Day trips from Paris via train

My fiance and I just booked an 8 day trip to Paris which we leave for in a little less than 2 weeks. It was a spontaneous decision as he just accepted a new job and wanted to take advantage of some time off in between, so I'm scrambling to plan now!

We took a 3 week Europe trip earlier in the summer where we traveled around a lot and really splurged on everything, so we are aiming to make this a more relaxing and less expensive trip; however, I've spent a bit of time in Paris already and want to try to take some day trips. I'm looking for suggestions on places near Paris (hour and a half via train or less) that we wouldn't need a car to explore. I've been to Giverny and Versailles already (I did a bike tour of Giverny a couple years ago and loved it, so something similar would be great). I've found lots of info through google, but the same few places keep popping up and I'm looking for other ideas. The other option is to split the time between Paris and Brussels with a day trip from Brussels to Bruges, but I'm wary of taking the time to switch hotels 3 times (all reasonably priced tickets from Paris - Brussels are sold out the day we get in, and we have an early flight out of Paris the day we leave). Any thoughts on if it is worth it?

About us - we like biking, hiking (beginners;) ), wine tasting (would love to do some champagne tasting for a change), and lovvvee to eat. We're a little burnt out on cathedrals and castles after our last 2 Europe trips.

I appreciate any suggestions! Thanks!

How about London, couple of hours by train

Chartres? Reims? Orléans? All within well within the range of max 1,5 hrs.

I've been looking into Reims! Have you done a guided champagne tour or gone on your own?

I had the cathedral in mind, and not the overrated fuzzy alcoholic drink.

For Biking, hiking and wine tasting the Loire Valley is perfect- about 1;15 minutes from Paris to Tours by TGV. Amboise makes a convenient base for biking through the countryside. Taste wine in the caves where they are fermented.
Reims is also reachable quickly by TGV.
Nearby Epernay Is home to Moet et Chandon-- the champagne house where Dom Perignon invented bubbly.
Brussels is a fast TGV ride from Paris.
Much more relaxing, are the cities of Bruges and Ghent-- on the same train line from Brussels. Ghent is 45 minutes from Brussels, with Bruges 25 minutes further.
Ghent makes a great stopover with its
Medieval center and Gravensteen Castle-
Bruges has fantastic atmosphere and is great for cycling around town. Great food- waffles, chocolate and beer included!

There are plenty of hikes you can do right in the Ile de France (the area immediately surrouding Paris). If you follow the link below, you can click on the area of the map labeled 'Ile de France' - you have to hover over it first. Then a list of hikes with duration, difficulty and a brief description will follow. In French, of course, but this should give you an idea of what is immediately around Paris. The hike iof Circuit de la madeleine - Chevreause and the hike of Champagne en Seine-et-Marne both look appealing.

http://www.ffrandonnee.fr/idees-rando/recherche.aspx

Being a semi-aloholic, i do not think Champagne is over rated!!

Matter of a fact, i resemble that remark!!

As you're from the States, have you already considered a daytrip to the D-Day-Beaches of Normandy ?
It's two hours by direct train from Paris-St-Lazare to Caen, if you do it in just on day there are several
companies online where you can book a guided trip with pick-up right at the railway-station.

The city of Angers is beautiful and only a couple hours via the TGV. Leave Paris early in the morning from Montparnasse and you will be in Angers in less than two hours. The train station is in the center of Angers and the Chateau d'Angers is only a short walk from the station and the old part of the city is also near by. There are a couple beautiful gardens in Angers and they are also within walking distance. Take a late train back to Paris.

I was going to suggest checking out Any Port in A Storm, a great website that among other things, has wonderful photo essays on places and events...
There's a separate forum for Paris:
http://anyportinastorm.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=paris
But there are lots about other places but rather than dump you on a very large forum I thought I'd browse through to find some I remembered.
Well, that was about two hours ago as I discovered a couple I hadn't read before and of course had to follow them in their entirety.
I WILL post some individual recommendations later but for now, do check out the Paris forum, there are post about places you (and lots of Paris natives) wouldn't know exist...
I, too, recommend Chartres...I've detoured on my way back to Paris for the return flight just to spend a day and a night there.

I don't know why people never seem to think of Lille, which is only 65 minutes from Paris. It is a very lively place with beautiful Flemish architecture and great food.

Because you've recommended Lille, that was the first city I thought of and so went to Any Port...and got lost in one of your later visits (as I told the OP). I had planned on giving some links for Lille later...

We enjoyed the following train excursions, in addition to the Palace of Versailles:

• Chartres Cathedral (and the lovely surrounding town)
• Château de Fontainebleau (very impressive buildings and gardens)
• Provins (World Heritage listed mediaeval walled town)

All reasonably close to Paris and all much enjoyed.

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