Sun, Slides and Sunsets: Our Family Road Trip to France This Summer

This summer, my husband, our three children and I swapped airport queues for open roads and set off on a classic family adventure to France. We sailed with Irish Ferries on WB Yeats from Dublin to Cherbourg, packed the car with all our essentials and headed south towards the Vendée for a stay at Le Pin Parasol.

From the moment we drove onto the ferry, it felt like the holiday had already begun. No baggage carousels, no transfers, just the five of us together with France unfolding in front of us. The drive down to the Vendée took us through pretty countryside and charming villages, giving us a lovely sense of being away before we had even arrived at the campsite.

Our “Home Away from Home” in the Vendée
We stayed in a Eurocamp Premium cabin at Le Pin Parasol, which was ideal for us as a family of five. The cabin had everything we needed: proper bedrooms, a cosy living area, a well‑equipped kitchen and a lovely outdoor space where we spent long evenings. It genuinely felt like a home away from home.

We could unpack properly, cook when we wanted to, and the kids had their own space to relax after busy days. Having that comfort and flexibility made such a difference when away with the family. BBQs outside our cabin quickly became a nightly ritual. The kids played nearby as we cooked, and we’d all sit out together as the light faded, chatting about the day and planning the next.

Pool Days, Water Slides and Non‑Stop Fun
Le Pin Parasol is a dream for children. Our three were in heaven from the moment they saw the pool complex. There are several swimming pools to choose from, along with brilliant water slides that kept them entertained for hours.

Our days soon fell into an easy rhythm: relaxed breakfasts at the cabin, then straight to the pool. The kids would race down slides, splash about and make instant holiday friends, while we could sit back and relax knowing they were happy and occupied. The kids’ clubs offered a great mix of activities and gave the children a bit of independence while we enjoyed a quiet coffee or a stroll. With playgrounds dotted around the site as well, there was never a moment of “I’m bored”.

Fantastic Entertainment Under the Stars
One of the real stand‑out features of Le Pin Parasol was the evening entertainment. Every night there was a show in an outdoor theatre area, and it really added something special to our stay.

The entertainment team worked incredibly hard and put on fantastic performances, with themed shows such as The Greatest Showman and The Little Mermaid. Sitting outside under the warm evening sky, watching the children’s faces light up as the music started and the characters appeared on stage, was pure holiday magic. The atmosphere was wonderfully relaxed and family‑friendly. We could enjoy a drink, the kids could sing along and dance, and it felt like a proper event each evening rather than just something to pass the time.

Activities for Everyone: From Colour Runs to Football
As well as the pools and shows, there were some brilliant organised activities that got the whole family involved. Highlights for us included a fun colour run, where everyone ended up covered in bright powder and laughing their heads off, and soccer tournaments that brought together children (and a few competitive parents) of all ages.

These activities were well organised and created such a sense of community on site. The kids loved having something to look forward to and we enjoyed joining in too. It was a great way to make memories beyond the usual pool and beach days.

Evenings of Football, Lakeside Sunsets and Local Villages
Some of our favourite memories are from the quieter moments. After dinner, the kids would grab a football and we’d head off for a kickabout as the air cooled and the sky turned golden. Those long, light summer evenings in France gave us extra hours of playtime and laughter.

Le Pin Parasol is set by a beautiful lake - Lac Du Juanay, and we often wandered down there to watch the sunset. The sky would glow in shades of pink and orange, reflected in the still water, while the children ran around nearby. It was the perfect way to slow down at the end of a busy day.

As tempting as it was to stay on site all day, it would have been a shame not to explore the local area. The Vendée is dotted with charming villages and small towns, and we really enjoyed driving through them, stopping for an ice cream or a coffee and soaking up the atmosphere. Stone houses with colourful shutters, little squares with cafés spilling onto the pavements and bakeries tempting us in with the smell of fresh bread and pastries gave us a lovely glimpse of everyday French life and reminded us how easy and rewarding a self‑drive family holiday can be.

Why This Style of Holiday Works So Well for Families
For us, this trip combined so many of the best bits of a family holiday: the ease of travelling by ferry with the freedom of our own car; the comfort of a Eurocamp Premium cabin that genuinely felt like a home from home; a campsite that is brilliantly set up for children with pools, slides, kids’ clubs, playgrounds and non‑stop entertainment; fantastic evening shows under the stars; extra organised fun like colour runs and soccer tournaments; simple moments like BBQs on our terrace, football at dusk and sunsets by the lake; plus the chance to explore beautiful local villages at our own pace. It was relaxed, fun‑filled and full of memories that the children are still talking about.

If you like the idea of driving to France, avoiding airport stress and staying somewhere that keeps the kids entertained from morning to night, a similar holiday could be a brilliant option for your family. I can help you choose the right ferry route and sailing, find the best accommodation type for your family, plan how many nights to stay (and whether to add stopovers on the way), and tailor the trip around your children’s ages and interests. If this sounds like your kind of escape, get in touch and I would be delighted to help you start planning your own French family adventure.