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Auberge Des Vielles Pierres: If you enter into Flers from the east, driving on the D924, drive slowly, because in a sharp curve you´ll pass this Auberge and it is definitely worth a stop. The building is inconspicuous, but they have excellent meals for reasonable prices
Timing: with non-surfing family not that easy, at least surf wise. It doesn´t get easier with the summer thermals that produce onshore mush most of the day. Early bird doesn´t help when the tides are wrong – especially on the Ile de Ré, where low tide means no ocean and no waves – or everybody else from the area wants to take advantage of the morning offshores. You have to take it as it comes, get wet, whenever you happen to be at the beach. With the huge summer crowds in France it is often even the better strategy to get out at suboptimal conditions. Waves are not as good but crowds are less. Just avoid the surf camp hotspots, ´cause many of these folks tend to set the focus on party and do not enter the lineup before 11 in the morning.
Swiss Normandy: the name is a bit exaggerating, but despite the lack of anything coming close to real mountains, this area is worth a visit. Especially when you get stuck in the summer traffic jam around Caen in full heat. The area consists of rolling hills with winding narrow roads, connecting farms, half abandoned villages and the odd castle. Nice rafting on some of the rivers, lots cider, an ancient chocolate factory and a few nice but a bit worn down towns. And a few good restaurants (see Auberge Des Vielles Pierres).
Northern Harbours: In contrary to the Atlantic Coast south of Finisterre, the northern Atlantic shores and the ones at the Channel still have harbours that have a function besides being a parking lot for yachts. Granville and Barfleur are nice examples of this dying species with some fishing boats still in commercial use, a bit ratty but with lots of charme.
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