10 things you have to do in paris

Paris is always a good idea.

Audrey Hepburn

Paris Olympics: 10 things you cant miss in paris

Watching the Olympics has me reminiscing about our week in Paris less than a year ago. Preparations for the 2024 Olympics were well underway during our visit so there was a bit of construction, but our trip to the French capital was an absolute dream!! We celebrated 15years of marriage in the City of Light and loved every second of it. Paris has been on my travel bucket list literally my whole life, so I was slightly worried it wouldn’t live up to all that I imagined. It did not disappoint and we can’t wait to visit again.

Parisian photo shoot

We booked our photo shoot to celebrate our 15 year anniversary, but honestly, I would’ve also went with “it’s Tuesday” as a reason to book a shoot. The entire trip was so iconic and memorable, it was fitting we captured our trip with a photographer. Local photographers often know the city well and can take you to lesser known spots that are less visited by tourists, but capture unbeatable views. See more photos from our photo shoot in Paris here.

Dinner inside the Eiffel Tower

There are quite a few options for dining at the Eiffel Tower. We grabbed a quick snack and coffee before taking the stairs up the Eiffel Tower. There are two restaurants inside the Eiffel Tower: Madame Brasserie and the Michelin starred Le Jules Vernes. We booked tickets to tour the Eiffel Tower about a week before we arrived, and both restaurants were booked. We went for a combo ticket with both stair access and elevator to the top. On the way to the top, we snagged seats to Madame Brasserie and caught perfect sunset. Check out views from our dinner here in the Eiffel Tower here. After dinner, we stopped off at the Pierre Herme macaron bar before journeying the rest of the way to the top of the Eiffel.

Visit the Christian Dior Museum

The Musee Christian Dior is in the 8th arrondissement, near Avenue Montaigne, where Dior’s flagship boutique is located. It was worth the long wait to get inside. Advance tickets were sold out, so we instead opted to join the walk up line and waiting a little over an hour. As you enter the museum, you’re greeted by a collection of stunning exhibits that chronicle the history and evolution of Christian Dior’s iconic fashion house. We wandered through rooms filled with exquisite haute couture dresses, accessories, and sketches. The displays showcase Dior’s revolutionary designs, from the “New Look” of the 1940s to contemporary creations by subsequent creative directors. Full disclosure: I am a total rookie when it comes to couture fashion past and present. The museum was engaging enough to captivate a rookie like me that didn’t really have the historical context many fashionista’s would’ve had when they walked in. Each room has a thematic focus and there are quite a few interactive/multimedia displays. Check out our day at the museum here.

Afternoon tea or light lunch at Cafe’ Dior

Cafe Dior could be its own post. After immersing ourself in the world of high fashion, we ended our visit at Café Dior for a light lunch. The café offers a chic and stylish setting, with décor that reflects Dior’s signature aesthetic. We choose a cozy spot by the window… the food and drinks were as good as they looked! The menu includes beautifully presented desserts and cocktails inspired by Dior’s designs making the experience both tasty and visually appealing.

Moulin Rouge

We had a leisurely stroll through the charming Montmartre district, known for its artistic history and bohemian ambiance. The illuminated red windmill atop the theater is a great place to snap a few pictures since photography is mostly not allowed inside the theater. Once inside, the show “Feerie” is quite the spectacle- elaborate costumes, a 5-course dinner, and a range of performances. We enjoyed some acts much more than others, but agreed it was something we needed to do once, and only once. More photos of our night at Moulin Rouge here.

Dinner Cruise on the Seine River

The night of our anniversary, we opted for a dinner cruise along the Seine River. The Seine River flows through the heart of the city’s most iconic landmarks. We saw the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Louvre, and more all beautifully lit up at night. The twinkling lights all around and the live pianist made for a romantic dinner as we toasted to celebrate 15years of marriage.

Bike through the city

Biking is one of our absolute favorite ways of experiencing new cities. You go just fast enough to catch more views than you would on foot, but slow enough to really see things. We started at our hotel near the Eiffel Tower and biked along the Seine River. Paris has 37 bridges that span the Seine river and connect Paris.

Get the best soul food in town at Mama Jackson’s

We had to make our way to Mama Jackson’s in Paris. Mama Jacksons brings together traditional southern American cuisine right in the heart of France. Located in the 10th arrondissement, it’s a cozy restaurant popular with both locals and tourists. The walls are adorned with vintage photographs and memorabilia creating a nostalgic ambiance that made us feel right at home. Note: portions were HUGE. We could’ve shared one plate, but we were happy to share our different entrees/sides, making our own “tasting menu”.

Spend a day at the Louvre

We signed up for a small guided tour but didn’t enjoy the tour as much as we hoped– we had a hard time hearing our tour guide, and the pace she kept the group on didn’t really align with our interest. We ditched the group, grabbed a set of audio tour devices and explored on our own. We saw the Mona Lisa, took pictures in front of the iconic pyramids in front of the Louvre,

Disenyland Paris

I know, I know. This was probably THE most American thing to do in Paris. But we are quite the Disney family so we really wanted to check this off our Disney bucket list while we were in town. When we lived in Los Angeles, we had season passes for the whole family to go to Disneyland. Occasionally, Roy & I would go without the kids and we enjoyed the opportunity to do Disney sans kids. We used Genie+ to skip the wait in the longest lines, tried the wide selection of French wine’s Disneyland Paris is known for, and checked out the European art and culture that make Disneyland Paris unique.

Our trip to Paris was a mix of fun, fashion, history, and exploring. Romantic dinners with adventure filled mornings. We cruised down the Seine and biked much further than we planned. Next time, we’ll have to bring the kids. Check out our trip to Cartegena, Colombia here.

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🚀 Hey there, I’m your busy bestie mompreneur on a mission to conquer the cosmos of motherhood, work/life balance and beyond! 🌟

As a mom of five kiddos and married to my college sweetheart, family is my everything. By day, I’m a project manager in the fast-paced world of space exploration, collaborating with engineers, scientists, educators, and even astronauts! But let’s be real- it can be tough juggling a full-time career with my #1 role: mama. That’s why I’ve been intentional to creatively pursue my own ambitions in a way (and pace) that works for our family.

I’m incredibly passionate about STEM engagement and outreach because I truly believe in inspiring the next generation of explorers. As a mom with a full-time career, 3 family businesses and a bustling household, I’m constantly asked, “How do you do it all?” Well, this blog is my creative outlet, my space to share the strategies and tips that help me seek balance, joy, and fulfillment in the chaos of everyday life. And to learn from mama’s like YOU that are rockin’ it -even (and especially) when it feels like you’re not.