3 Recommended Things to Do with Kids in Vaucluse

Vaucluse, the sunbaked Luberon region of southern France, is famous for its lavender fields, hilltop medieval villages, and award-winning red wines, but most travel guides skip over the fact that it’s one of the most underrated family-friendly destinations in Provence. Unlike the crowded, tourist-heavy coastal spots a short drive away, Vaucluse has wide open spaces, gentle adventure, and low-key activities that don’t require weeks of planning or a massive budget, making it perfect for a long weekend or a week-long trip with kids of any age.

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If you’ve been scrolling travel blogs trying to find things to do with kids in Vaucluse that don’t involve dragging them through stuffy museums or waiting in long lines for overpriced ice cream, you’re in the right place. These three picks are all tested by parents who’ve taken their toddlers, elementary schoolers, and tweens to the region, and they’re flexible enough to fit into any itinerary, no matter how relaxed or busy you want your trip to be.

1. Pick Lavender and Sunflowers at a Family-Run Farm Near Gordes

Most visitors to Gordes stick to the hilltop village’s cobblestone streets and scenic overlooks, but just a 10-minute drive outside the village you’ll find small, family-run farms that welcome kids to wander their rows of lavender and sunflowers with zero fuss. Unlike the commercial lavender fields that charge €10 per person for 20 minutes of photo ops, these farms let kids run between the rows, pick small bundles of lavender to take home (most owners only ask for a small donation if you take more than a handful), and even meet the farm’s resident goats and chickens if you visit early in the morning.

It’s the kind of low-pressure activity that works for every age: toddlers can chase butterflies and dig in the soft dirt between rows, elementary schoolers can learn how to bundle lavender stems, and teens can get great photos for their social media without being told to stop running around. Many of the farms also sell homemade lavender honey and ice cream made on-site, so you can reward the kids for good behavior with a treat they’ll actually get excited about.

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• Best time to visit: Mid-June to late July for peak lavender blooms, or early August if you want to combine lavender with late sunflower season; avoid midday in July when the fields get too hot for little ones to run around comfortably.
• Booking tip: Skip pre-booked farm tours unless you’re traveling with a large group; most small family farms let you walk in for free or a small €2-3 entry fee that goes toward maintaining the grounds for local visitors and families.

2. Go Tubing and Picnic Along the Sorgue River Near L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue

If your kids love getting wet and messing around outdoors, a half-day on the Sorgue River is the perfect low-stress, low-cost adventure that feels like a secret most tourists miss. Unlike the crowded, wavy Mediterranean beaches a 30-minute drive away, the Sorgue stays cool even in the peak of July, shaded by old willow trees along most of its route near L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, and the current is so gentle you can let your kids float ahead of you without worrying about them getting swept away, even if they’re not strong swimmers.

Most local rental shops will fit you out with sturdy inflatable tubes, life jackets sized for kids as small as 3, and even waterproof dry bags for your phone and snacks, no experience or reservation needed unless you’re visiting on a busy weekend. You can drift for 2-3 hours, stopping at quiet pebbly coves to splash, hunt for tiny crawfish hiding under rocks, or eat the picnic you packed from the open-air market in L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, where you can grab fresh baguettes, local cheese, and ripe strawberries for less than you’d pay for a single overpriced restaurant meal. Older kids who are confident swimmers can even try wading in the deeper sections or using a simple fishing rod rented from the same shop, no license required for casual fishing on this stretch of the river.

• Best time to visit: Late May to early September, when water temperatures are warm enough for splashing without wetsuits; avoid weekends in July and August when popular rental spots have long wait times.
• Booking tip: Reserve your tube and life jacket rental 1-2 days in advance if you’re visiting during peak season, and ask the rental shop to mark a 2-hour float route that ends at a designated pickup spot so you don’t have to walk back upstream with wet kids and heavy gear.

3. Hike the Ochre Trail and Paint Your Own Ochre Art in Roussillon

Roussillon’s famous red and orange ochre cliffs look like something out of a storybook, and the short, flat Ochre Trail that winds through the cliffs outside the village is perfect for even the most reluctant hikers, with no steep climbs or rocky terrain, just soft, red dirt paths that kids love running along, kicking up clouds of orange dust, and spotting tiny lizards and wildflowers along the way. The trail only takes 45 minutes to an hour to complete at a slow pace, and you can stop as often as you want to let little ones explore, so there’s no pressure to rush through it.

Most kids will get a huge kick out of stopping at one of the small local ochre workshops in the village center afterward, where you can buy a small pack of natural, non-toxic ochre powder and some blank postcards for just a few euros, and spend an hour painting your own versions of the cliffs you just hiked, no art experience required. The workshop owners are almost always happy to give little tips to kids who are new to painting, and you’ll end up with a one-of-a-kind souvenir that’s way more meaningful than the keychains and magnets sold in the tourist shops. It’s also a great way to burn off extra energy before a quiet lunch in the village, where most cafes have high chairs and kid-friendly menu options like crepes and plain pasta if your kids are tired of Provençal food.

• Best time to visit: Early spring (March to May) or late September to October, when the weather is cool enough for the short hike without overheating, and the crowds are thin enough that you don’t have to jostle for space on the trail.
• Booking tip: Skip the guided group tours of the trail, which are mostly geared toward adult hikers; the Ochre Trail is free, self-guided, and marked with easy-to-follow signs, so you can go at your own pace and stop as often as your kids want to play in the dirt.

What makes Vaucluse such a great spot for family trips is that none of these activities feel like a chore for either kids or parents—you won’t be dragging bored tweens through a boring tour or waiting in line for hours for a single ride, and you’ll get to experience the region’s famous natural beauty without the stress of overpacking your itinerary. Even if you only have a long weekend to spare, these three picks will give you a perfect mix of outdoor fun, low-key learning, and time to slow down and enjoy the Provençal sun together, which is exactly what a family trip should be.