Ansouis Village is a Charming Must in the Luberon
The Gift of a Town Perched on a hillside with its back to the Mistral wind, Ansouis is a gem of a village in the Luberon that definitely earns its status as one of the Les Plus Beaux Villages de France. With its tiny laneways, houses built into ancient ramparts, …
Mont Ventoux a Cycling Challenge: Taming the Beast
I’ve been cycling most of my life. Like everyone else, I started on training wheels, moved on to a hand-me-down single speed with coaster brakes, then upgraded to an awesome 10-speed. After that, mountain bikes were all the rage, so at 15, I bought my first bike—a Peugeot mountain bike—with …
Join a Guided Hike of Grande Traversée du Mercantour
Walking Long Distance in France The impressive network of GRs (Grandes Randonnées) in France is no secret to keen hikers. Here, in the Alpes-Maritimes (Département 06), walkers from all over the world tackle the long distance trails including GR 5/52/52A among other routes. Here, is a listing of some of the …
Sète Food Lovers Guide to Eating Your Way Through Town
There are few things I enjoy more than eating seafood. A gourmet tour designed by Absolutely Southern France in the seaside city of Sète introduced me to a whole lot more favorites for food lovers. I was brought up going to a fish camp on the Catawba River, just outside Charlotte, …
Kids Play a Guide to Playgrounds on the French Riviera
I thought it was due time to update my previous blog post about playgrounds on the French Riviera. If you have children, the region has lots of options for playground fun. I have included mostly free public options. …Continue reading here for playgrounds and where kids can play for free …
Culinary Adventure in Provence Touring Cuisine of the Med
Culinary Holiday in France Occasionally magic happens in the kitchen, but the odds are better if you have some training. In the case of Chef Francois de Mélogue and his wife Lisa, they have a collective 30+ years in the hospitality industry, and both enjoy entertaining – a winning combination. …
Our Top Local’s Picks for Your Visit to Saint Remy de Provence
Contributor blog post by Caroline Longstaffe: Recently someone who only had four days to spend in Provence asked me if I had to choose between a visit to Aix-en-Provence or Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, which would it be. Preferably I’d find the time for both but as stunning a city as Aix is, …
St Remy Things to Do Try Gliding at Aéroclub des Alpilles
Soaring in the Alpilles In the idyllic playground of the Alpilles, my husband (aka M. Avion) stumbled upon utopia for those who like (or wish to try) soaring. In the heart of the Bouches du Rhone, is a location where the confluence of meteorological elements and geology create near perfect …
Train Travel TGV Avignon to Nice on the Fast One
TGV Service Fast Train to Nice I’ve just returned on a TGV train to Avignon after spending 24 hours in Nice. The quick trip on the fast train to Nice was planned with Patricia Sands and Nancy McGee to finalize our plans for the Memories Tour in September. The train …
Brantes this Village in the Vaucluse is Hard to Beat
Suspended across from the mighty Mont Ventoux is a village that can only be described as jaw-droppingly stunning, as it is surrounded by breathtaking Alpine scenery and filled with rustic charm. Brantes has been on my list for years to visit, as it was described as a place of total …