This summer, we celebrated our daughter’s 16th birthday with the trip of a lifetime – Europe! Paris was the obvious starting point since she’s been taking French in high school, and as huge fans of Ghosts UK and Ted Lasso, we couldn’t skip England either. But first… Paris!
Disneyland Paris – The Kickoff 🎢
We started the trip with three days at Disneyland Paris. As Californians who adore Disneyland Anaheim – the original – it just didn’t measure up for us. I’d rather say nothing more than overexplain… so I’ll leave it at that.
Paris – The Real Adventure Begins ✨
After Disneyland, we headed into the heart of Paris and checked into Hotel Art Eiffel. It was a bit rundown (creaky doors, worn furniture), but the location was unbeatable. Shops, restaurants, boulangeries, and the Eiffel Tower were all just steps away. The metro stop was literally at the front door (though we didn’t use it much). At about $1,400 for three nights (two rooms for our family of four), it was pricey but convenient.
At one random moment, I looked around at the beautiful old buildings and had an ah-ha moment: Ohhh… this is why they call it the French Quarter in New Orleans! The architecture there is so similar to what I was seeing in France – of course, it makes sense now because of French colonization. And then I noticed how many boulangeries were on every corner. It finally hit me – these are the French version of donut shops!
Sightseeing – Big Bus & the Louvre 🏛️
We kicked off sightseeing with a hop-on, hop-off Big Bus Tour, and it was worth it. You really do see Paris as it’s meant to be seen. We ended up at the Louvre with a guided tour, which meant skipping the endless lines (huge win).
I’ll be honest – the Mona Lisa is overrated. What I really loved were the Renaissance paintings, Greek statues, and the Egyptian collection (only one mummy, though!).
One of my favorite moments? Watching my husband and teens (and me too!!) giggle and whisper like little kids every time they saw an artistic naked body in the museum’s sculptures and paintings. It was a reminder that, even in the middle of high art, we’re still just a family making memories (and trying not to burst out laughing in public).
What I didn’t love? The walking. You go down a flight of steps only to go up two more… then back down again. After a few rounds of that, I was cursing like a sailor under my breath. 🤦 Three hours later, we were all tired, hungry, thirsty, and a little snippy with each other. Oh, and the bathrooms? Not great. We called an Uber and retreated to the hotel after that one.
Hidden Gems – Chinatown, Sainte-Chapelle & Missed Vintage Finds 🎶🛍️
We explored Chinatown, which honestly is okay to skip if you’re from California (especially the Bay Area). It scratched our itch for Asian food, but it wasn’t anything spectacular. (I think the kids are sick of me taking pictures at every moment. My hubby calls it the tax. You don't like to pay for it, but you don't have a choice. It's their tax to us.)
A highlight was watching a classical music concert at Sainte-Chapelle. We bypassed the usual long lines since the concert included entry, and the natural acoustics in that stained-glass wonderland were unbelievable.
I’d also planned to dive into vintage shopping – Paris is the city of fashion, after all – especially at the shops that sell by the kilo (you literally pay per kilogram of clothing). Unfortunately, I didn’t quite make it there this time. Maybe on our next trip!
Montmartre, Sacré-Cœur & Louis Vuitton ⛪👜
We wandered through the streets of Montmartre, soaking in its bohemian vibe and popping into little shops and cafés. At the top of the hill sits the Sacré-Cœur Cathedral, and wow – it’s stunning inside and out. The panoramic view of the city from up there was worth every step.
And yes, we took another trip to the Louis Vuitton flagship store… only to quickly realize we really can’t afford anything. I think the staff could see that too. 😅
Paris Chaos – Tour de France 🚴
Paris was packed during the Tour de France. Metal barricades lined the streets, roads were blocked off, and even crossing the street felt impossible at times. That made our first LV attempt impossible, and the city felt divided by fences, forcing you to stick to your side of the street.
Food & Drinks – Parisian Indulgences 🍽️🍷
I couldn’t bring myself to order foie gras (still working up to it), but the duck breast was amazing, and we had more than our share of escargots. And the cocktails in Paris? Absolute perfection.
Wrapping Up Paris
We left Paris with so many fun moments and memories. But as we made our way to the train station for the Paris-to-London leg of our trip, we were reminded that not everything goes perfectly when you travel.
Oh, and did we mention we got scammed by a fake ETA website while trying to get our entry authorization for the UK? Yep. Lesson learned the hard way – always double-check those URLs before you pay.
Paris was still the perfect start to our Sweet 16 European celebration. Between the Eiffel Tower views, the beauty of Montmartre, those random ah-ha moments on the streets, and even the chaos of Tour de France, it was a trip we won’t forget.
Next stop: London – the land of Ghosts UK, Ted Lasso, and a whole new round of adventures! Stay tuned for Part 2?
