Itineraries for Your Trip to Loire Valley
3 Days in Loire Valley for Families
Growing up, family trips to France were how I spent my summers—my parents loved it so much they bought a holiday home here—and the Loire Valley was always a favorite. I remember gazing wide-eyed at its fairy-tale castles, racing my brother on bikes through the vineyards, and sipping grape juice at a wine tasting, pretending to be all grown-up.
If you’re bringing your kids to the Loire Valley, this three-day itinerary includes all the places that captured my imagination as a child (and still do as an adult). Just don’t try and do too much—this is a region to slow down and savor.
If you only have time for one thing, make it a tour of the fairy-tale Château de Cheverny.
Most Loire Valley attractions are outdoors, so protect little ones from the heat—sunscreen, a hat, and a cover-up are essential.
A top Loire Valleychâteau for families is Château de Cheverny. The 17th-century castle appeared in the Adventures of Tintin comics (as Marlinspike Hall, home of Captain Haddock) and is crammed with Tintin memorabilia. Kids enjoy the tulip gardens and labyrinth; the hunting kennels, home to 100-plus dogs; and the electric boat cruise.
Let the kids choose the afternoon activity. A visit to Château de Chenonceau, with its Disney-esque towers, carriage rides, and moat, is popular. Alternatively, the nearby Beauval ZooParc is one of Europe’s largest and most renowned zoos, with 35,000-plus animals, including giant pandas, hippopotami, and orangutans.
Get up early on your second day (it’ll be worth the protests) for a hot air balloon flight. Riding in the balloon is a thrill for all ages, and the bird’s-eye view of the Loire Valley vineyards and the Loire, Cher, and Vienne rivers is exquisite.
A tour of the vineyards is expected in the Loire Valley, and you can bring the kids. Take an English-language tour to learn how the grapes are grown and harvested before sampling the wines (some wineries make grape juice for kids). End the experience with a family picnic amid the vines.
Head out to the western Loire to visit Nantes. There’s plenty to see, and a walking or Segway tour offers a good perspective. Hop off to walk the ramparts of Château des Ducs de Bretagne, admire views of the Loire and Erdre rivers, and peek inside the Passage de Pommeraye shopping gallery.
Where else can you ride a 39-foot (12-meter) mechanical elephant, hop on a carousel of weird and wonderful sea creatures, or fly your own robotic bird? Nantes’ number one attraction, Les Machines de l'Île, is just as crazy—and as entertaining—as it sounds, and the whole family will love it.
