Destination recommendations - family friendly, beach, nature, history

[Reluctantadult]

I'm looking for destination recommendations please :)
Family of 4, kids 8 & 6.

The ideal would be: Near sandy beaches, in a natural area, historic / market town for mooching, cafe culture nice food and wine, somewhere usually sunny so thinking abroad. The kids request a pool and 8yo would like clubs / playmates but dh would prefer a villa. I don't want to fly but dh doesn't want to drive abroad 🤦🏻‍♀️ Don't really know where to even look at!

www.roompot.com/destinations/the-netherlands/zeeland/water-village/
for driving not too far - we stayed in NL.
You need a car, but get cosy cottages right next to main Roompot resort with all activities and the beach.
Some lovely little towns in the neighbourhood.

We have this year done Juan Les Pins/Antibes and Italian Riviera - both by train. It's not the quickest way to get there but for us (coming from Belgium) it was no more expensive than flying. Both would fit your criteria. Nice is 6 hours from Paris on the direct train, but you can also by pass Paris by changing in Lille / Marne La Vallee or Aix en Provence. In previous years we did Brussels to Agde via Valence. That was quite a straight forward journey. We stayed in Vias Plage which is home to Siblu and Eurocamp.

Based on your update I think France would work.
Check out all the drives for Eurocamp types of holidays.

I think St Malo would be a great destination - you just need to drive to the ferry, and from the ferry to your hotel/villa - which will be a very short journey. And you're close to the coast as well as the town itself. That part of France is beautiful.

St Malo

Definitely south of France by train. The Aix-en-Provence suggestion is perfect for your wishlist!

www.eurocamp.co.uk/travel-and-extras/travelling-by-plane/car-free-holidays - these places have train stations as well as airports. This is for the pool and mates option.

It doesn’t tick all your boxes but we’re going to Saint-Cyr-Sur-Mere in May.
We don’t want to drive or fly either. I want warm sea, DS will like the water park. We’ll get the train to explore.

We went to Belgium this summer, DH doesn't mind driving so we took the ferry from Dover and spent a week on a campsite in the Ardennes forest area with pool, basic kids club etc (disclaimer, pretty much everone else was Dutch but DD did meet a couple of English speakers) We took our tent but there were lodges and statics too.

We then spent a week on the Belgian coast which is a short drive from Calais. There is a mix of beach towns all linked by a tram, a big theme park and water park.