468 - Join Us in France Travel Podcast

Introduction

Hi! I’m Jessica Osborn and I live in Arizona. The summers can get into triple digits here, so we escaped the heat to the French Riviera last July 2022. The irony is that we traded the dry heat for humid heat. Thankfully we took advantage of the Mediterranean Sea during our trip.
I traveled with my husband and my daughter; Noelle who was 4 years old at the time.
I’ve been listening to your podcast for the past 5 years! I look forward to your weekly episodes to feed my Francophile addiction.

Trip Logistics

7-hour train from Florence to Nice since we had been traveling through Italy and spent a week in Florence.
We rented an apartment 5-minute walk to beach and 10-minute walk to train station.
Stayed 8 nights in Nice.

Towns and Beaches from West to East

- This is a stretch, but I get old-timey Victorian boardwalk vibes here with a high-class twist. Carousel, Ferris wheel, ice cream vendors along the boardwalk.
- Best place for high-end shopping because they are all walking distance on the main road next to the beach.
- Soft sandy beaches, delicate waves, loud music. Good place to splurge at a beach club. We rented lounge chairs and umbrellas at the historic Carlton Beach Club, since 1930 (€45 a chair). Great showers and changing room. I recommend booking online a head of time especially in the summers.
- Cute old town that winds up a hill with amazing views of the riviera. This is where we grabbed a casual dinner.
- Highlight: Fireworks Contest. There are 6 evenings in July and August where countries compete for the best fireworks presentation, choreographed with music. The audience can go online to vote. I believe the Norway was the winner last year. https://www.festival-pyrotechnique-cannes.com/en/

- Provence vibes with stone architecture, Provencal market, town square is quaint, perfect for aperitivo and alfresco dining.

My favorite place for boutique shopping (jewelry, linens, olive oil)
Best place for Yacht spotting. It’s called Millionaires row since it is the home to Europe’s wealthiest yachts.
Beach is under the ramparts, crescent shaped so the water is very calm, gravel like sand.
Highlight: Watching a thunderstorm under the arches of the ramparts, playing in the rain with the locals.

Villefranche-sur-Mer (6 minutes from Nice)
- Cute, fishing village vibes. Small town.
- Creepy medieval tunnel you can explore — https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-rue-obscure-villefranche-sur-mer-france
- Calm beach, clearest water, and small pebbles. Many families with small kids here.

Beulieu-sur-Mer/Saint Jean Cap Ferrat (10 minutes from Nice)
- Mini Monaco vibe (casino, clean, glitzy). Seems mostly residential.
- La Petite Afrique Beach is the most shaded. Volleyball court and water sports for rental. We didn’t go to the beach that day because we spend our day walking and touring the villas.
- Highlight: We walked the elevated shoreline path called promenade Rouvier to the Villa Ephrussi Rothschild. We rested and cooled off in the tea parlor for lunch. The gardens (French, Spanish, Provencial, Japanese, Florentine, Exotic, Stone, Rose) are spectacular. Fountain show runs about every 30 minutes.

Tips

Pack for day trips: water shoes, sunscreen, snorkeling gear, shampoo for the showers.
Download Rail Europe for train times and to book tickets. Trains run often. We probably waited 20 minutes at the most to get on the next train. Be prepared for packed train cars.
Thoughts on Monaco: In my opinion, Monaco doesn’t capture the essence of the riviera. I remember it being a jungle of concrete high-rises, hilly, not much to see but the casino, Vegas style high-end shopping, and not easy to get to the palace or aquarium. I recommend a half day visit just so you can say you’ve been there.