What's up Stemmit Community!
Summer has officially kicked in in the northern hemisphere and if you don't have any travel plans yet, you might want to check this out...
Before starting to read, do me a favour and put on this tune:
It will get you into the right mood for this post, it takes me right back every time :)
Hourtin Plage, a small village right by the Atlantic coast of south France has been one of our favourite vacation spots over the last 10 year. My parents used to go camping there when they were in their 20's and decided to take us there for the first time in 2006. Ever since then, we can't resist going back every 2-3 years, even though the world offers so many beautiful vacationing spots. It is the perfect mixture of relaxation, exciting activities and rich french culture. Hopefully this post can show you why!
Hourtin Plage is located near the city of Bordeaux, right at the Atlantic coast. The main town is called Hourtin and the word "plage" means beach in french. This map should give you an idea:
This area, also known as the "Médoc" region, is particularly well known for it's wines. If you enjoy a glass of Cabernet-Sauvignon or Merlot, along with some french baguette and a selection of french cheese this is the perfect spot for you. The wonderful part about buying these products regionally is the great value compared to what you would pay at home as you only pay about a third of the price. Visiting and taking tours of the various historic "Chateau's" can also be nice if you are interested in traditional french culture going back hundreds of years.
Since we have visited this area so many times, we usually visit one chateau during a trip, take a souvenir wine bottle enjoy it near the beach during the evening. Now to Hourtin Plage:
The best place to stay is actually on camping ground. This is not any camping ground however: it's a 5 star "Air Hotel" with everything you could ask for: Extremely clean sanitary facilities which are being cleaned 24/7, basketball, tennis and beach volleyball courts, playgrounds for kids, multiple adventurous swimming pools, billiard tables, an arcade hall, restaurants, a gym, sports classes and a relaxed atmosphere. Due to the numerous activities this is camping ground is perfect for kids, but also for anybody wanting a quiet and relaxing time- since the ground is so large and so spread out, you an reside in a quite part and you won't hear a thing! You can either bring your own tent for a classic camping experience, or rent a spacious cabin.
Here are a few pictures of the camping grounds so you can get a feel for what I mean:
You have to walk up one central road with restaurants, delis and surf shacks until this wonderful view bedazzles you:
The beach here is the probably the best one i have been to, even though beaches can be hard to compare. Of course this one isn't comparable to white sand, light blue water beaches of the Maldives, but it has its perks. The tides are nice, as water comes and goes (but not too far) and the WAVES are the factor that really make this beach awesome: They are HUGE! You can either just go in and battle them, trying to hold your ground while diving through them, or you can take a body or surf board and ride them 100 yards all the way back to the beach. Incredibly fun and a great workout ;-)
The beach: where relaxation begins, no place for stress, where elements of water and sky meet in perfect harmony to set the mind and soul completely free
Enjoy and let it inspire you:
If you don't have beach chairs, this might be your best option
We love to stay active on the beach, as we get bored lying around reading all day. Beach tennis is really fun and get's you heated up quickly before you take a dip in the refreshing ocean!
If you feel like taking a break from the salt water, a visit to the Lac d'Hourtin is a beautiful alternative to the ocean.
The weather is usually stifling hot and sunny all the time, so a mixed weather day is actually quite a nice change once in a while. "Boules" is a traditional french game, where a few players have 2 balls and take turns as they try to aim as close as they can next to one small ball which is thrown at the beginning of each round. A perfect activity for days like this.
To the next highlight: Dune du Pilat! This is the largest sand dune in all of Europe, about 110 meters high, 500 meters wide and 2,7 kilometres long. The view from up there is amazing and running and jumping down is really fun, but also tiring because you have to make your way back up!
Twice a week the small town of Hourtin hosts a traditional french market with fresh Oysters, delicate wines, french sausages and all kinds of cheese.
Thank you for reading, i hope I was able to convince you to visit the Médoc region one day, even if you are coming all the way from the US!
Take care and remember to:
Keep calm and Steem on!
All the best,
Chris