Paris, France

The Effiel Tower began it’s nightly sparkle. Everyone else was fast asleep and I had just put the 2 babies to bed. We were jet-lagged and it since it was basically noon our time, Jack and I snuck out to go walk around and see the Eiffel Tower, which was right outside our window! If you ever visit Paris, the absolute best Airbnb is here. https://abnb.me/GPauo55wzGb

Jack went nuts. I could not have asked for a more perfect night with him. It’s not super often I get alone time for one-on-one activities with him. My younger self could have never imagined how fun it would be to take your child to the Eiffel Tower, especially at night! It was so dreamy sitting there having a donut and hot chocolate picnic with him at 10pm…..everything was purely magical and it was probably one of my favorite memories of any trip we have taken.

Paris, France

To Louvre, or not to Louvre, that is the question...

It all boils down to how important it is to you. For most people, going to Paris is a once in a lifetime trip. If seeing the Mona Lisa is on your life’s bucket list, go for it. I went to the Louvre on my first trip to Paris and it is really impressive, but I can’t say it’s a place I need to visit again. The 2 little ones went to the Louvre with my mom and I, while Joe took Jack to the Catacombs to see all the Skeletons which honestly sounded like so much fun to me, but probably not for babies. And it definitely wouldn’t have been stroller-friendly. The boys loved the Louvre and were asleep in their stroller for a good 2 hours so my mom and I peacefully wandered around and we had the best time looking at the most beautiful paintings.

For our next visit though, I’d much rather go to The Musée d’Orsay, which is home to the world’s largest collection of impressionist paintings. It is situated inside a former railway station and the impressive collection includes works by so many of the most famous French artists of the time, such as Monet, Renoir, Cézanne, and Gauguin.

My favorite highlights were:

We took our oldest for a nice dinner at @restaurantletrainble in the train station. It was definitely a splurge and a bit too fancy to take the little boys, since they were both under 2 at the time…so they stayed in the hotel with my mom while we went. It was easily the most beautiful restaurant we have ever eaten at in our entire lives. The food was AMAZING. I would go again in a heartbeat. This Iconic restaurant is found inside Gare de Lyon, (the main train station) and offers the absolute most majestic majestic setting where the show takes place in the kitchen as well as the restaurant.
Obviously the Eiffel Tower. But I wouldn’t stand in line or waste money to take the elevator up it again. It was definitely overrated and you get a way better view from the Trocadero or along the Seine. We booked an AirBnB with such an awesome view, we really could enjoy it just from our balcony.
Breakfast at Cafe de Flore @cafedeflore_paris but definitely get there early because by the time we finished eating, the line for a table was very long. Also it was very chilly outside and our food got cold so quickly. If I could re-do it, I’d definitely opt for sitting inside in the fall when it’s chilly. If it was just myself and my husband and we were only getting a croissant and coffee, I’d love the vibes of sitting at an outdoor cafe. But trying to get babies to eat cold eggs and sausage was no easy feat. It was kind of a waste. And their bel real fast was quite pricey. Close to $100 euros for my mom and I and a meal (of eggs, sausage, and toast) for the 2 littles ones.

4. We took a cab to Sacré-Coeur, which is a Catholic basilica that sits on the highest hill in Paris, and is found in the Montmartre neighborhood. It was very crowded when we were there. The church is open all day to anyone that wishes to visit, and has special programs available for pilgrimages and overnight worship. Sacré-Coeur receives millions of visitors a year, so one should naturally expect a very busy and bustling environment outside.

Wander along the cobblestone streets and you will find there are plenty of hidden gems to uncover and offbeat locations to explore.

Traditionally, Montmartre was known as a hangout for artists, writers, and other creatives like Renoir, Picasso, and Van Gogh to name but a few, over the past century life in Montmartre has grown increasingly popular with tourists.

There are now a ton of cafés, boutiques, and vintage stores around every corner and it’s the one place in Paris you definitely shouldn’t miss…