St.-Tropez: What to See & Do: Day Trips: Le Domaine du Rayol

Le Domaine du Rayol

A tangle of secret paths bordered by bamboo, these stunning gardens are worth a day’s excursion. Occupying a stretch of wild coastline between Le Lavandou and St.-Tropez, this government-protected park is my favorite place for a family outing. Rare plants from six continents abound, including Australian mimosas, Chinese persimmons, Mexican cacti, Aleppo pines and cork oaks. There are also special gardens (South African, New Zealand and India/East Asia) created by renowend French landscape designer Gilles Clément. And don’t forget your swimsuit; you can go snorkeling and explore an underwater garden. TIP: If you’ve worked up an appetite, bring a change of clothes and dine at the nearby restaurant of the Hotel Les Roches (1 Avenue des Trois Dauphins, Le Lavandou; +33-4-94-71-05-07; www.hotellesroches.com), where chef Mathias Dandine dishes up innovative local specialties.