Saint Malo or Étretat.

When will this be? I don't Etretat, San Malo is lovely but very touristy. There are some lovely coastal walks, and cycle trails as well as the beaches, but there is no guarantee for the weather and warmth of the sea.

like richiavo, I'd be curious about the time of year.

I guess you're aware that Étretat is rather tiny, after 4 nights you'll know it really well. I assume you're further aware that the beaches around are pebbles only (afaik) - the surf makes really nice sounds on them, yet personally I prefer sandy ground for swimming. this said, the coastline is pretty unique, this will make some lasting impressions, in case you like art, your daughter might enjoy compare the works of Monet from Gare d'Orsay to the 'real thing'. Le Havre has an interesting history, too, and the post-war architecture has earned world heritage status by now. busses in the area: http://www.seinemaritime.fr/nos-actions/transport/se-deplacer-en-seine-maritime/nos-lignes.html

if the emphasis is meant to be on swimming/relaxing I'd prefer St Malo, which has plenty of decent beaches. the (rebuildt) old-town and the fortifications are pleasant for strolling around. your daughter might be too old already, however at low tide there are plenty of rocks with pools of water to study sea life (sandals/bathing shoes essential). nice thing to do is a hike to the fort on the small Grand Bé island - yet only at low-tide... as a Canadian, you might enjoy the fact that it's the birthplace of Jacques Cartier. public transport options for going to Mont St Michel:
http://www.saint-malo-tourisme.co.uk/files/ot-stmalo/files/fichiers/pdf/2016/lignes_publiques_saint-malo_le_mont_saint-michel_4_janvier_au_29_mai_2016.pdf

p.s. another thought: Trouville has a nice beach and a good location for excursions (Caen, Bayeux, Honfleur etc.), and it's easy to reach, however it's not as 'unique' as the others.

We are going to July; the travel will be from July 14th - 19th.
Thank you for these wonderful suggestions. We will enjoy swimming for an hour or two in the day, but love to walk around and see a town/area and take in the beauty of the coast, as well as the towns.

thanks for the feedback.

I once was in St Malo for the 14th and they had a decent firework in the evening. as regards that timetable towards Mont St Michel, I just realised it's only valid until end of May, though probably should be similar in summer, too. in high season, there'll be a direct daily shuttle as well, however this will mean you'd have to visit at peak times. if you organise it by yourself, you have the option to e.g. delay your return until the evening, when most daytrippers will have left and you'll have the chance to experience the place less crowded. the coast around St Malo certainly doesn't compare to Étretat, yet imo is likeable enough. there used to be a boat across the Rance to Dinard, which you might enjoy.

I recall Étretat to be very touristy during the high season, and there's less space to disperse compared to St Malo.

not an easy choice. :-)

Etretat is very small and provides for very dramatic coastal exploration. You must keep in mind the tides, as the trail among the cliffs that you walk out on might be covered in water when it's time to turn around. A great experience, but most folks woudl not spend 4 nights there. If you can figure out how to get to Jumieges from Rouen, I highly recommend visiting the ruined abbey. Awesome... but it's in the countryside.

If you can figure out how to get to Jumieges from Rouen, I highly recommend visiting the ruined abbey. Awesome...

busline 30 from the schedule I mentioned in #1. I agree that it's a very worthwhile place.

busline 20 from here (http://www.busverts.fr/281-Horaires-Bus-Verts-du-1er-Septembre-2015-au-5-juillet-2016-inclus.html) allows you to connect from Le Havre to Honfleur (very overrun imo) Deauville and Caen.

Saint Malo and Etretat are both excellent but are not really comparable. As the others have said, Etretat is quite tiny even though it is spectacular, so 4 days would be too much in my opinion. Saint Malo is very nice (as it should be since the walled city was completely rebuilt after WW2 so it is not extremely authentic) and it provides the opportunity to visit a number of other nearby places or even take a ferry to Jersey.

To go to Saint Malo there are some direct TGV trains from Paris. Currently there are even some special prices for the summer (check on SNCF website).
You can also find some information about Saint Malo and the surrounding area in Brittany on http://visite.bretagne.free.fr/index.php/en/cities/saint-malo.html

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