Lived on France for a year and been back 3 times. Here's what I found:
Paris is a nice short trip/stay to see sights and Cafe browse. Lots to see, but with a young family is incredibly irritating to hop on and off the metro with a stroller or young children if it's busy. There are virtually no public bathrooms, so that makes it doubly hard. Don't drive here. Terrible/awful drivers and few rules.
Brittany is my favorite for seeing "off the beaten path" stuff and war memorials. Lots of cool things there and a totally unique culture as they're not ethnically really French. Kind of like the maritimes vs the rest of Canada. There was some amazing cool beaches by Nevez and Pont Aven was a retreat for many painters so there's lots of art. Again, not a busy tourist destination for non French. Driving is nice because it's not so busy. Weather is similar to Vancouver.
Bordeaux is great for scenery, wine and relaxing. Tons of neat chateaux and bed & breakfasts. Also nice to drive.
The south is gorgeous. I spent the most time here. If you're adventurous, white water swimming along the Gorges du Verdon just north in the mountains is an absolute must. You do it from Castellane which is a really cool little Mountain town with a church and ruins of a dark age monastery overlooking the town on top of a cliff. (see pic and look for a steeple on the top of the cliff). The church and the monastery are accessible with a short hike around back. Loads of neat little drivable towns in the mountains. Driving anywhere south of the mountains will give you a heart attack.
All the southern coastal towns are great, but always busy. The nicest ones to visit (in my opinion) are Nice (really cool little market in the Old Town plus neat sights), Cannes, Frejus, and if you like a "Hollywood" Europe: Saint-Tropez (pronounced San tropay, don't mess it up!).
If I'm you (no idea age of kid or what you like), but with what I know gets what I would do:
Don't go in mid July through late August. So busy with rude/annoying tourists.
Land in Paris. Pay a bit more for a nicer hotel in a nice part of Paris near a metro somewhat close to the major attractions. Not worth the long commutes to attractions save money if you have a child. At all. Taxi to your hotel won't be cheap, so a hotel with a shuttle would be awesome. First day is only to relax and get used to time change and surroundings. DON'T SLEEP UNTIL BEDTIME. THIS INCLUDES KIDS (if possible). Pick 1 day to traipse and shop along the Champs-Elysee and see Arc De Triomphe, 1 day to take the tourist buses and get out at various stops (including Tour Eiffel) and enjoy light Cafe goodies and 1 day to enjoy the Louvre. Last day is travel day. Get a departure around noon. No need to stress early on the day.
Travel to Quimper (pronounced kampair) in Brittany and rent a car. Make plans for a few beach days of weather permits at Raguenes plage or other beaches near Nevez (lots of camping where you don't need to bring anything
www.eurocamp.co.uk). There's a really neat one further south at Anse de Rospico. Do a little research on their culture and try to see if there's any events going on. Enjoy local fresh seafood (I don't normally eat seafood, but wow). Go to Pont Aven for an afternoon and see the Carnac Stones.
Drive south stopping for a day or two wherever you choose all the way to Nice and park car. Dint drive in Nice if you don't have to. Spend a few days exploring nice and the old city (Vieux Nice). Eat lots, walk lots, sleep lots. Take a drive into the mountains. Spend a night or two at a campsite near Castellane. Go white water swimming (if child old enough). Hike to the church. Drive to various mountain towns (take gravol if anyone is even the least bit car sick) and enjoy the near culture.
Fly home from Nice
Pm any questions or post them here