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Only 3wks to go!! (la garangeoire).  Has anyone got recommendation of must see places, best beaches etc.  We havent been to the vendee before so its all new.

Thanks

We are going to www.puydufou.fr on the recommendation of many people on this site -see if you can find the post a few weeks ago.Les Sables d'olonne is a big resort , lovely for a walk along the seafront in the evening , it also has a really good zoo. The beaches just north of La Tranche (Les Conches) are fantastic for surfing,bodyboardingetc.The castle at Talmont StHilaire is great for kids

Thanks for the advice.  I have ordered the book on Amazon.

Apremont is worth a visit, there is a nice little chateau and also a lakeside beach. Much nicer to swim in than the sea.

The Grand Plage at St Giles Croix de Vie is the biggest beach in the area..so big it is used for sand  yachting.  and when the tide goes out the locals mark out their tennis courts to play on .

Into town follow signs to  "Grand Plage "   there is a block of flats fronting onto the prom that you will see with a circular window design  like big  port holes.....head for it  you can park free to the back of  it and there is an access onto the beach to the left . Been going for years and have always got parked .

There is a beach cafe about 400 yards away  if you need one ..you  will not be crowded in on this beach !

I have visited Oceanile (a Water Park) on the Ile de Nourmontier, whole family enjoyed it, Also Planet Sauvage is very good, its like a Safari trip, you can drive through the park and the animals come right up to the car. (Lions & Tigers are penned in though!) Great Bird and Seal show too.

Campsites usually have notice boards that have local information, and special offers for most attractions too

Keep an eye out for Firework Displays on 15th August, they are usually held on the major beaches.

Most of the relevant info is in Angela Birds book anyway. http://www.the-vendee.co.uk/

Enjoy yourself, I am heading there on the 6th for 3rd time, (22 Days to go)

Thanks everyone.  I have taken note of all your recommendations and have started planning from Angela Birds book.  Cant wait !!!!

If your visiting St.Gille de Croix, and you like rock pooling, a little further on is St. Hilaire de Reiz, not a lot there just a little seaside village, but when the tide is out the rock pooling is fantastic, huge crabs, prawns and shrimps of all shapes and sizes, anenome's(sp?), and the find of the day a hermit crab in a little pool that we sat and watched for ages. All you need is little net, unless you want to crab fish (rather than scoop) in which case a little way out is a huge slab with a hole in it, it's some kind of old shelter or tank, you can drop a crab line down and catch some biggies.
The kids loved it!.
 Sounds daft, but when the weather is good enough for sunning on a beach or if (like us) you find sitting on a beach doing nothing boring, then it's good little pastime. Apparently (as mentione in the Angela Bird book) it is also legal to take away any seafood you find, as long as you only take enough for one portion per person.