Champagne dreams can come true when you choose a campsite in Northern France's Champagne-Ardenne province, the birthplace of the famous bubbly wine. From May to September, you can choose a secluded tent in the forest, a lakeside retreat or a lively four-star campground with resort amenities and nightly entertainment. You may end up sipping Champagne while grilling freshly caught fish over a cozy campfire. Once you've had the French camping experience, you'll want to repeat it.
The bicycle is king at Yelloh! Village campsite, which advertises itself as being in the middle of nowhere. It is, in fact, in the heart of a lush national forest and about 200 yards from the shores of Lake Der, from which you can access 60 miles of cycling tracks. Yelloh! offers plenty of family activities, including two kid's clubs -- one younger, one junior -- where kids can enjoy crafts, sports and classes designed to prepare them to participate in a weekend theater presentation. The campsite has a restaurant and bar as well as takeout food and a pizzeria.
French campgrounds are rated with stars, and La Forge Sainte-Marie netted five of them. Even the tent sites are very upscale, with the premium pitches offering Wi-Fi, electricity, garden furniture, a fridge and a garden area. Upscale campers might prefer a gypsy caravan or a three-bedroom VIP mobile home where, as the camp operators say, "the beds are made and the wine is chilled." Camp by the trout fishing lake and you can take your catch from hook to frying pan in a matter of minutes. Also, The English-speaking staff hosts wine and cheese tastings by the lake at least once a week. Kids' activities include a bounce castle, scooter park, kiddie pool, arts and crafts and a teddy bear picnic. Adults may prefer a tour of the neighboring monastery and its Champagne cellar, finishing with a couple glasses of bubbly. After an afternoon of petanque, archery or swimming in the heated pool, take advantage of the on-site massage services, followed by a drink in the bar and a roasted game dish in the restaurant.
From tree houses to yurts, glamping -- glamorous camping -- is the latest trend in campsites, and you can find a collection of off-beat abodes nestled in the middle of the Champagne vineyards near the town of Bar-sur-Aube and its namesake river. Choose from five types of glamping units: A luxury gypsy caravan, a spartan cubist cabin with a skylight and barely room for two, a cathedral-shaped pod or a tricked-out ecolodge for up to six people. This eco-glamping site is designed for simplicity, but it also has a sauna, heated indoor pool, playground and bar. You must bring your own provisions, but all units except for the small pod have a kitchen corner. Book your reservations through Glamping Hub.
If you like to travel light, consider Club du Soleil de Troyes, where you won't even need clothing as you lounge around the campfire or take a dip in the swimming hole. This all-nude "naturisme" club offers simple mobile homes as well as a couple of cabins, but hot showers are in a communal area. Activities include volleyball, basketball, swimming, archery, lawn bowling and badminton. The kids can take advantage of a clubhouse and a small playground area. You will be on your own for provisions, but fresh baguettes are delivered daily and there is a small bar on the premises.
