all day and soak up those gorgeous view with music in the background.
The kids play area provided beach toys and balls which kept the girls entertained for hours. We enjoyed a delicious lunch, which had the tastiest kids meal of our entire trip! It was truly the “Saint Tropez” beach vibe of which dreams are made!
PORT GRIMAUD
Known as the "Venice" of France due to its Italian inspiration, Port Grimaud, which dates back to 1966, is lovely for a family day trip. Its colorful houses, restaurants and quaint boutiques along the sea give it a unique charm. We rented our own little boat for 30 mins to explore the canals at our leisure : a fun experience.
From this port there is also direct boat access to St. Tropez via Ferry should you choose.
DRESSES
The girls received many compliments on their gorgeous traditional French dresses by Charlotte sy Dimby. We are always sure to pack plenty of dresses for our travels. The dresses provide comfort and I love how they always look so finished and lovely!
A FINAL WORD FROM KRISTEN
This two-week holiday in the South of France was a favorite of ours! The girls were happy and improving their language skills each day. The people throughout our travels were most warm and kind and the food was beyond delicious! The trip took our breath away and we are sure to return (in fact we are planning to return next summer)! I hope this article encourages you to bring your children to explore the South of France one day!
PURCHASING THE DRESSES AND MORE INFORMATION
Almost all of the dresses worn by Elodie and Honor are from our own brand Charlotte sy Dimby. You can order our dresses straight from our e-shop. You can also contact by email at info@charlottesydimby.com to be guided and receive more options to create the perfect French style wardrobe for your children.
For additional adventures with children in Paris, wander through the comprehensive, locally sourced guide on our Parisian's boutique website L'Île aux Fées.
For more articles from mums sharing about their family holidays, read our Journal.
To receive personalised tips for your Paris trip or have a special map/illustrations made, please contact the Charlotte & Burlington family club by email at info@charlottesydimby.com or on Instagram @charlotteandburlington.
You can also follow Kristen on Instagram @kristenbabsmiller
Kristen,
You are truly amazing! Following your family is like following movie stars. You (and Eric, too) are inspirations, and sharing your “adventures” is a delicious treat. What a magnificent four-some you make. This blog was pure joy! Merci, merci!
xoxo
Leslie
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