The author describes a year off in France through the wines, food, culture and history of Burgundy, Provence and Dordogne. The adventures of a new family whose original plan never included the challenges of travelling with a toddler are intended to show that raising a baby and living the dream, while not easy, can be funny, enlightening and worthwhile. While this is a how-to for all those parents who plan to live differently, even if it is only for a short time, it is also an in depth exploration of what makes France famous for "la belle vie."