www.ensoleillee.com

Sorède is just 10 minutes drive from Argeles Sur Mer with it’s blue flag rated sandy beaches and water sports. It is a wonderful place for a stroll or cycle along the palm lined pedestrianised promenade. (One can hire bikes here too) There are plenty of reasonably priced family orientated restaurants & takeaways to choose from. Most restaurants offer a children’s menu for between about 6 -12€ & adult 2/3 course menu’s start at around 10€. In the summer there are all kinds of music events & firework displays on offer. Ask at the Argeles tourist office for the latest information. All sorts of boats, canoes, paracending  & other sea orientated activities can be undertaken here in summer.
If it's natural quiet beaches you're after, head for Argeles Plage Nord. From here towards St-Cyprien is a protected conservation area.

Argeles beach in summer		Argeles beach summer shopping

Collioure (15 mins drive) a tasteful historic medieval fishing port is a must. It has a selection of artisanal shops & art galleries to visit. You can take boat trips from here to Argeles or Port Vendres.

Collioure in winter		Collioure, great for a coffee

Laroque des Alberes ( 5 mins drive) has many good restaurants & bars.

Ceret with it museum of Modern art & popular Saturday market is well worth a visit. For me the market there is not to be missed as it is full of organic seasonal locally grown produce. In winter you find citrus fruits, apples, pears & kiwis, in May the cherry festival arrives bringing with it the most delicious cherries. Then of course the summer bring juicy, flavorsome apricots, peaches & nectarines & autumn  sweet succulent grapes making you feel sure that you will never buy any of them from a supermarket again!!

Carnival time spring in Ceret		Ceret market

Saw player Ceret market		Cafe life on market day in Ceret summer

St Jean Pla de Corts and villelongue lakes are also worth a visit, They are hidden away, unspotted by most tourists.

St-Jean Pla de Corts lake

Perpignan offers more shopping & sites including a Royal Palais & the riverside is a welcome place to stop & eat.

Spain is only 20 minutes drive away. Figuras has a large market selling good value shoes & leather goods as well as the popular Dali museum. Gerona & thriving Barcelona are in daytrip range & full of sites to visit. The unspoilt Costa Brava with its pine back coves is also worth a trip. Restaurants are generally good value & good quality with flexible opening hours in Spain.

Rock pool fun		Montgo beach, Spain in September

The Pyrenees, one & a half hours drive away or so are wonderful for skiing in winter or walking in summer & on the way back you can experience the open air thermal baths at St Thomas Le Bain.

Build a snowman in the mountains!

The little yellow train is a partly open air train which takes you through breathtaking scenery. You can get this from Villefranche-de-Conflent a place worth visiting in itself. Also located here  are Les grand Mottes which are caves full of stalagnites & stalagmites.