Since Matt and I traveled to Paris in 2019 and had visited most of the sites, we planned out the activities we thought the girls would enjoy most for this vacation. Although I had dreams of a relaxed Parisian experience with my girls, this didn’t stop us from walking about 29 miles in the 2 full days. To be honest though, it did not feel rushed at all, rather that we were wandering (which is my favorite thing to do in European cities).

Day 1 - We started with Musee d’Orsay at opening and were able to take a picture of the girls in the clock face with just 2 of them. We strolled through the galleries of Monet, Degas, Van Gogh and countless other works of art.

Around lunch time, we walked to L’Atelier Artisan Crêperie for lunch. We learned quickly that one galette (savory crepe made with buckwheat) and crepe each was a bit too much food, but we all chose what we wanted and it was delicious. If you go, you must try the Caramel Beurre Sel (caramel with salted butter), it was my favorite. 

After a quick stop back by our hotel, we headed to Versailles. We decided to take an uber since the cost was similar to the RER for 4  and it was easier/faster since we were picked up at our hotel. We had tickets for 2:00pm, but don't be fooled by 'Skip the Line', The 2:00pm queue was quite long. We finally entered around 2:45pm. I do still recommend pre-purchasing your tickets or booking a guided tour (they have a separate entrance) when visiting, as you will cut out waiting in line to purchase tickets. The Palace was even more grand than I imagined. Had we planned to arrive earlier in the day, we would have rented a golf cart to explore the expansive grounds, or rented a small boat for the Grand Canal of Versailles (cross shaped pond).

After taking an Uber back to our hotel, we walked over to the Colonnes de Buren to take pictures and the girls had fun playing before dinner. We finished the night sitting between the Tuileries Gardens and the Louvre to watch the Eiffel Tower Sparkle for 5 minutes on the hour.



Day 2 - Since Notre Dame was closed down in 2019 when we last visited due to the fire, this was high on our list to see. Although it is free to enter, if you do not plan on arriving at opening, I recommend pre-booking timed tickets (still free). We arrived at the cathedral at opening time (7:50am) and it was a great call. With very few people milling about, some enjoying the service, it was a wonderful time to visit and take our time admiring the stained glass without a crowd. 

We set off to brunch in the Saint-Germain-des-Pres (6th arr.) then back over the Seine, through the Louvre to Galleries Lafayette by the Palais Garnier. The Galleries Lafayette is not only a luxury department store, but it has a beautiful stained glass dome, roof top view point and great souvenirs to purchase on the top floor. The view point is very popular, but for a good reason with sweeping views of the city.

A short walk and stop by a boulangerie (Eric Kayser is our go to spot) to grab lunch to-go and we had a wonderful al fresco lunch in the Tuileries gardens. We set up near the playground where the girls played for a few after we ate. 

A short walk from the playground is one of my favorite museums in Paris,  Musee de l’Orangerie, home to Monet’s Water Lillies. It is definitely worth a stop and elicited a “WHOA” from my oldest when we entered the first room of the paintings. 

Feeling adventurous, we decided to make the 30 minute walk from the museum to the Eiffel Tower. Don’t worry, we stopped for Pierre Herme Marcarons along the way and ate them at the base of the tower. 

Our next stop and a short Uber Ride was Le Bon Marche Grand Epicerie’s thanks to viral butter reels. This wonderful grocery store will vacuum seal your butter so that you can bring it home. OF COURSE we had to take some French butter home. After paying for the butter and bag, we took the butter to the machine where they vacuum sealed it for us. Just to be sure it would make the journey home, we placed it in the freezer in our room until we left for the airport the next morning.

After one more stroll past the Louvre, to purchase the girls a hoodie, we ended day 2 with a relaxing Italian meal around the corner from our hotel. Local wine, ravioli and bolognese. It was the perfect way to end an memorable time in Paris. 

Now you can see how we walked 29 miles in 2 days. Would we do it again? In an instant. 

My Tips for Traveling with Kids in Europe :

• Plan activities you know YOUR kids will enjoy.


• If your kids like playgrounds or running in green space, make time for it. They will be happier, which then everyone will be happier.


• Don't pack your schedule and be flexible.


• Pre-plan your restaurants. Look at menus and decide before you leave where you will eat. This is a big one for us.


• Set their expectations that there will be quite a bit of walking. You can always take the metro or taxis, but walking is the way to go to see the city.

I recently sailed on the Scarlet Lady for the Fire & Sunset Soirees Sailing from Miami with Virgin Voyages. This was my first cruise ever, not just with Virgin Voyages but with any cruise line.

Virgin Voyages is an Adults Only cruise line that offers a mix of fun, fitness & relaxation. Love theme nights? This may be the cruise line for you!

Here are 5 things that surprised me :

I was NOT Bored - I am a Europe Traveler. Like hit the ground running, 20k+ steps per day, see ALL the things kind of traveler. I was so worried I would be bored “stuck” on a cruise. Nope. Not on Virgin Voyages. You can be as busy (or not busy) as you want. Trivia, summer camp crafts, puzzle contests, yoga, HIIT workout classes and entertaining shows are just a few of the activities we took part in. These don’t sound like your jam? Don’t worry, there were many more options. They even have a casino and tattoo parlor on board. Want to relax? There is a spa on each ship and the hammock on the Sea Terrace was wonderful with the breeze and a book!

The Food - Honestly, I was dreading the food. I get disappointed with bad food, so I was happily surprised by how good the food was at each of the restaurants. The best part no traditional buffets. They have a food court area with different stations that could be considered a buffet, but definitely didn’t have that feel. Also, you didn’t serve yourself, so that was a plus. 

Ease of Moving around the Ship - These ships are huge (not the largest cruise ships, but huge).  Once I started to remember the name of the different areas and rooms of the shop, moving around was quite easy. There is also a map on the app that makes finding the different locations very easy. 

Toilets - Not sure what I was expecting here but they are like airline toilets. Not bad, but surprising. 

Size of the Staterooms - Upon first glance I was a little shocked by the size of the stateroom. This was my first cruise, I literally have nothing else to compare it to. None the less, my bestie and I navigated around each other easily. We found dedicated places for our bags (if you’re an unpacker, they can fit under the bed) and were able to have plenty of space to get ready each morning and evening. 

Let’s just say, I was happily surprised by my first cruising experience and can’t wait to sail next time with my husband! 

Want to experience sailing with Virgin Voyages for yourself? Fill out my registration form or send me an email and we will get started!

-Ashley Tweedy

💌 : ashley.tweedy@vincentvacations.com

I love train travel. Honestly, I wish it was available more in the States, but here we are. So we often travel by rail on our European adventures, and we have learned it is often best to splurge on First Class tickets when it comes to long distance train rides.

Hear me out. Having taken multiple European trips on a budget, sometimes it seems like it's worth the lack of comfort in standard class rail ticket to save a few dollars, but it is not.

During our recent trip to Belgium and Germany, this became very clear. On our second day we booked a standard class ticket from Brussels to Brugge. We figured it was only an hour away, no need to upgrade. We were wrong. First of all, the seats are not assigned. It is a free for all and you just take what you can get. The style of train compartment for this journey were 4 seats facing each other with a 'table' in the middle. In standard class, it is a very tight fit. We are no strangers to train travel when in Europe, but we are not surprised when someone we don't know sits down on the other side of the table.

After the hour of feeling like we were crammed in a sardine can, we opted to purchase first class tickets on our return. Since it was still the same train line, the compartment style was the similar with 4 seats groups and a table, but there was legroom for days! Although our seats were not assigned, there were far less people trying to cram into the first class cars.

The next day we traveled first class from Brussels, Belgium to Düsseldorf, Germany, a 3 hour train ride. We were able to reserve our seats and they were comfortable with a foot rest. It was such an enjoyable ride.



Here are my Top 5 reasons you should definitely upgrade to First Class on your  next rail journey :

5. Quiet Cars | These are train cars are perfect for those who need to work or want to unwind on their journey. Guests are asked to limit conversation and speak in subdued tones. Phone calls are not allowed and all portable electronic devices must be muted or used with headphones. Like WiFi, availability does depend on the train line and route.

4. WiFi | This does depend on the train line and route, but many of the longer length voyages offer WiFi in first class in the price of your ticket.

3. Less Crowded | Larger seats means less seats, which means less crowded. After hustling and bustling through the cities, it is nice to sit in your own space during a journey, especially a long one. The cabins are usually quieter due to less people, as well.

2. Comfortable Seats | All trains are different, but I think we can all agree the first class seats are far more comfortable than those in standard class. On our ride from Brussels to Düsseldorf, the seat was fully adjustable/reclined, had plenty of space, also had a footrest and tray table.

1. Legroom | I am not a tall person, but I do love to stretch out. Even when sharing a table in a first class cabin, there is enough room that you don't feel the need to put your feet under your seat to keep from kicking your neighbor.



On top of these fantastic reasons, the price difference usually is not substantial and the comfort outweighs the cost, in my opinion.

Are you interested in learning more about a European vacation?  Contact me today for a custom quote!