My wife and I decided to spend our wedding anniversary in France. The country's got this whole romance reputation and we figured we'd go see what it's actually like. Paris is obviously on the list for the main sights, but what's worth seeing outside the capital? And where can we rent a car to get around while we're there?

France outside Paris actually punches well above what most people expect when they only plan around the capital. An anniversary trip works really well with a mix of what the different regions offer. The Loire Valley is worth a couple of days at least, the châteaux there are something else. Provence is another strong option for a couple, and if you want coastal, the south around Nice and the Côte d'Azur has a completely different feel from Paris but just as much going on.

The big rental agencies in France load on extras once you get to the counter, insurance add-ons and mileage restrictions that weren't obvious when you first looked at the price. Private owners are a better route for this kind of trip. You can find options to rent a car in France here: https://getrentacar.com/en-US/france . Owners list their cars with photos and details, and you can message them directly to sort out pickup and any specifics before you confirm. The selection runs from compact city cars to SUVs, so you can pick what makes sense for where you're headed.