Camping de La Fraignaye

Saint-Denis-du-Payré is a pretty place with a church dating back to the 12th-century and a handful of other historical monuments. Saunter around the scenic streets here, or take a walk out of town towards Nature Reserve Michel Brosselin’s wet grasslands to peer at some 120 wild bird species ranging from redshanks to marsh harriers. If the only watery place you’re keen on visiting is the seaside, Vendée beaches like sandy Plage des Bélugas (20 minutes’ drive) are around La Faute-sur-Mer, a resort known for its mussel farms as well as its 10 kilometres of shoreline. Surfers might want to make their way up the coast to Plage de la Terrière (25 minutes), while budding sailors can take boat trips from Plage Clemenceau (20 minutes). If seafaring sessions aren’t enough to keep the smaller members of your crew satisfied, set them loose on the waterslides at O'Gliss Park or the treetop adventure challenges at Indian Forest instead (both around 20 minutes away). For high-level thrills, the historical-themed Puy du Fou – one of the most well-known amusement parks in France – is an hour and five minutes away.