First time abroad - the big issue is driving on the wrong side. If you are confident in this you can travel further - I would suggest no further than the Loire Valley. If you are less confident then there is plenty to see and do in the north. There is a lot of holiday 'snobbery' linked with the 'north' just as there is in the UK - just think of the forest of Bowland, the lakes, Yorkshire Dales.
Northern France is wonderful too- you will enjoy yourself in the area. Obviously if you want wall to wall sun then the south is better, but the North can be just like a good summer in the south of England. Normandy, Picardie, Champagne are great.
My daughter - 4 kids under 6 - has camped in northern France for 3 years now - near the coast each time. They don't want to travel far but they want the French experience. Every visit has been a success
Paris is accessible from campsites outside the city - trains are easy enough and linked to the metro system and you get a day pass on the metro with the ticket for peanuts. But do you feel ok in big cities without the language? You can get by - they do speak English, but stay in the tourist spots if you are wary.
Whatever you do, err on the side of caution on your first visit. If you blow the first visit then that'll be it. You will find it even harder to return. Bon courage!
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