Creative Wanders Life

Adventures & Inspiration for Life’s Next Chapter

By

Stacy G

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A Weekend that Changed the Way I Travel:

I’m a firm believer that there is a difference between vacationing and traveling. One is solely for rest and relaxation, and the other for exploring new places and experiencing new cultures. After years of travel to dozens of destinations, this one weekend spent outside a village in the South of France changed to way I plan travel for myself and my clients.

The Trip

To celebrate my daughter’s graduation from Graduate School, we planned a wonderful 10 day mother-daughter trip to France starting with a busy sight-seeing filled three days in Paris and ending with several stops along the French Riviera. The plan was to take a few days in between while stopping to visit her friend who was living in Aix-en-Provence.

I’d made arrangements for the weekend at a nice little hotel in a converted Chateau. Several weeks before our departure, the hotel reached out with apologies that they had been completely booked out for a wedding, and had transferred our booking to a sister property. My immediate reaction was a bit of frustration as I carefully research where we stay. After looking, however, this was an obvious upgrade — with no additional charge. 

Arriving in Provence

A lively square with a musician playing guitar, surrounded by people enjoying outdoor dining at cafes, historic buildings in the background, and a statue in the center.

The train ride from Paris into Provence is lovely as you exit the metropolitan areas, and move into gently rolling hills, past small farms then vineyards. We arrived in the center of Aix-en-Provence just as a morning street market was preparing to close up, and got a chance to stroll and shop in some of the booths of the local vendors. Then we met our friend for a slow, delicious light lunch, after which she gave us a personal tour of her charming town. 

‘Aix’ is everything you could hope for in a French Provencal village; cobbled streets, warm colored buildings, cafes with outdoor seating, bubbling fountains, small shops selling locally grown lavender and regional wine… Much to my delight, there was even an art fair going on in the church square.  

A view of a large, two-story building with a tan façade, surrounded by neatly trimmed green hedges and a garden path leading to the entrance. Outdoor seating with umbrellas can be seen in front of the building.

Château de la Gaude

After our wonderful afternoon in town, we drove about 20 minutes further into the rural hills for our stay at Château de la Gaude.

Even now, I smile as I picture turning off the road through a gate and down a long tree-lined, cobbled drive. The staff in the small reception area welcomed us, and efficiently got us checked in. 

Passing through french doors into a sunlit courtyard, the beauty of the property opened up as we made our way to the original chateau (listed as a historic monument) where our room was located on the second floor. Modern art and fixtures thoughtfully blend into the details of the historic building. Our spacious room was brightly lit with windows that opened to overlook the courtyard. The furnishings throughout are a tasteful, neutral and elegant but comfortably modern — not the heavy or stuffy atmosphere you’d expect of such a grand estate. The magnificent marble bath has a double vanity, walk in shower and a pair of luxurious white robes hanging near a warmer all ready for us. 

In the room with a kind welcome note was the bottle of the house vintage Rose that I had pre-ordered. The surprise was a beautiful small box with fresh sweet pastries. After freshening up a bit, we went out to explore the property. From the hall balcony, we caught sight of a beautiful wedding being celebrated just past a most amazing formal garden. 

The 5-star property that dates back to the 18th century hosts 17 suites across two main buildings separated by gardens with carefully curated modern art, fountains and outdoor seating areas. These are surrounded by their 60 acres of vineyards. Even with the other guests around, everything felt private, and peaceful. 

Dinner at Le Art

Two women sitting at a table outdoors, surrounded by a lush garden with a fountain. One woman is wearing a black dress and the other a brown top. They are smiling, with drinks and a floral centerpiece on the table.

On site are three distinct restaurants, including Le Art, a Michelin-starred restaurant featuring the cuisine of Chef Matthieu Derible. To be quite honest, I’d never dined at a truly gourmet restaurant, thinking it pretentious and that the fancy little bites of food couldn’t taste as good as they looked. Still, we wanted the full experience and reserved our first night to have dinner there with the five-course tasting menu. 

We opted for the outdoor seating, and were placed with a front and center view of the magnificent formal garden. We were presented with the evening’s menu from which we could make a few choices. Then, they placed the wine list on the table. I have never seen such a huge volume which offered more than 1,000 varieties including selections from the estate’s own organic vineyard. 

While the staff certainly professional, they were friendlier than I expected. Even the sommelier was gracious and relieved any fear I had of being intimidated by snobbery as we chose to let him pair our wine from local selections. 

About the food, I am happy to admit that I have never been more wrong. From the very first gorgeous bite, I looked at my daughter with an expression of utter amazement. The flavors, the textures, the absolute perfection of each combination was exquisite! Now, I understand — gourmet food is most certainly an art form on multiple levels. 

Rest and Relaxation

The next day was designed to simply relax and enjoy the surroundings. After a light breakfast, we made our way a short walk into the vineyard where the pool and spa facilities are housed. After a very relaxing massage, we met back at the pool with our books and claimed comfortable lounge chairs. Even on a beautiful sunny June day, there were only a few other guests around. Absolutely content, we stayed relaxed and sunning until we began to get hungry again. Then we noticed a small bar area where a waiter stood ready to bring us anything we needed. Poolside food on a whole other level. I believe we would both travel the distance back just to have the truffle flatbread again. 

Wine Tasting & the Cellar Experience

A group of people sitting at a curved wooden bar in a modern winery, enjoying a wine tasting. A server is pouring wine for the guests while others engage in conversation.

Early evening, we gathered with a about 8 other people at the small wine bar for an educational tasting. The young and personable, but impressively knowledgable sommelier explained to local viticulture and let us taste vintages of the estate. Then he asked about our favorite varieties, pulled appropriate bottles and informed us about differences and similarities of those global wine regions. 

As interesting as that was, it became more so as he then led us down into the estate’s wine cellar. As with everything at Cateau de la Gaude, it was an artistically designed blend of modern and classic. The expanse of it was substantial as the curated collection holds between 20,000 and 40,000 bottles at any given time. The organization and care they take to protect the older vintages was quite impressive.

A Lasting Impression

Two women standing on a gravel pathway in a sunlit park, surrounded by tall trees and green foliage.

The next morning had us preparing to continue our trip and dive down to the French Riviera with our first stop being St. Tropez. Even with the expectation of that, we were sad to leave and wanted to linger longer at this incredible place where everything felt perfectly balanced — the historic and modern, the luxurious and comfortable, the sense of calm. 

The splurge was definitely worth it, and the perfect experience to celebrate a major milestone. What it taught me was the value of a pause in the middle (or at the end) of busy travel. The French have a concept, often referred to as l’art de ne rien faire (the art of doing nothing) or simply farniente. 

Since that weekend, I’m more focused on “slow travel”, perhaps seeing less but enjoying more. This doesn’t mean boring or only doing gentle activities. It means taking the time to settle more deeply into a different culture. Whether that means a wine tasting or bungee jump, is up to you and the places you want to visit, just don’t rush past the beautiful small moments that make the trip meaningful. 

A picturesque villa with ivy-covered walls and terracotta roof tiles, set against a colorful sunset. The background features lush vineyards and greenery.
A woman in a green dress stands by a decorative door of a light-colored building with blue shutters, illuminated by soft lighting.
A scenic view of a vineyard with lush green grapevines in the foreground, leading to a rustic yellow building surrounded by tall trees and set against a colorful sunset sky with pink and purple clouds.
A picturesque view of a charming house with a terracotta roof, adorned with lush green ivy, surrounded by gardens and vineyards under a clear blue sky.
A plate featuring a piece of salmon with a creamy sauce, garnished with pink edible decorations and a small amber jelly. A glass of white wine and a roll in the background with a scenic outdoor view of greenery and trees.
A woman in a floral red dress stands beside a gray BMW SUV parked on a cobblestone path, surrounded by trees and a sunny blue sky.
A vineyard lined with grapevines under a blue sky, featuring twisted trunks and green leaves, with red wildflowers growing among the vines.
A picturesque vineyard landscape under a clear blue sky, featuring rows of green grapevines, distant hills, and a few scattered houses surrounded by trees.
A person in a white dress standing among lavender plants with olive trees and blue sky in the background.
A woman in a white dress stands in the middle of a manicured green hedge maze, with a vast garden area and sculptural art in the background under a clear blue sky.
A scenic view of a rustic villa courtyard with lush greenery, a sculpture, and a serene sunset in the background.
A woman walking away on a gravel path in a beautifully landscaped garden, leading to a large, elegant mansion surrounded by greenery and trees, with a reflective pond in the foreground.
A scenic view of a landscaped garden featuring manicured lawns, cypress trees, and a modern sculpture against a colorful sunset sky.
A picturesque garden with neatly trimmed hedges, stylized shrubs, and cypress trees, viewed at sunset. In the foreground, an ornate stone sculpture resembling a dragon or serpent is seen, with a clear sky filled with soft clouds in the background.
A person standing in a symmetrical hedge maze with manicured greenery at sunset, surrounded by a garden landscape.
A picturesque building with a red door and large windows, surrounded by manicured hedges and tall cypress trees, set against a clear blue sky.
A vibrant red dessert artfully plated, featuring a cylindrical mousse topped with decorative red chocolate. The dessert sits on a circular white plate with a gold rim, surrounded by a red fruit coulis.
A woman in a green dress sitting on the edge of a stone fountain surrounded by lush greenery and outdoor seating in a garden setting.
A woman in a black bikini lounging by a pool on a sunny day, wearing sunglasses and smiling. In the background, several sun loungers, a house with a tiled roof, and people enjoying the space are visible under a blue sky with fluffy clouds.
A beautifully designed garden featuring intricate hedges, a decorative pond, and sculptures, surrounded by lush greenery beneath a clear blue sky.
A serene landscape featuring a rustic stone house surrounded by greenery and tall cypress trees under a bright blue sky with scattered clouds.
Two vibrant red poppy flowers growing in rocky soil with scattered stones and green foliage.
Close-up of green grape clusters growing on a vine, surrounded by lush green leaves.
A sunny vineyard with rows of grapevines, green leaves, and a clear blue sky.
A modern gourmet dish featuring an asparagus spear alongside a green sauce, a small scoop of sorbet, and decorative elements like gel beads and a thin slice of radish.
A picturesque landscape featuring a charming building covered in greenery, surrounded by neatly trimmed hedges, a manicured lawn, and decorative plants under a blue sky with fluffy clouds.

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