I have personally traveled around Southwest France by almost every transportation method. Believe me, there are many ways to get to and get around this corner of France. The main thing is to be sure you know precisely how (and what is the best method) for your itinerary and your destinations.

I've just added a guide to help: Getting to Southwest France.

Also be sure to see my guide to Southwest France for a primer on the area.

_{Photo of the yellow train that provides a breathtaking way to get around the Perpignan area, © David Blaikie}

Few people think of sunbathing as a past-time in Paris, but the "Paris Plage" (French for Paris Beach) proves you can do both city and beach. Along a stretch of the Seine River, bikini-clad sun-worshipers enjoyed sand (shipped in) and a pool.

Want to hit an authentic beach? France has an endless supply! Find out more with my feature, Top Beach Destinations in France. Or hit one of the French territories, beautiful Saint Martin. Find out more with guest writer Naomi Serviss' article, Saint Martin - French Island of Spirit and Freedom (from Clothes).

As you stand at one of several overlooks, the Mediterranean crashes several stories below. Craggy mountains pierce the sea. Steeply sloping vineyards speckle the landscape and crowd the coastline. Spain’s rugged shore can be spotted just to the south.

Find out more about this region that is delightfully undiscovered by tourists, and find a Côte Vermeille itinerary, with Côte Vermeille's Undiscovered Catalan French Beach Towns.

_{Photo of vineyards dotting a Côte Vermeille hillside, copyright Michael Carr.}

Guest writer Elizabeth Cron just visited Paris with her boyfriend, and she found it wasn't as easy for him to get swept up in the romance of Paris. Luckily, the beauty and opulence of Versailles was just the perfect discovery for her on the hunt for romance in France.

Excerpt:

Paris, the city of light, is often referred to as one of “the most romantic cities in the world” -- a point not lost on my boyfriend and travel companion during our recent trip to France.

“It’s so romantic here” – he sarcastically crooned as we waited in line for over an hour for the privilege to buy tickets to the Eiffel Tower.

“It’s so romantic here” – as the waiter sat us at the only table not in the shade on an unbearably hot day in the Tuileries Gardens.

“It’s so romantic here” – as he carries both of our suitcases up and down uncountable flights of stairs as we try to decipher the maze of underground subway tunnels.

While we thoroughly enjoyed our time in Paris, mostly spent trekking from site to site in an effort not to miss anything, it was clear the famed “romance” of the city was getting lost on him. Determined to experience some French romance, I had pinned all my hopes on our final destination of the trip: Versailles.

Find out what they discovered with her guest post: Finding Romance in Versailles

_{Photo of Versailles, copyright Elizabeth Cron}