Calais

[keyplus90]

Next week we are going to Calais (just a day trip) with kids. I have gone past few times but never spent time around calais. What are the attractions around there within the reach for a day? Mainly any shopping centres, marketes, or places of interest for kids. Thanks.

[boxtops]

It's a nice town, keyplus, have a look here http://www.calais.ws/

[boxtops]

PS Lots of kids find the ferry trip quite exciting, especially if they've not been on the sea before - see who can spot passing ships, etc. It's very busy down here in Dover at the moment with the school holidays starting, leave plenty of time, the roads around the docks are particularly busy at this time of year.

[grasscarp]

We once went to Calais for the day. Plenty of places to eat steak and chips and some very friendly bars.

[keyplus90]

Thanks. One of the main reason is ferry and as you said kids love that. We have been to IOW few times but this time decided about Calais. Thanks.

[Buenchico]

I'm curious as to why a town in France should choose to use a Western Samoan domain name, as in Boxtops' link! ;-)

If your French is up to it, try the town's official website:
http://www.calais-cot...com/index.php?lang=fr

Calais is much maligned by many, but I quite like it. The big shopping centre is Cité Europe, which is quite a way out of the town. However it's an easy, well-signposted drive, or you can use the bus service (Route No 1) which runs every 15 minutes:
http://en.citeeurope.com/

Don't expect to find many big shops in the town centre. However there are plenty of independent traders (including some great places to buy local food and wine).

There's currently a photography exhibition which might be worth visiting:
http://www.ville-cala.../spip.php?article2929

Au Calice Restaurant, on Boulevard Jacquard (which is the main shopping street) is lovely:
http://www.lecalice.c...fiche.php?fr=0&id=84&

Chris

[jno]

Chris, I'm guessing Samoa provide cheap domain names. Same with Tuvalu, which has the advantage of being .tv. It's a modest cottage industry in the south Pacific.

Even though Western Samoa doesn't actually exist any more...

[VHG]

According to Wiki "ws" was set up to be some sort of "World Site" (rather like com).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.ws

Not sure it ever took off.

[VHG]

Calais used to be owned by the English (for a couple of hundred years). We lost it during the reign of Mary 1st.

May be interesting to explore the city and see if there is any evidence of that

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calais

[keyplus90]

Thanks for your links Chris. VHG, once I am there I would try looking for any reason to take over that town once again. Thanks to all of you.

[chokkie]

Cap Gris Nez, Montreuil (delightful, there are old castle walls you can walk around). There's a lovely street market in Montreuil too, but I don't know which day it's on. Good Saturday market in Boulogne and great fish restaurants in Boulogne. Lots of fish to buy from the quayside stalls in Boulogne, ditto in a place just down the road called Etaples. Oh, there's Nausicaa (never been, but i think it's the French version of Seaworld) in Boulogne, and loads of places to eat just opposite. And some military museums along the coast.