Nearby is the wonderfully lively and fashionable town of La Rochelle and the Ile de Re. Pedestrianised shopping areas in the old town, great choice of restaurants and cafes and bars on the harbour and back streets make for a lovely day out. Les Sables D'Olonne, well known for the start and finish of the round the solo world yacht race, is 30 kms up the coast. En route you pass a car museum and horse racing track. Glorious beaches, shops and restaurants and the harbour area provide plenty for a day out. Further afield are the canals and waterways of the Marais Poitevin with amazing wildlife.
Major attractions like Futuroscope and Puy du Fou are an hour or so away. Added to that, there are interesting historical towns, markets, shopping centres, châteaux, museums, zoos, aquariums and a wide range of sporting venues including golf, tennis and riding.
The Vendee has sunny climate equal to that in the South of France. This means the season extends from Easter to late October - the average monthly temperature in September is 70 degrees.