Any occasion is a good opportunity to spend a weekend with friends. It doesn’t matter where or when, as long as friends are there. But when you’re all parents, 20 of you can’t really improvise… Here’s a look back at a weekend we won’t soon forget!
With the passage of the forties to celebrate, the departure date is set for early September. Yes, but… Isn’t a child-free weekend in the middle of a new school year a bit crazy? Probably yes. And that’s exactly what makes this escape so charming! But let’s be realistic: no more than 3 days! All that remains to be decided is where.
For me, a weekend with friends is synonymous with sunshine and group life. There’s no question of getting lost on the way. We limit ourselves to airplane hops. And why not the Cap Ferret peninsula?
Cap Ferret is a guaranteed change of scenery, less than 3 hours from Brussels, with average temperatures that are still very pleasant in September.
While it’s often advised to avoid this “Saint-Tropez of the Atlantic” and its 30,000 summer residents, the fact remains that this piece of land caught between the Bassin and the ocean exudes a much more natural and unspoilt ambience than other popular destinations such as Mykonos or Ibiza. In fact, most of our rental properties make sure that the premises remain peaceful, by prohibiting any (slightly too) festive parties. In Cap Ferret, no shindigs until 6 a.m. or you’ll find yourself face to face with a disgruntled neighbor! Perfect, just what I’m looking for: a corner of nature a little out of time, hair in the wind, eyes in the waves and feet in the sand…
After months of almost flawless organization, we headed for Lille for the start (I explain everything in detail here).
Arrival at Cap Ferret on Friday lunchtime. The house is as beautiful as the photos: nicely decorated, spacious and perfectly suited to group living. Located just off the Bélisaire jetty, equidistant from the Bassin and the ocean beaches, it offers easy access to shops and a tranquil, unoverlooked setting. It’s an ideal location for a car-free weekend on the peninsula.
We were running out of room in the house. A few friends are staying at the hotel next door. They won’t be far away… As for this September weather, it’s just perfect: blue skies and 28 degrees. The pool is inaugurated without delay!
At 5pm, we pick up our bikes rented for 24 hours and head for the beach at La Pointe. The journey isn’t long. Just 5 kilometers. We take the opportunity to stroll to the foot of the 57-metre Cap Ferret lighthouse (the 258 steps for the breathtaking panorama are for another time). Stroll along the paths of the emblematic 44-hectare area.
At the Pointe du Cap Ferret, we tie up our bikes in front of the restaurant Le Mirador to walk part of theAbécédaire des dunes.
Aperitifs are served on Plage de la Pointe, at sunset. The view of the Dune du Pilat, the Banc d’Arguin and the Bassin d’Arcachon passes is breathtaking. A magical moment…
The evening menu includes a tasting at the hut. We love the Cabane du Mimbeau ‘s beautiful terrace, but all the cabanes around the Bassin offer the same menu: a selection of oysters, whelks, shrimps and pâté de campagne, accompanied by white wine. Delicious!
Cabins close early (10pm). So we’re extending the evening at Le Quarante Quatre, a bar-restaurant as famous for its tapas as for its great atmosphere. When we arrive, the charming cabin seems very quiet. But the dj and a few cocktails soon wake up the troops. It’s not Pacha, but we dance the night away! The return journey by bike is a source of skids and lots of giggles. What’s happening at Cap Ferret…
Saturday, a gentle wake-up call, one toe in the pool. After a gourmet break at the delicious P’tite Boulangerie du Ferret, stroll around the market stalls. As aperitif time approaches, we head for Bistro De Peyo. We’ve been pushing ourselves in front of this counter for 20 years to feast on platters of tapas. We’re licking our fingers! Hey, isn’t that the singer over there?… Yes, even celebrities show up in the market square.
A quick lunch break. We want to enjoy the summer heat on Horizon beach.
Some roll in the waves, others inquire about surfing lessons. Game of pétanque on the sand. Siesta.
Time goes by slowly, and it smells like vacation…
6:30 pm, meet at the Bélisaire jetty to board a catamaran privatized for the occasion.
This time, it’s on the water! This boat trip has its price, but the experience is so worth it. A sunset over the Basin is something you never forget…
Sunday morning (midday?…), we lounged around the pool, had brunch, played a game of pétanque and talked endlessly…
Because the end is approaching, and we’d rather not think about it. Time to go home. The return to reality will sting after this enchanted interlude.
What if all we had to do was start again?…
➜ To find all the practical information and good addresses in Cap Ferret, go here: “Weekend in Cap Ferret: practical info and goodaddresses“
