Spend a week in Provence in the summer and I dare you not to fall in love with France.

For me, it's all about Spain!

France is lovely but I wouldn't say it "awakened my soul". But maybe it's different for me because it's not worlds apart, it's just our (prettier, more impressive, but fundamentally rather similar) neighbour...

Kristen, thank you so much for not using that editorial "we" which plagues this site!

Meh. France, really? France was a dynamic and intriguing place about a hundred years ago, but lately it is static. It's very conservative in the sense of preserving things the way they are. There are no new ideas. Everyone romanticizes France but I really don't get it.

I would pick Vietnam or Thailand instead.

I am going to Provence and French Riviera last this Summer and i am very excited about it. I have been to Paris and loved the culture, food, etc but hated French people.
Hopefully people in country sides are a bit better?

Anyway, if I had to pick my favorite place on earth(out of all the places I have visited so far), it would be Bali. It really is a magical place to be. I'd love to visit Thailand, Vietnam and Philliphine when I get a chance.

Paris is my favourite, I spend 2 weeks every year there but I'm moving to Nice next year as Paris is too cold.

France is nice but it's not "magical". Rather than write about someplace you've not been, why not write about someplace you have?

Or at least post about places in France that haven't already been covered on AT--why recycle these old posts?

I studied abroad for the month of June in Tours. It is so amazing. They call it the City of a thousand Chateaux. It's so homey and beautiful. Not too big, not too small. It reminded me of Austin, Texas how it's so community focused. You must try the local wines there, Sauvignon Blancs, Vouvray (white) and Chinon (red). The Vouvray will be something you've never had.

Here's my blog if you want to check out photos of it. http://jessicaraeblog.wordpress.com

I visited Avignon, Nice and Paris some years back and I enjoyed them but I wasn't really drawn back. Rome won my heart totally and completely, though. The people and the food and all the sights and sounds were just amazing. I would happily live there, if only I spoke Italian.

Oh...how timely for me! haha! I'm going to Paris, Biarritz and a few places along the Cote d'Azur in a few weeks. If anyone has any specific pointers, in addition to the ones above, please comment!!

I'm w/ @m!. You can skip Europe all together (or save it for later) and just go to Asia. It's far more interesting.

A great armchair travel/trip-planning source is the gorgeous quarterly France Magazine. Not for nothing is its tagline "the best of culture, travel & art de vivre." Every issue covers cutting-edge art and design, along with food, wine, the latest in architecture, etc. Check it out at www.francemagazine.org.

oops altogether.

I know EXACTLY how you feel. In my case, I've spent every year after I graduated from high school studying, doing my undergraduate degree, and now I'm going straight to grad school with no break in-between. I've never had the time to travel let alone go outside of the United States.

My boyfriend, understanding my longing for foreign lands, had mentioned traveling together after my MA. So, for the first time, I got my passport and set up a savings account for traveling expenses as a promise to myself that I will do this thing!

France is first on the list!

Another vote for Bali here! :)

I wouldn't say no to a trip to France though! :)

Thank you for this post from a middle-aged single mom who has never had the money to travel abroad. (I made sure my daughter was able to go to England, though.) I'd love to go to Paris.

A giant vote for France here, and any other country who is "very conservative in the sense of preserving things the way they are."

There's no need to erase marvelous history in favor of re-decorating the entire world. I want to wander narrow streets amid broody buildings and grumpy people who make fantastic meals.

Loved the non tourist parts of Greece, land of my heritage, and am now ready to explore lands of other people's heritage. Like Italy! perhaps Spain

Not to dis Asia, however. I've wanted to go to Japan since I was 5 years old. Not modern Tokyo, but the countryside

Here are some sources that I used to find unique places
http://www.eurostartripplanner.com/en-uk/paris/search/index.aspx

http://www.vingtparismagazine.com/page/3/

I liked Paris but the country side was more my deal, charming people and beautiful food.

My favorite place was tahiti and Peru so far.

YOU MUST GO.

Lyon

http://ajt.iki.fi/travel/lyon/index.html

http://www.paradoxplace.com/Photo%20Pages/France/Burgundy%20Champagne/Vezelay/Vezelay.htm (scroll down for fantastic pix. )

It's all like that! And the food is great.

since you've NEVER left the US, could i suggest a long weekend in Montreal to give you that French flavour without having to go far from home?

stay in the old city... you won't regret it!

Boycotting France, and French products (even ones I admit I like, like the wines and the cookware) until they change their entrenched, governmentally supported, racist, religiously oppressive, xenophobic policies.

@JosieDaisy so you're not racist or zenophobic and live in a country where health care is the best in the world and free to poor people.

France is so lovely. The people are interesting to talk to and the food is yummy (well at least the pastries and anything with bread is). My absolute favorite spot to be was Chamonix. A runner up was Toulouse or Colmar. I loved both places. A very interesting place to see is Carcassone. You should take 3 weeks the first time you go, it's so worth it.