In reality, most French people do not spend their summers chasing iconic landmarks or ticking destinations off a bucket list. Their idea of a successful vacation is quieter, slower, and often much closer to home. Rather than Paris or Saint-Tropez, they favor rural regions, discreet coastlines, forested hills, and mid-sized towns where life moves at a gentler pace, often staying in family homes, rented gîtes, camping sites, or small guesthouses.
Here in the far north of France, we are calling it "the new south of France" because we have had one of the sunniest summers anyone can remember. We've had a fair bit of rain too so the Seven Valleys where I live are lush and green, and nature has had a ball - everything is ripening; apple, plum and pear trees are bursting with fruit, big juicy blackberries are dangling from hedges, and the fields are full of bales of hay waiting to be stored.