FRANCE by EUROSTAR & TRAIN - where to go with 3yro. beach/small town?

[paranoidaboutschools]

Hi there,
has anyone advice where I could go for a week in August with my 3 year old and a friend (dh has to work) only by Eurostar/train or other public transport?

I don't like houses remote places and it's probably impossible to get there without a car anyway, so I'm looking for a nice seaside town or something, ideally somewhere to to far from Paris (not really the far south or so) and with a station or at least good bus service (if this exists).
Or at least something which we could reach if we stayed a night in Paris without too much hassle.

3 hrs train from Paris would be alright, don't fancy 6 hours though. And where would be the best place to book the train?

I'm finding holiday apartments/gites everywhere on the net, but often they're far away from towns or there is no station.

Please, any advice!!

Alternatively, something in Europe within reach of an Airport without hiring a car (local buses/trains would be fine). Not Italy as we're going there anyway this year.

Thanks a lot

What about avignon? Yu can get a direct service from Waterloo there, about 6hrs on the train in total, it is a lovely Provence town and has loads to do. There appears to be one direct train on a sat am at around 7am from Waterloo, you would be there by 2pm, coming back again one direct train leaves 4.30pm arrives about 9pm. Hpowever it seems retty booked up, but if you go across paris and change there are loads.

Salut paranoid, je suis de retour de mes vacances en France!
We have just come back from a smashing little resort called Ronce les Bains not too far from La Rochelle. This is served by the TGV from Paris and from there, it said on my tourist leaflet, local coaches provide onward connections to Rochefort and La Tremblade (next door to Ronce, a short and cheap taxi ride I'd have thought). Ronce is a dream location for non-drivers as the whole area is full of cycle paths and hire places (including child seats and tagalongs).
La Rochelle itself has beaches and is, IMO, very like Brighton in that there is plenty of life and culture there whatever the season. And you can fly there too of course, although like a lot of French towns the airport may be some distance away.
Many years ago I also went to Quiberon in southern Brittany, and have fond memories of there. Really nice family resort and at that time was served by two trains a day in high season direct from Paris Montparnasse.
HTH