Saint-Jean-de-Monts, a seaside resort town on the west coast of France, boasts 8km of sandy beach, so you can find wild untouched sections or sections with more facilities - as you like. There are several campsites right on the sea, and others with a waterpark.
Activities like beach horse-riding, surfing and accrobranche (tree-top activities) are available in the area. Inland, trails and canals cross wetland and marshland, great for walking and family bike rides. There is a fabulous path along the sand dunes too, for a windswept walk with a picnic, punctuated by fun sliding down dunes.
You could also visit the island of Noirmoutier (accessible by car via a bridge) and enjoy the quieter atmosphere there. It's a great spot to cycle around, through pine and oak forests and salt marshes, enjoying the sounds of the birds populating this ornithological reserve. And if islands are your passion, you can embark from Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez, only a few minutes away by car, for the island of Yeu, a real jewel of the Vendée.
So there you have it - an open-air holiday in Saint Jean de Monts offers no end of happy moments. But as it is one of France's best-loved seaside resorts, you're certainly not the only one thinking that way. Don't leave it too late to book.
