France for the Day

[Big News]

Hello all,

A few mates and I (two guys, one girl) had the idea of heading to France for the day. A cursory diary check took place and soon after we had booked an morning crossing from Dover to Calais for next Saturday. We have, however, since realised that we have no idea what to do for a day within reasonable driving distance of Calais.

If anyone could suggest any nice towns/beaches (not on the North coast, I'm guessing?) to have a snout around, that would be great. Bolougne? Wissant? Etaples? We're not expecting anything particularly exciting; just a nice place for lunch and dinner would be great!

And is it worth clearing the boot to bring back some drink, or have exchange rates made the booze cruise obsolete now?

Thanks!

[Stephanie Plum]

Le Touquet is the obvious choice. Saint Valery sur Somme a bit further south is lovely too.

[Puggit]

There really isn't much to Wissant. Lunch in the Hotel de Normandie is very good value though. Normally rammed with Belgians,

[FurtiveFreddy]

Surely, it's obvious? Load up on booze and have a fantastic lunch, then go home.

That's what we do.

[vixen1700]

St.Omer is quite a nice little French town to walk round/eat/have a drink and is about a 45 minute drive from Calais.

[Fer]

Go look at the London Gun (V3), a low rent attraction that is very interesting. Or a nice stroll round Boulogne, the walled town is pretty and there are some nice in-expensive places for lunch.

[Amateurish]

Bruges is a worthwhile trip, and only about 1 hour from Calais.

[louiebaby]

We had a walk along the beach at Wissant, had some lunch in a cafe, and then did a spot of hyper-marketing on the way back to the ferry.

I suspect I got the missus knocked up on our return home as well. (The wine doesn't sample itself.)

[Mark.]

Stephanie Plum said:

Le Touquet is the obvious choice.

+1 To this, lovely place with lots of nice eateries.

[audidoody]

WImereaux for moule et frites.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wimereux

[RichS]

You could head for Montreuil, about an hour down the coast, nice old walled city with a few decent places for lunch and nice browsing shops (very good cheese shop in the town square). It was the setting for Les Miserables.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/eur...

Plus, if you're a member, the Wine Society's got a discount shop there. Though if you're a member you'll already know this...

[Composite Guru]

I went to La Coupole a few years ago. Easy drive on the A26 from Calais.

This is only if you like WW2 stuff of course.

http://www.lacoupole-france.com/en/actualites/defa...

[zbc]

It has to be Plopsaland http://www.plopsa.be/plopsaland-de-panne/en just over the border in Belgium. I mean, come on, it's called Plopsaland, what's not to like

[Gruffy]

Mark. said:

Stephanie Plum said:

Le Touquet is the obvious choice.

+1 To this, lovely place with lots of nice eateries.

And another nod for Le Touquet.

[anonymous-user]

Mark. said:

Stephanie Plum said:

Le Touquet is the obvious choice.

+1 To this, lovely place with lots of nice eateries.

+2 Had lunch in Perards the other week http://www.touquet.com/chez-perard.html You can buy a six pack of fish soup in the shop.

[Roger645]

Etaples for a visit to the war cemetary. Then off to Le touquet for food, perards as someone mentioned is great as is Le Paris down the road if you are after something a bit more fine dining. If the weather is good the beach at hardelot is stunning

[Cyder]

Amateurish said:

Bruges is a worthwhile trip, and only about 1 hour from Calais.

This, we've been to Bruges on day trips a couple of times. Can also combine with a trip to Ypres.

[NDA]

Can you do Honfleur in a day? I think you could..... Lovely town.

[anonymous-user]

NDA said:

Can you do Honfleur in a day? I think you could..... Lovely town.

Bit of a drive from Calais I would think, as you say a lovely town though. If you are in that neck of the woods though a visit to here http://lehavre.fr/rubrique/musee-malraux is a great way to lose a few hours.

[Mark.]

NDA said:

Can you do Honfleur in a day? I think you could..... Lovely town.

You could do it - but it wouldn't be a very relaxing day I don't think.