The Lakes
One of the great things about Mimizan is that you have a choice between some of the best beaches in Europe, and two huge lakes that also have sandy beaches, beautiful nature, and yet more water-sports.
The nearest lake is about a 10 minute walk from the villa and there's plenty to see and do here. The lake is too big to walk all the way round, but there are some great walks on the local footpaths. There are eagles, herons, ducks, swans, coypu, and at dusk you'll sometimes see deer come for a drink. The ducks love bread so if you bring a baguette you will have plenty of company!
The Promenade Fleurie is a spectacular flower garden, right on the edge of the lake, packed with over 300 varieties of exotic plants, trees, and water lilies.
The local lake also has a sailing school where you can hire canoes, pedalos, dingies and catamarans.
For a change, you can drive 7 miles to a beach on an even bigger lake, the "Lac de Biscorrosse et Parentis". There's a large supervised swimming beach, and next to it is a smaller beach where you can hire pedalos, canoes, dingies, catamarans, rowing boats, windsurfers, and motorboats. They also do water skiiing, and various banana boat and tube rides.
One of the local riding stables regularly do treks where you can ride into the lake. The horses love it!