Grand Paris!  Think of a romantic trip to Europe, and the City of Lights springs immediately to mind!  And why not?  It’s a beautiful city.  Easy to navigate.  And the sights!

Well, there is no shortage of sights.  And because of the combination of tourist attractions, food, and romance, it is one of the most popular destinations in the world.

So what do you want to do in this grand city?  The museums?  The Monuments?  The  markets?  The bookstalls along the Seine?  Is it the food that attracts you at world class restaurants, or do you just want to sit in a sidewalk cafe and watch the world go by?

There are so many “must sees” that you really will have to choose what is most important to you.  Monuments?  How about the Eiffel Tower.  The Place de la Concorde with it’s Egyptian obelisk.  Think of the line up of the Arc du Triomphe du Carrousel through the Tuileries to the Arc de Triomphe, and the grand Grande Arche in La Defense district. Or how about Invalides where Napoleon is buried.

Landmark churches?  Start with Notre Dame de Paris.  The Basilique du Sacre-Coeur… dramatic and white on the hill in Montmartre.  The churches of La Madeleine, Sainte-Chapelle, and the Pantheon.  Or just landmark buildings like the Palais Garnier.

There are so many world class museums that it would take your entire vacation to see them.  The Louvre, the Musee d’Orsay, the Musee Rodin and the Musee Picasso to name some of the most obvious.  Museums can make your head spin after a few hours.  To avoid being overwhelmed by them, get a museum card.  They are available for 1, 3 and 5 days.

The card will allow you can go in and out of the museums over the period of your stay and not get “museum head”.  The museums are fantastic, but you want to get a feel for all of Paris don’t you?

Take time to stroll in a garden or two.  The Tuileries stretches in front of the Louvre.  The Luxembourg Garden is a great place to watch children of all ages sail small boats on the ponds.  Sit in one of the cafes and have a glass of wine.

Wander in some of the neighborhoods.  See Montparnasse with it’s artists and cafes.  See the delectable food displays in stores around La Madeleine.  Explore the Latin Quarter… see the Sorbonne and visit a bistro or two.  Or just wander along the Seine and see what the booksellers have in those green metal boxes.

The food is… well so French and wonderful.  You can certainly eat expensive meals at restaurants with who knows how many Michelin stars, but the food will be good almost everywhere.  Pop into any bistro or neighborhood restaurant and order a “prix fixe” menu and you are sure to have a great meal.  You have to try the favorite street food of Parisians…. crepes… try one with Nutella, or sugar and butter.

Food, wine, lots of action….. If we haven’t got you packing your bags for Paris, we hope we at least have you dreaming of the City of Lights.

Isn’t it hard navigating Paris on your own?  You’ve heard that they won’t speak anything but French, that the waiters are rude, and the shopkeepers are impolite.  It’s really not true.

Paris is a big city, and its citizens sometimes have that “big city attitude”….  people are hurried and may seem a bit brusque, but if you remember some of the simple rules of travel, you’ll do fine.

First thing you need to remember is to bring your sense of adventure and appreciate the differences.  The French are more reserved than most Americans.  They may not be as quick to smile at strangers, but with a little effort on your part you’ll find friendly, helpful Parisians. (more…)

April in Paris… Is that when you should visit?  Well that notion may be tremendously romantic, but the truth of the matter is that you have a pretty good chance of running into cold and rainy weather, so just be prepared.  It’s further north than you think!

That’s not to say you shouldn’t go in April.  The weather in Spring may give you a taste of both sun and showers.  The temperatures should average in the high 50′s F (14 C).

If you ask people about when to visit Paris France, most will probably talk about Spring.  It’s a popular time for tourists and locals alike, and why not?  The weather will be sunny more often the later you go in Spring, and by the end of April and into May the gardens will be blooming. (more…)