[Redliner]

You can travel from Paris to one of the larger cities like Caen relatively easily, but to get the most out of Normandy I think you'll be better off with a car. Driving in France isn't nearly as intimidating as people seem to think (except Paris - it's just as bad as what you've heard and maybe even worse) and a car will allow you access to a lot of really cool places and lets you set your own schedule.

The D-Day beaches are a must-see. I highly recommend the Juno Beach Centre and the Canadian war cemetery at Beny-sur-Mer. We stayed right in Courseulles-sur-Mer and it's an amazing little seaside town even without Juno Beach. Just a really cool, relaxed vibe.

Don't miss Le Mont St-Michel. You'll have to park a gazillion miles away and walk in, but it's an absolutely incredible place. Pay the money and do the tour of the Abbey up at the top. I expected it to be just another walk-through of mostly empty medieval church, but it just keeps going and going. Really cool place.

There are some really impressive Cathedrals in the area as well, if you're into that sort of thing. The one in Rouen is pretty spectacular.