Family Weekend Escape from Paris: Deauville

Deauville is a quick 2-hour drive from Paris, which gives you the opportunity to make a couple of detours on the way. We would suggest leaving early in the morning after stopping at your favorite local boulangerie for a quick Parisian breakfast (jus d'orange, allongée coffee and a croissant or pain au chocolat) and head towards Giverny, a small town in Normandy, especially known because it was where Claude Monet lived and got inspired for his famous water lilies. The house, which is open for a visit, is a quick 10-minute detour from the highway.

Then head towards Honfleur, one of the most beautiful harbor towns in France. You can head towards La Cidrerie to enjoy some local galettes and crepes that the kids would love. Also, don't forget to stop at the lovely ancient carousel on the port before heading back to the car. The last 30-minute drive and you are ready to check-in at Le Normandy in Deauville. You can head to dinner at Le Drakkar, a local brasserie with a lovely terrace.

After breakfast at your hotel, start the day early and head for a stroll down the beach. Horses are allowed to train there before 10am or after 7pm. Head to the shore to catch them practicing their turns or relaxing their muscles inside the ocean. Deauville is undoubtedly a horse town, and you could easily see them making their way through the streets. Head during August if you want to see the best races at their famous hippodrome or the highest level polo games as well as the well into million-dollar horse auctions held.

For lunch, head to L'Etoile des Mers. Not to miss the oysters and their lobster roll. Take the afternoon stroll around the picture-perfect town. Shopping is great, and discovering the most prestigious stores like Hermes and Printemps under typical Anglo-Norman architecture gems is a must. End your stroll at the picturesque Les Franciscaines Museum.

At the end of the afternoon, head to neighboring Trouville. You can easily cross by boat from the Deauville port. Take a stroll around the town before heading to dinner in Lisbon.

Le Normandy has a great spa as well as yoga/pilates classes which you could enjoy. Another option is heading to the beach Parc de Enfants at the beach so the kids can play on the trampolines before enjoying lunch at the Le Bar du Soleil. The kids can always enjoy a pony riding lesson at La Mangeoire. If in season, head in the afternoon to the hippodrome, the polo club or the auctions before heading back to Paris.