Thanks everyone! I like the idea of taking the train to Aix-en-Provence, or somewhere nearby, and then renting a car to explore. Maybe two or three nights in Paris, and then four or five in Provence.

I did look up the hotels a few posters suggested - they look gorgeous, sigh… - but they had no availability on my dates (June 1). Any other recs for hotels or itineraries?

Luberon. Gordes would be a good choice but one week is too short.

I'm French. Early June is the BEST time, OP! Weather isn't too hot, and school isn't out yet.

The Loire chateaux are beautiful. If you go down there, I recommend this place:
https://www.suitesdecheverny.fr/en/

If you have not gone to Mont St Michel, please do so. It's breathtaking, and one of my favorite spots in France. You can pair it with Normandy beaches with a little extra driving (there's a bumpy but highly informative WWII-era Jeep tour you can book for the landing beaches). If you decide on Mont St Michel, the best way to experience it is by sleeping on the Mont and waking up, opening your casement window, and breathing in the fresh morning air, then going down to breakfast. I recommend this hotel, but they fill up months in advance, so don't delay in making reservations:
https://www.auberge-saint-pierre.fr/en/

To a monastery to do volunteer work.

Luberon villages are gorgeous -- St. Remy is so charming and you can visit Van Gough asylum and Roman ruins very nearby. I still dream about the place we stayed just outside town:

https://www.chateaudesalpilles.com/en/5-star-hotel-saint-remy-de-provence

colmar, alsace (and the small villages like Riquewihr and the other small towns in the surrounding area), beaune, all very lovely

Dordogne region

Anonymous wrote:I loved Annecy

We loved Annecy too, although it was 100 degrees when we were there a few years ago in early July. Wherever you go in the summer, try to reserve lodging with air conditioning-- these heat waves have become a regular thing and we had a hard time sleeping in France the summer we were there because none of our AirBnBs and only one hotel had a/c.

Lyon was wonderful, too.

Agree with Aix-en-Provence. Just so peaceful and gorgeous, hard to replicate elsewhere. Several wonderful museums, beautiful gardens and houses. It's a much slower pace than Paris, though in June it will be hopping so you might not notice. I loved Foundation Vasarely, Pavillon Vendome, and Atelier de Cézanne. You can also very easily head to the coast for beach days -- Marseille is incredibly close, but I would head to some of the smaller villages for something a bit more off the beaten bath. Nice is also close but check dates as that is very close to the Cannes film festival (not in Nice but very close by) I believe, so you should plan accordingly.

Just writing about this is making me ache to go back to France again. It's been too long.

I loved Annecy

Southern part - around Nice - rent a car and explore the small towns along the Corniches

Loire Valley for wine tasting
South of France for everything else

But my husband would probably take us to WW battle sites…

Take the tgv to Aix-en-Provence. Rent a car and visit different towns.

Loire Valley

I’m going in early June. No clue where to go, would love ideas! We will be taking the train to London the following week. We’ve been to Paris when the kids were little, but I’d like to visit other areas as well. We will be flying into Paris. Kids are 12 & 15, and we like small cities, charming villages, delicious food. And cheese.