Unfortunately, our first flight got delayed over 2 hours which made us miss our connecting flight as well as a few other outgoing flights so our trip got shortened by a day. But nonetheless, we moved fast pace and made the best of it below!
Our absolute favorite place to stay was Domaine de Fontenille, a 35 minute-ish drive to Aix en Provence. The property was much like a boutique chateau - absolutely stunning interior and perfect place for a time to relax in the country of the South of France. They have a pool, you can walk their grounds with their vineyards, garden (which most of their food is made from), donkeys, and more.
They have a Michelin Star Chef restaurant, as well as Bistro style restaurant (which we ate at for dinner one night - amazing!!). The made-from-scratch breakfast was worth every penny!! Ask for an omelette!!
We also stayed at Le Tholonet Les Lodges Sainte Victoria which was another beautiful chateau that's only a 20 minute drive from Aix en Provence. The outdoor seating from breakfast, lunch, and/or dinner is also gorgeous, they have two pools, and is so close to the city yet feels like you're relaxing in the country.
A must visit place in the South of France! Cassis is a small fishing village with beautiful mountains and cliffs that are set amongst the beautiful coast.
Eze is a small village on a hilltop in France, about 20 minutes from Nice and 20 minutes from Monaco. It was very rainy the day we went, and with the steps being a little slippery we didn't get to explore much of the town. But from local recommendations, here is what's the best thing to do in Eze:
You only need a few hours to explore Exze, but I'd recommend taking a short drive to Monaco and/or Ville France Sur Mer. Locals recommend visiting Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat for quiet beaches if exploring the later village.
I'sle Sur La Sorgue has a HUGE market on Sundays... like it wraps around the village and you can be strolling it for HOURS! There's lots of local foods and vintage markets. If you are exploring this village when there isn't a market day, they are still known for their abundance of vintage stores.
There are so many recommendations for Aix en Provence, so I'm only listing a short bunch. But I'd recommend taking the day to explore the town, shops, markets, boulangeries, and more!
Loumarin was a small village that was within a 20 minute drive of Domaine de Fontenille. This town is decorated with beautiful greenery, ADORABLE shops with such cute linens and cotton patterns, and perfect for dinner after a long day exploring. Locals recommended Le Vival (a small boutique-style local grocer), Pizza Nonni (for more casual pizzas and Italian food), L'Insolite Restaurant, and La Récréation Restaurant.
An absolute must visit spot in the South of France!! We rented a paddle boat and explored the canyons, swam a little in the warm water, and just chilled for the 2 hours that was a total of 40 Euros. Worth every penny, and one of our favorite parts of the trip!
Use this address to find parking that leads to the paddle boat rentals: Base de L'Etoile
Moustiers Sainte Marie is a small village right next door to the Gorges du Verdon (less than a 10 minute drive). It is filled with beautiful landscapes, a waterfall that runs through the center of the village, lots of bright local pottery shops, and more.
If you visit during lavender season, you'll find lavender fields all along the drive here and shops within town that sell local lavender goods.
I would allow for 2-3 hours to explore the town and shops. You can also hike to the church at the top of the town, which I would allow an additional hour. If you plan on grabbing lunch or dinner after being at Gorges du Verdon, the make a whole day of it!
I was able to fully customize my Roam Luggage Carry On Suitcase (zippers and all), there was so many compartments to keep.me organized throughout the trip, and you can pack SO much into it while still fitting into the airplane overhead carry on compartments!
I truly hope you all enjoy this treasured recipe that has nestled its way into our hearts here in the ABM kitchen! ’till next time… xxL
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“"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” ~ Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
