<p>If you had two weeks in Europe, with your child who will be on a French exchange program in Provence, where would you go? What would you do? We’ll first go to Provence – meet S’s French family and see the town and then onward. We’ll probably bring him back to Provence after our trip. It’s possible that H and I will have some time on our own – but more likely that we will want to spend most of our time with our son who will be in France from Labor Day to Memorial Day, or a bit longer.</p>
<p>Said child is close to fluent in French – and by then who knows! I have a little Spanish, a little Russian, and H has no foreign language.</p>
<p>Child will be 16 and wants to see London. Theoretically he will have had a vacation to Venice with his program. This is his second trip to France – the first was four years ago with a student group so he has seen the highlights from Paris to Monaco and most important things in between. I have been to London, but never to the continent. Husband hasn’t been to Europe since <em>he</em> was 16 – and most of that was spent seeing rellies in Poland.</p>
<p>We have no budget at the moment … I have no idea what we want to do or what it might cost. The timing is the last two weeks of February.</p>
<p>Tuscany, then the Northern Italian Lake Country. Into Switzerland, the Ticino area, some skiing, and then Lucerne. Then back through France and ending in a restaurant tour of Lyon. Of course, I’d let weather be my guide and would adjust elevation accordingly.</p>
<p>From Provence, it is is an easy train ride to Barcelona, which has splendid air connections to London. That would give you a lot of diversity and the chance for some side trips. Also, February weather will be more pleasant in the south and/or near the sea.</p>
<p>What a fabulous experience for your family. I’m sure you will have a wonderful time. My DD and her very generous grandparents will be spending some time in Europe this summer visiting London, France, Italy and Spain. DD has listed numerous places of interest and given a description of each so that she and her grandparents can choose those that sound most interesting to them. I will be perfectly honest and tell you right from the get-go that my geography stinks, so I don’t know where Cassis is in relation to Provence, but if it is close, I highly suggest you visit based on what my DD told me about visiting there year before last. She is currently spending her spring break in California (she sounds like quite the globetrotter, doesn’t she?), but she’ll be back Saturday night and I will be happy to ask her about some of the places she has visited and places they plan to visit this summer. She’s fairly knowledgeable about that area. DH and I hope to visit DD when she studies abroad during her junior year.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone!
Apparently this year-abroad program sends students to a very specific area in Provence. I believe it’s near Avignon and Orange. We are currently hosting a boy from Orange. Obviously, we will want to visit <em>his</em> family, although we already know that our son will not be living with that family next year. The program places students in a French family with a student in the same school as the American student. Since our current visitor is in a winemaking/tech school and not a college prep sort of program, our son won’t be going there!</p>
<p>I just don’t know what else we want to do … and I’m hoping to get all sorts of suggestions from the CC Globetrotters. Keep the ideas coming!</p>
<p>I love the Loire valley area of France, but I can’t say February is really the ideal time to visit as the gardens are as nice as the chateaux. London, on the other hand, I think is less weather dependent - so many good indoor things to do. I’ve really enjoyed visits to wineries in France. I’ve done Champagne and Dijon area, but I’d guess Bordeaux would be equally fun if you like wine. I also think you should try to eat at a really fancy restaurant if you can (at least 2 Michelin stars.) Northern Italy also has a wealth of wonderful things to see.</p>
<p>There’s more to Provence than Avignon if you have not been there before. I love Aix. You can also take a day trip to some fabulous sights. I also love Tuscany.</p>
<p>Late February in London can be great. The daffodils and crocuses should be coming out then. Just walking down Kensington Gardens is a treat. And there’s plenty to see in London.</p>
<p>Just wanted to add, don’t let language stop you! My parents only speak English reliably (my mother can speak a little French), and they took us all over without any major language problems. Don’t let language be a constraint.</p>