Toulouse: France’s “Pink City”

Lose yourselves amid the stalls of the utterly French Marché Victor Hugo. Fill a basket with creamy Camembert, foie gras, a crusty baguette and some croquants—the almond cookies Toulouse is known for—and head to the water for a romantic picnic. Once you’ve finished eating, take a stroll or a bike ride along the enchanting Canal du Midi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that links the Mediterranean to the Atlantic. Book a cruise for a truly memorable afternoon.

Europe’s best space museum, the Cité de l’espace appeals to the whole family. Exhibits include a chunk of real moon rock and an exact replica of the MIR Space Station that kids can climb right into. Want cooler? The Moon Runner, a moonwalk simulator lets them feel like they are moving around on the moon. The rides, zip lines, trampolines, water park, and huge petting zoo where you can feed the animals at Animaparc mean a whole day of fun for kids and parents alike.

Toulouse is known the world over for its cultivation of violets, and there’s a souvenir for everyone in your group at the Maison de la Violette. Choose from candied violets, liqueur, bath products and more, before enjoying a cup of tea on the upper deck. For a wonderfully communal experience of French cuisine, head to Chez Navarre where you and your friends can share a long and charming table. A delightful blend of heritage, nature and the art of living, the Midi-Pyrénées draws visitors from near and far to its magnificent mountains, mysterious valleys, picturesque villages, glorious ramparts, unspoiled coastlines and exquisite cuisine. Bordering Spain to the south, and located between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, this charming region is dotted with medieval fortresses, natural masterpieces and important pilgrimage sites along the Way of St. James. The list of things to see and do is endless and includes the Midi Canal linking the Atlantic to the Mediterranean, the towering Pic du Midi with its astronomical observatory, the Cirque de Gavarnie and Cauterets that form part of the Pyrénées National Park, the intriguing caves of Padirac and Ariège, the Gaillac vineyards, and the 25 Great Sites made up of ancient yet well-preserved towns brimming with history and heritage.