Contributor blog post by Cheryl Shufflebotham: As I waited with anticipation at an ancient fountain in the village of Bédoin for my husband to complete his third ride of Mont Ventoux, I spotted him. Anxiously, I asked, “How did it go?” Grinning but determined, he said, “I’m never doing this …

Contributor blog post by Cheryl Shufflebotham: The truth is it doesn’t cost much to eat like a king in France. Though there are many Michelin-starred restaurants and fantastic dining experiences to be had, often it’s the simple café and bistro food that’s the best. The scrumptious buttery omelettes, the quiche, …

Contributor blog post by Cheryl Shufflebotham: The thrill of discovering new villages with the expectation that the next one will be more charming than the last is why my early trips to France entailed a five-page list of villages in alphabetical order to see.The sight of this list would often …

By Cheryl Shufflebotham: One day while taking a walk up the very steep road behind Bonnieux, I saw signs for la Bastide de Capelongue and Édouard Loubet, Relais and Châteaux. Curious, I kept walking. I continued up past the village and onto a side road. I soon came to the …

Contributor blog post by Cheryl Shufflebotham: Here’s a tip! When your husband asks if you would like to be dropped off in the village of Lourmarin for the day, you just say “Yes!” You don’t question it. You just go. You won’t be disappointed. …Continue reading here for Cheryl’s photos of …

Contributor blog post by Cheryl Shufflebotham: On our recent two-day French Riviera adventure, we stayed at the amazing Histoires de Bastide in the most charming of villages, Tourrettes-sur-Loup. After much online searching and scrutinizing of every bed and breakfast in the Côte d’Azur, we settled on this one, and boy …

Contributor blog post by Cheryl: While most tourists visiting the Luberon head right for the spectacular villages of Gordes and Roussillon, there lies tucked away in a world all its own the quiet, refined, and classy village of Goult. Classy is the word to describe this quaint little village with …

Contributor blog post by Cheryl: Some things just don’t change. Don’t you love it when you return to a place and it feels like nothing has skipped a beat while you were gone? Like le Petit Café located in the breathtaking Oppède-le-Vieux. The same white dog sitting on a spool …

Contributor blog post by Cheryl Shufflebotham: In keeping with my newfound tradition in Provence of getting a massage while my husband bikes Ventoux or elsewhere, I made an appointment at the new spa at la Coquillade resort. Now, please note that I don’t stay in these places but just indulge …

Contributor blog post by Cheryl Shufflebotham: I have avoided the Riviera when visiting Provence, figuring that it would be too busy, too ritzy for my taste. Well, after finally deciding to give it a try—after all it is the Riviera—all I can say is “I get it!!!” I now see …