So this is
another of the vacation ideas I put together for my friend, hoping to help her decide on travel plans.
The
Basque region follows along the Atlantic coast from the South-West of France to the Northern part of Spain in the Western Pyrenees. Since it follows the coast, the area includes many great beaches and cities with many things to do for the younger set, while still being interesting for adult travelers.
A great beginning point, and possibly a great homebase for the journey through the Basque country is the beautiful coastal town of
Messanges.
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| Beach in Messanges, France |
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| Outdoor activities in Messanges, France |
If you plan on staying in Messanges look into this beautiful 4 bedroom
Villa for rent. Very well located this house built in 1875, and fully renovated in 2010, offers accommodations for 4 to 7 people with the ocean, golf courses and beautiful bike paths right nearby and welcomes families with young children with extra baby cots, high chairs, children's games available and a huge garden for them to play in. Prices vary according to the time of year, but off season prices starting at $1600/week seems incredibly reasonable for the house you're getting.
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| Villa Messanges |
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| Living Room |
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| Kitchen |
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| One of many bedrooms |
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| Bathroom |
Although the house has a full kitchen which allows you to enjoy family meals in, instead of always being obliged to eat out, do try
Restaurant Les Roseaux and
Restaurant La Station which both family friendly menus in great settings at great prices.
While in Messanges there are many activities to partake in. The
local aquatic center offers activities for the whole family, as does the local
family funpark. Other great possibilities include
Karting (for children 3 & up and adults), the
Reptillium & the
Ocean Fauna zoo are always great options, and if the little ones like animals why not try out a
Macaque Monkey encounter? A
boat ride in the
Aquitaine Nature National Park could also be a great relaxing way to spend the afternoon and get great photos of the beautiful landscapes the area offers.
An hour away by car from Messanges is the beach town of
Biarritz, which mixes surf culture with the BCBG the French are known for. The
Musée de la Mer offers everyone the opportunity to see an octopus, sea horses, and other aquatic species. Make sure you go see Okera, Titounette, Sylvestrine, Charlie, Naia and Noella, the resident seals get fed and swim around.
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| Seal feeding at the Musée de la Mer |
There is also the
Chocolate Museum and the
Asiatica Museum which can offer good distractions no matter the weather and why not take a
train ride in the mountains the kids will never forget! I don't think one ever needs a reason to stop for ice cream, so I'll just suggest you stop by
Dodin whenever you feel the need to! Of course, if it's nice outside, you can always try the beach!
Just over 15 minutes away is another beautiful beach destination. The town of
Guetary is a traditional Basque fishing village and a great place to spend the afternoon. Stop for lunch at
Heterotoclito, just across from the beach, and if you decide you want to stay there, try Hotel Le Madrid. The Municipal Museum has a great collection of contemporary art and temporary exhibits.
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| Guetary |
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| Hotel La Madrid in Guetary |
10 minutes down the road is the town of
St-Jean de Luz where pedestrian shopping streets, a local farmers' market and more beautiful beaches await you. The
Basque Ecomuseum in the Maison Jean Vier is worth a visit, and if your sweet-tooth calls, try out the macarons at
Maison Adam which dates back to the times of Louis XIV.
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| Beach at St-Jean de Luz |
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| St-Jean de Luz |
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| Along the street in St-Jean de Luz |
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| St-Jean de Luz |
Cross over to Spain as
San Sebastian is only 30 minutes away (less than an hour from Messanges). Known for its beautiful beaches (
Ondaretta, Concha and Zurriola are among the best) and the streets of it's old town (stop by The Plaza de la Constitucion and Alameda del Boulevard), San Sebastian is also home to a world class aquarium, which is sure to always a hit with E. You could always take in a traditional bullfight at the Plaza de Torros or take in Mount Igueldo and its kid-friendly amusement park.
Although the
Guggenheim would be reason enough for me, the city of
Bilbao, the Basque region's largest city is only an hour away form San Sebastian and offers outdoor parks with activities for children and all kinds of restaurants and shops to discover.
A big thank you to one of my favorite blogs, BozAround for being such a great source of information for this trip with this post. To follow Vanessa's incredible adventures around the world (with her 3 kids in tow, no less) check out her amazing blog!
Happy New Year, hope it brings many happy travels!
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