Everyone’s thoughts have been returning to France, specifically Paris, over the last month and a half. You keep watching the news, thinking about the victims of the attack, and planning your next trip to the City of Light. After a few days in the city, add one of these side trips to your next French adventure.

Colmar: Visit the canals of “Little Venice,” sip mulled or white wine, eat everything from kugelhopf to macarons to tarte flambée, and find the perfect gifts at the Christmas markets in Alsace.

Chambéry: Explore a historic city with twisting alleyways, little cafés, exciting galleries, a classic market, and a cozy hotel before heading into Savoie for amazing skiing conditions and beautiful views of the Alps.

Mont Saint-Michel: Walk along the ramparts, visit little chapels and peaceful gardens, tour the cloisters, enjoy beautiful views of the northern coast, and spend the night in one of Normandy’s most famous landmarks.

Massignac: Find a rare uncrowded summer spot with Trebbiano vineyards, forests full of oak and chestnut trees, quiet coves, and a stone château with rustic rooms in Poitou-Charentes.

Gevrey-Chambertin: Spend autumn in Burgundy as you check out the Medieval and Renaissance buildings in Dijon, explore the walled city of Beaune, visit tasting rooms along the Route des Grands Crus, and fall in love with a small hotel in a village that produces some of the world’s best wines.