Connie Walsh
France tastes as good as it looks! Food and wine here are part of the country’s “language of love”. Travelers can enjoy buttery croissants in a Parisian café, linger over a rosé lunch in Provence, indulge in crepes in Brittany, and savor briny oysters in Normandy. Itineraries can include cities with beautiful parks and world-class museums, seaside villages, history-laden towns, and glam destinations along the French Riviera. Pick a city or region to visit. Better yet, choose more than one!
Paris is always a good idea. My clients and I often include a day or two before or after our visit to another region. My personal travels in France include a villa stay in Provence, Cannes and the Riviera, Lyon, Strasbourg, Normandy, and a river cruise on the Seine. My favorite stop? Honfleur.
I designed and escorted a food-and-wine-focused guided tour for a professional group, with a special focus on Champagne. It can easily be adapted for individual travelers.
Our tour began in Strasbourg, where we stayed for a few days in the iconic Petite France neighborhood. We explored the city, enjoyed a tasting tour, and a cooking class. Our exploration of the Alsace Wine Route. (Alsace produces some of the most opulent wines in the World) included visiting fairytale villages and the historic market in the picturesque Colmar. We visited Reims, toured its famous Champagne Houses and Cellars for private tastings, and enjoyed unique dining experiences.
Our final stop was Lyon, France’s 2nd-largest city and its culinary capital. Highlights included a walking, tasting tour of its World Heritage Vieux-Lyon (Old Town) with its colorful facades and secret passageways, and a cooking lesson and dinner at the famed Institut Paul Bocuse.