Paris, France
Coming out of college we always got the advice that life starts to fly by and after five years of marriage and two kids later (and a lot of trips in between!), that advice could not be more true. For years, mainly before kids, we used to travel to Europe every Fall. We got engaged in Switzerland in September, honeymooned in Italy and Greece in September, celebrated our one year anniversary in Sweden, Spain and Switzerland, you get the point, we LOVE Europe.
Long story short, when we started to have kids, we knew traveling back to Europe would be on a small pause and it’s been just that. We did sneak away to Italy last September before we had our daugther, but when our five year anniversary came around last year we knew it was important to find a way to spend a long weekend away together. We love traveling with the kids, but it’s equally as important to have some time for us too.
TIp #1: FIND a way to spend time with your partner, it will allow you an opportunity to reconnect, miss your kids and obsess over every picture/video of them, but also be a better parent as well. Sometimes bigger trips abroad may be out of reach, but even a local staycation will do the trick!
When we decided on Paris, it was all based on this idea of kicking off the Christmas season in one of the most romantic cities — JK it was really because late November/early December worked best for our family watching the kids and we then built the destination around the timing. But in an all honesty, Paris was to DIE FOR around the holidays. We aren’t typically ones to spend time in big cities, but we crafted the perfect itinerary that balanced seeing the sights and getting out to the countryside.
Tip # 2: When visiting Paris, treat yourself to staying in a few different arrondissements, and all of the croissants.
We decided to take the overnight flight on Tuesday (arriving in Paris Wednesday AM), and flew home on Sunday. Here’s how we spent the few days in France:
DAY 1: Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triumph
DAY 2: Train to Epernay in Champange, France - spend the day going back in history to when champagne was created in small little French towns; we loved visiting in the dead of Winter as the champagne houses were quiet, inviting and enchanting. Our favorites were: Monet, Champagne Perrier-Jouet Boutique, Champagne de Venoge, Champagne Boizel and Mercier.
DAY 3: Train back to Paris, Cafe le Flore, Sainte Chappelle, Christmas markets, Seine River Cruise
DAY 4: The Louve, Pantheon Norte Dame, take in the sites, shopping and cafes
Tip # 3: VISIT PARIS FOR THE CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS. It’s absolutely gorgeous, and the city is just so beautiful, they do an amazing job setting the tone for a really special holiday season.
Places we loved eating at:
Le Hide (Paris)
Why Not (Epernay, France)
Le Comptoir de la Gastronomie
Above all, the takeaway for this blog is to remind you to take time for yourself, without your kids! Whether it’s Paris or somewhere more local, you will never regret time with your partner. Enjoy!
