The Beach
Mimizan is right in the middle of the Côte d'Argent ("The Silver Coast"), which stretches from Bordeaux in the north to Biarritz in the south. It's the longest and sandiest coast in Europe. The beaches here are simply stunning and practically endless.
Mimizan has two beaches, the North Beach and the South Beach. The sand is fine and clean, and it's a great place to chill out, play, swim, bodyboard, or surf.
From Les Arbres, the beach is 10 minutes by car (there's plenty of parking), or by bike it's about 20 minutes (depending on how fit you are). There are two very good tarmac cycle tracks to choose from. The first starts about 100 metres from the villa and goes directly through the forest to the North Beach with only one quiet road to cross. Or you can pick up the south track about 5 minutes from the villa and it takes you directly to the South Beach.
The beaches are so long that even in August, you can find a quiet spot if you walk just a few minutes away from the town. Or you can take a short drive to one of the many smaller beaches just a few minutes from Mimizan.
This is the Atlantic Ocean, so some days are calm, some days have moderate waves, and on some days the waves can be quite lively, although at low tide there are usually warm, shallow pools left on the sand flats where children can play.
If you want to learn how to surf or bodyboard, then this is the place for you. Anyone can learn to bodyboard. They are cheap and there are usually a few left at Les Arbres. Just pick up a board and watch the locals! Even a novice can get a great ride after a few tries! Every year thousands of surfers, including world champions, come to Mimizan and the other Atlantic beaches. Why not join them? Mimizan has surf schools for everyone from novices and children right up to experts, so there's no excuse. Get down there and catch that perfect wave! Don't have a board? No problem, you can hire one from the schools or buy one in the local surf shops.
And when you have had enough sun, sea, and sand, Mimizan Plage has everything you could want: Shops, cafes, restaurants, bars, creperies ... the hard part is choosing! On summer evenings Mimizan Plage is buzzing with life and atmosphere. The shops are open late and there are often shows, bands, local artists, street performers, and an evening market. It's a great place to eat, unwind, and catch some stunning sunsets.