Within a two-hour drive you can stand on beaches that defined the outcome of World War II, walk through gardens that inspired some of the most recognized paintings in history, hike along chalk cliffs that drop straight into the English Channel, and eat cheese that tastes fundamentally different from anywhere else in France. A week-end Normandie gives you enough to fall for the region. A longer stay gives you enough to understand it. Here's how to make the most of either. The places that deserve your time Mont-Saint-Michel is the obvious starting point, and the obvious starting point is obvious for good reason. The island abbey rising from tidal flats is one of those rare landmarks that actually lives up to its reputation — but only if you approach it correctly. Midday in summer is a crowd management exercise. Early morning is something else entirely. The light is better, the atmosphere is quieter, and the narrow medieval streets inside the walls feel like they're supposed...