Suggestions for second Normandy visit?

We are following up an earlier visit by just my wife and myself, now
with some family members. We have only 3 full days, with a car, and so
plan to touch on some earlier "must sees," and maybe some additions.
With three days, our plans are:
- 1 day for Le Memorial in Caen, and the D-Day beaches & sights
(Arromanches, Colleville, Pointe du Hoc, etc.)
- 1 day east, to Honfleur, Etretat, and other shore towns (Deauville,
etc.)
- 1 day west, to Mont. St. Michel, and perhaps Bayeux; should we add
St. Malo to this day?

Suggestions for what else we could fit into this (admittedly
tight)schedule would be welcome.

"MikeM" <michael.mocella@usa.dupont.com> wrote in message
news:dd8a705e.0309101039.718a8fff@c om...

> With three days, our plans are:
> - 1 day for Le Memorial in Caen, and the D-Day beaches & sights
> (Arromanches, Colleville, Pointe du Hoc, etc.)
> - 1 day east, to Honfleur, Etretat, and other shore towns (Deauville,
> etc.)

Etretat, though very fine - the setting is justly famous - is perhaps rather
too far away from the rest of your proposed places. It's on the "wrong" side
of the Seine estuary. Deauville certainly worth going to, I believe.

> - 1 day west, to Mont. St. Michel, and perhaps Bayeux; should we add
> St. Malo to this day?

Again possibly just a bit too far west, even though I like St Malo. Mont St
Michel and Bayeux is probably a day without hurrying.

Enjoy it.

Jonathan

On 10 Sep 2003 11:39:22 -0700, michael.mocella@usa.dupont.com (MikeM)
wrote:

>We are following up an earlier visit by just my wife and myself, now
>with some family members. We have only 3 full days, with a car, and so
>plan to touch on some earlier "must sees," and maybe some additions.
>With three days, our plans are:
>- 1 day for Le Memorial in Caen, and the D-Day beaches & sights
>(Arromanches, Colleville, Pointe du Hoc, etc.)
>- 1 day east, to Honfleur, Etretat, and other shore towns (Deauville,
>etc.)
> - 1 day west, to Mont. St. Michel, and perhaps Bayeux; should we add
>St. Malo to this day?
>
>Suggestions for what else we could fit into this (admittedly
>tight)schedule would be welcome.

St. Malo is very nice, with excellent shopping. I would suggest that
St. Lo, Cherbourg, Fougeres, and Granville might be worth a visit.

A ferry out to the Channel Islands can also be most enjoyable.

Personally, I would skip your "day east" above in favor of St. Malo
and these others.

Regards,
Larry

> Personally, I would skip your "day east" above in favor of St. Malo
> and these others.

I agree, the day east can be cut to allow more time on the west. 3 days
isn't much, you will be rushed as it is. In Bayeux there isn't anything to
see other than the tapestry and a museum of embroidery.

I liked St. Malo, walking out to the islands and taking pictures, walking
around the city center, etc. It was very nice for taking pictures. Mont
St. Michel is cool too and will take more time than you think. Also check
tide conditions because sometimes the parking lot is underwater and I'm not
sure how to get there during high tide. It'd be awful if you only allow a
few hours and you show up and not be able to go due to high tides!

> With three days, our plans are:
> - 1 day for Le Memorial in Caen, and the D-Day beaches & sights
> (Arromanches, Colleville, Pointe du Hoc, etc.)
> - 1 day east, to Honfleur, Etretat, and other shore towns (Deauville,
> etc.)
> - 1 day west, to Mont. St. Michel, and perhaps Bayeux; should we add
> St. Malo to this day?

I don't know your lodging plans, but I would highly recommend
staying overnight at Mont St Michel. The place is just magical in the
early morning and in the evening, after the crowds have gone.
Sunrise is worth getting up for; sunset is pretty wonderful, too.
I watched both from the sands outside the walls, at a low tide.


Jeri