Here is my dream trip!

[CTyankee]

"Discover the essence of France—its rich history, culture, and scenic beauty—on this popular tour featuring many World Heritage sites. Explore the fortified medieval town of Carcassonne and the market town of Albi, including the museum showcasing works of Toulouse-Lautrec. In the breathtaking Dordogne, known for its rugged countryside and lovely villages, enter the famous caves at Lascaux II and visit the pilgrimage site of Rocamadour.

Travel to the fabled Loire River Valley, a World Heritage site, where you’ll tour Fontevraud Abbey, the original resting place of Eleanor of Aquitaine, Henry II, and Richard the Lion Heart. You’ll also visit the romantic Château de Chenonceau and the Château Clos Luce, where Leonardo da Vinci spent his final years. Farther north, highlights include the dramatic Gothic abbey of Mont St. Michel and the town of Bayeux with its famous medieval tapestry, as well as Normandy’s D-Day landing beaches and the Memorial Museum at Caen. In Giverny, stroll through the gardens that inspired Monet’s impressionist masterpieces, then conclude in Paris with a city highlights tour."

http://www.smithsonianjourneys.org/tours/france/

I went on one Smithsonian Journey a few years back, I believe to Spain. I was impressed with the quality of the guides and lecturers.

Always wanted to travel to see the old French castles (and also the cathedrals, but that's another trip). I love taking "a step back in time" as I did in Tuscany last March...history and culture are very important in my travels.

This is pricey but it is pretty long -- 15 days -- and would have to find a travel buddy. But at my age, who knows what will be your last shot at travel abroad?