Off to the Vendee! A few last minute tips please.

[BranchingOut]

We are off to the Vendee next week, staying near Lucon.

A few last minute questions:

1. How cold is the sea? I am thinking of buying a short wetsuit to swim in. Will this be daft or a good plan?

2. Do beaches at Tranche sur Mer, Faute sur Mer etc rent out windbreaks, surfboards etc?

3. Top tips for days out appreciated. Any nice chateau around? Is Green Venice good for toddlers? Where is the best place to go on Il de Re?

4. Any suggestions for a stop-off on the way back to the Chunnel? I would quite like to stop somewhere pleasant like a chateau or park, rather than just a service station.

Many thanks and enjoy your own holidays!

A short wetsuit would be a good idea for the sea. The Atlantic takes a while to warm up so really doesn't warm up until end July.

Don't think you can rent surf boards at La Faute or La Tranche. For surfing try the beach at Les Conches. Not much there other than car park and beach, but it is a great beach and there is a surf club there (not sure if it rents boards or not). Most people use boogie boards, Which are easy to buy.

La Chateau de la Guignardière is worth a visit. They have a pirate themed treasure hunt in the grounds.

Take a trip up the the Mervent Forest, there is a great little zoo (with lions and tigers and bears) a lake for boating, and an ammusement park (parc de pierre brun) like something out of the 60's complete with bumper boats and a little train.

Green venice is a nice day out. I prefer Damvix to Coulon. There is a good restaurant there called la Recré which has a play area for toddlers (inside and outside).

The very best day out is the Puy du Fou - whatever you do don't miss it. It is quite alot of walking though so I would suggest a buggy for toddlers (they rent them along with translators).

Sorry I can't help with places to stop on the way back.

Have a great holiday.

You must go to le Puy du Fou.

yes to puy du fou.

when we went in aug it was really cold at night - rep said this was normal, so take fleece/jeans.

Yes yes to puy du fou - we went when ours were maybe 4 and 6 and we all loved it.

OMG. I just watched the mini-trailer on the Puy du Fou website and it was like Gladiator, Ben Hur, The Tudors and Braveheart all rolled into one! It actually got my heart beating a little faster .

So it does get cold at night - thanks for the tip.

(off to look up road directions to Puy du Fou)

Get up relly early for when it opens

BRANCHINGOUT- OMG. I just watched the mini-trailer on the Puy du Fou website and it was like Gladiator, Ben Hur, The Tudors and Braveheart all rolled into one!

That is exactly what it is like. With some great horsemanship and some princesses thrown in for good measure.

If you have little ones my advice would be not to do the day and the evening on the same day. We've actually only been to the evening show once, but the daytime park we have been at least 12 times

The evening show is very late (I think it starts at about 10pm)