Spending a week near Calais - things to do ?

[sweetgrapes]

We are spending a week before Christmas near Calais and would like some ideas of what to do (specially since it'll be so cold)

So far, we've planned to visit Brugges and Lille and one day for shopping at Calais. But have no idea where to go shopping around Calais.

It's our first trip to France so really have no idea. And will we survive without knowing french?

TIA

Will you have a car? Lots of nice towns along the coast like Le Toucqet (sp?) and Boulogne for shopping/lunch/walking on the beach. I think there is an aquarium at Boulogne too.

Yes, we will have a car.

Loads of hypermarkets around Calais and very easy to find. Calais town itself is ok for a couple of hours/lunch etc. Its surprisingly pleasant

St Omer is a lovely town, and only about 20 min from Calais. Montreuil-sur-Mer is a lovely village with some great restaurants (went years ago when ds was a baby and we had two toddlers and found restaurant very accomodating - can't remember the name though).

How old are your dcs - there is an interesting WW2 museum at La Coupole, nr St Omer, but some of the photos etc are graphic and it is better for older children
It's really well worth the trip
Aquarium at Boulogne is really very good
Lille is fabulous for shopping - don't forget to find Au Furet du Nord for wonderful stationery Xmas presents, it is off the Grand'place
Cite d'Europe at Coquelles on the outskirts of Calais is maybe the best of the hypermarket destinations. Undercover mall with lots of other shops - children's clothes, Marionnaud for toiletries and perfume, a Tesco and a Nicolas for wine, and an excellent Carrefour for groceries

Thanks everyone. This sounds great.

Dc's are a young 7 and 2.5 so we'll probably give the museum a miss. But heard there are some caves/tunnels from WW1. Was wondering about that. Any idea?

Lille will have the Xmas market. It really is lovely. There's a huge shopping centre near the Eurotunnel in Calais. The name escapes me - Europe somthing. Oh just spotted Marina's post......

The old town in Boulogne is nice. Most people will speak some English but would be good to practise your pleases and thanksyous etc.

YOu may be thinking of the caves/tunnels at Arras.

Or possibly the V3 site at Mimoyecques
It is fascinating there, but VERY cold down the tunnels at that time of year I would have thought
You can do La Coupole quite successfully without spending time looking at the photos sweetgrapes, and they have heating