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1.
Normandelière
Beach (and crêperie)
(3
miles from Dolphin Gites)
Some of
the best beaches along the Vendée coast are at Brétignolles-sur-mer,
which is only a few minutes away by car or about 20 minutes by bicycle. The
Normandelière at Brétignolles sur-mer is a great beach with a surveillance
tower and lifeguards. The beach also has a
highly recommended crêperie next to the dunes with fabulous views on the
sea. The restaurant serves great crêpes and moules frites.
There
are many beaches within easy reach of Dolphin Gîtes by car or bike. There
are beaches all along the coast at Brétignolles-sur-mer, Brem-sur-mer,
Olonne-sur-mer, St Gilles and Les Sables d'Olonne.
Most
local beaches are monitored by the CRS
who act as lifeguards in the summer months. For those who enjoy rock
pools, there is great
crabbing along the coast at La Sauzaie.
2.
Apremont
(10 miles
from Dolphin Gites)
Apremont
is a beautiful village with a beautiful chateau only a few minutes drive
from Dolphin Gîtes. You can get there by bicycle or by car. The
village is very quaint and particularly attractive and is a delight to
walk around and explore. You can visit the chateau, eat in any of the small cafés
and restaurants near the chateau. You can relax on the sandy river beach,
swim in the river or take a canoe and meander past the walls of the
chateau
drifting through the delightful scenery along the river banks.
There
is also a high water tower with a viewing platform on top which is also
well worth a visit. From the top of the water tower you can see for miles
in every direction. In fact, you can see the island of Noirmoutier in the
distance.
3.
Les
Sables d'Olonne
(12 miles
from Dolphin Gites)
Les
Sables d'Olonne is a famous beach resort, best known for its magnificent
huge bow shaped sandy beach, great shops and night
life. There is a fabulous promenade with hotels, cafes and beach views. Why
not spend the morning browsing the shops and then eat in one of the
charming restaurants along the sea front? Spend the afternoon sunbathing
on the fabulous bow shaped beach, dipping in the water to cool off. In the
evening, walk the promenade and take in the nightlife and street artists
all along the sea front.
4.
St
Gilles-Croix-de-Vie (8 miles
from Dolphin
Gites)
St
Gilles-Croix-de-Vie is a touristy fishing port only a few
miles from Dolphin Gîtes. It is a pretty town with a quayside
harbour, fishing boats, restaurants and cafés, and a pedestrian
street with nice shops. Also, there is a big Leclerc
hypermarket, Lidl and McDonalds.
There
is also the Grande Plage in St Gilles which is a big open
fine sandy beach. You can take surfing lessons on the
beach.
We
recommend the restaurant La Riviera on the SE side of the
river. It is not expensive and the food is excellent.
5.
The
Grand Défi
(4 miles
from Dolphin Gites)
website
40
Rue de l'Étoile,
85150
Saint-Julien-des-Landes
There
are 3 activities at the Grand Defi:
1.
Accrobranche (similar to Go Ape in the UK).
2.
Laser Tag
3.
Paint Ball
"special
price reduction for guests staying at Dolphin Gîtes"
Similar to
Go Ape in the UK, however, it is set up in a superb location in a natural
forest, with a great team of instructors. The instructors speak English
and there are challenge levels for all ages and abilities. There is a
fantastic and very long zip wire over the lake.
It
is a great day out for all the family and if you can show that you are
staying at Dolphin Gîtes, we have negotiated a price reduction.
6.
The
Puy-du-Fou
(59 miles
from Dolphin Gites)
website
85590
Les Epesses
Very
highly recommended attraction and is a 'must do' if you plan to stay for more
than one week at Dolphin Gites, especially if you have children. The Puy du Fou is
one of the most famous attractions in France and is in easy driving
distance from Dolphin Gites. It is difficult to describe just how good it is - many people
argue that it is better than Disneyland Paris and it is less expensive
without all the queuing. It is nothing like Disneyland Paris and involves
medieval joisting shows, gladiators, and a lot more!!
It
takes just over one hour by car. Go on a day that is not too hot. The
Puy-du-Fou is a superb 'park attraction' which makes a great day out for
all the family. Performances continue throughout the day and include; a
falconry display, jousting knights, magic and music shows, demonstrations
of rural crafts and atmospheric reconstructions of a Norman fort, a
medieval town and an 18th-century village.
There
is a night show which is very good, but not as good as the day show.
The
best shows are the falconry show, the Vikings and the Gladiators -
however, all the shows are fabulous.
7.
Water
Parks There
are 2 great water parks in the area:
Atlantic Tobogan (10 miles from
Dolphin Gites)
website 42
Avenue des Becs, 85270
Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez
Océanile (39 miles from
Dolphin Gites)
website Route
de Noirmoutier, 85740
Noirmoutier-en-l'Île
8.
Zoo (12
miles from Dolphin Gites) website Route
du Tour de France, 85100
Les Sables-d'Olonne There
is a very good zoo at Les Sables d'Olonne, ideal visit if the weather is not
fantastic.
9.
Château
de la Guignardière
Adventure
Château at Avrillé, near Talmont St Hilaire
(25
miles
from Dolphin Gites)
website
Route
des Sables d'Olonnes,
85440
Avrillé
There are various educational
and clue solving trails through the grounds of the château which are
great fun for all the family. It is set in the grounds of the château,
and, if you like following clues on an adventure trail, then you will
enjoy this. There is also a coffee shop.
10.
Château
Talmont St Hilaire
(19
miles
from Dolphin Gites)
Rue
du Château,
85440
Talmont-Saint-Hilaire.
French home of Richard the Lion
Heart, with a range of medieval activities for children. Definitely
worth a visit with young children.
11.
Vélo
Rail
(9
miles
from Dolphin Gites)
website
10 Rue des Volettes,
85220 Commequiers
Good fun
muscle powered train journey along a deserted railway track through unspoilt countryside. The
Vélo Rail starts in Commequiers and continues a
few kilometers through woods and scenic countryside. An enjoyable activity
for all the family. It is advisable to book in the peak season as it is so
popular.
There is also the ruins of a château
at Commequiers
12.
Automobile
Museum
(12
miles
from Dolphin Gites)
website
Route
des Sables D'Olonne,
85440 Talmont-Saint-Hilaire
There
is a very good automobile museum near Les Sables d'Olonne.
13.
Potager
Extraordinaire
(12
miles
from Dolphin Gites)
website
Les
Mares
85150
La Mothe-Achard
Very
weird and very large vegetables. If you like horticulture, then this is a 'must
visit' for you.
14.
The
Machines de I'ile (Ile de Nantes)
(50
miles
from Dolphin Gites)
website
Les
Chantiers Bd Léon Bureau
Nantes, 44200
Remember
the giant mechanical puppets on the streets of Liverpool? The giant girl and the
dog - well they were created by the same person who conceived of the Machines,
at Nantes - François Delarozière.
The
Machines de l’Ile de Nantes, is an extraordinary artistic project like you've
never seen before. Born from the imaginations of François Delarozière and
Pierre Orefice, it is a blend of the invented worlds of Jules Verne, the
mechanical universe of Leonardo da Vinci, and the industrial history of the
French island of Nantes.
“A
team of machine builders have set up their workshop in the industrial warehouses
of the former shipyards, at the heart of the Ile de Nantes. The designers let
their imaginations roam from the treetops, the savannah to the ocean depths,
building a bestiary of living machines to populate this area under
redevelopment.”
You
can have a ride on the mechanical Elephant, or go and visit the workshop and
gallery.
15.
Motor boating
on the Marais Poitevin
(80
minutes from Dolphin Gites)
website
Embarcadère Marais Plaisance
1 route de Nantes
17230 MARANS
Great
family fun motor boating in the beautiful Poitevin marshes north of La Rochelle.
No licence required. A great visit on the way to La Rochelle or Ile de Ré.
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