What's it like to road trip through France with older teens? In Adventures in France: A Road Trip with Older Teens, host Annie Sargent chats with guest Emily Whimster, a New Zealander living in Australia, about her 18-day adventure across France and Italy with her partner and two older teens. From breathtaking landscapes to unique activities, their journey is full of excitement, challenges, and plenty of family fun.

Get the podcast ad-free

Emily shares how they started in Paris before driving through Normandy to visit the D-Day beaches and the Caen Memorial. They explored castles in the Loire Valley, including an unforgettable hot air balloon ride over Château de Chenonceau. Their road trip continued to Bordeaux, with a stop at the iconic Dune du Pilat for hiking and paragliding.

In Chamonix, the family embraced the Alps with tandem paragliding, hiking, and even watching the Olympic torch relay. Emily recounts her partner's daughter's dream of lounging on a Mediterranean beach, fulfilled at the stunning Eden Plage near Menton. They also made time to see the Tour de France's thrilling hill climb stage in Italy, where they had a chance encounter with an Australian team manager.

Emily reflects on the joys of flexibility in their travel style, the benefits of renting a car, and lessons learned about French culture, like how to navigate markets and order decaf coffee. Throughout the episode, Annie and Emily offer practical advice and plenty of laughs.

Whether you're planning your own family road trip or dreaming about future travels, this episode is packed with inspiration. Listen to Adventures in France: A Road Trip with Older Teens for insights, travel tips, and stories that capture the magic of exploring France with older kids. Don't miss it!

Table of Contents for this Episode

• Today on the podcast
• Suport the Podcast
• Bootcamp 2025
• Magazine part of the Podcast
• Introduction and Guest Welcome
• Planning the French Road Trip
• Style of Travel
• Exploring Normandy and Loire Valley
• Hot Air Ballooning Adventure
• Bordeaux and Dune de Pilat
• How to order beverages in France
• Lesson Learned with Toilets
• Dune du Pilat Impressions
• Exploring Arcachon: A Relaxing Beach Town
• Experiencing Lyon's Fête de la Musique
• Tour de France: A Hill Climb Adventure
• Mont Blanc Cable Car and parapenting
• Beach Days and Running Adventures
• Running from Monaco to Menton
• French vs Italian road signs
• Anything Not Recommended?
• Thank you Patrons
• Support Elyse
• VoiceMap Tours Reviews
• Itinerary Consultations for 2025
• Igor, the Retired Guide Dog
• Notre Dame
• French Politics
• Next week on the Podcast
• Copyright

More episodes about family travel in France