Paris, France
June 10th/11th, 2024 – Travel Day:
We began our summer trip by flying with American Airlines from Salt Lake City Airport (SLC) to Dallas-Fort Worth Airport (DFW), where we had a 3-hour layover. Since our layover was long enough, we grabbed some dinner—Einstein Bros. Bagel sandwiches located in the E gate.
My family loves a good bagel sandwich, especially when we travel. They're quick, familiar, tasty, and the menu offers something for everyone to choose from! It’s kinda the perfect package deal!
After our yummy bagel dinner we headed to board our airplane that would take us to Madrid! This next segment flight was through Iberia leaving from Dallas to Madrid Airport (MAD). Once we were boarded and seated, ready for take off, we had to wait an hour for the catering service to deliver our meals to the plane. This was a slight delay in our takeoff and flight time, but at least we got to food!
✈️ Leaving Texas
When everything was finally loaded, we were so excited to take off from U.S. soil and head toward Europe. Our flight was 9.5 hours long—an overnight “red-eye”, so we all tried to sleep as much as possible to help reduce jet lag once we arrived in Madrid and then continued on to Paris.
The flight didn’t feel too long - which was a blessing. Sleeping definitely helped, and we tried to watch a couple of movies to pass the time. Sleeping and watching movies kept us all entertained and perfectly comfortable. Taking advantage of sleep on planes is essential for starting a trip with as much energy as possible, so you’re ready to enjoy everything from the begging to the very end!
Airline Sleeping Tip: I always have a hard time getting comfortable enough to sleep on planes, but I’ve found that bringing a small travel blanket and/or a thick sweatshirt or jacket helps. I can scrunch it up and use it against the seatback, window, or armrest for better neck support. It helps me sleep longer and more comfortably and it helps prevent me from waking up with a neck cramp. If neck pillows don’t work for you, I recommend trying this instead - a blanket or a sweatshirt.
🍝 In-Flight Dining with Iberia Airlines
Iberia provided two meals during the long flight—dinner and a light lunch. These were based on the local time zones: dinner according to U.S. departure time and lunch based on Madrid time (which is 9 hours ahead of Mountain Standard Time in the U.S.).
Dinner was served about 45 minutes after takeoff. We had the choice between a meat or pasta option. Since my family isn’t big on red meat—and airline meat can be hit or miss—we all went with the pasta. It was simple: pasta with marinara sauce, mozzarella, corn, and a sprinkle of parsley. It came with a roll, a side of cold cabbage-veggie slaw (which we passed on), and strawberry cheesecake for dessert. Drinks were also offered—we went with water to stay hydrated. The meal wasn’t amazing, but it was fine for a quick inflight dinner to keep us feed for the rest of the flight.
The second meal, served about 90 minutes before landing in Madrid, was a snack-style lunch. It included a ham or beef sandwich (randomly handed out, so no choice on preference), a small water, and a full-sized Crunch candy bar. We found the candy bar a bit odd—who eats just a full candy bar for lunch? It made me laugh, because of how unique this quick meal was. I ended up giving my crunch bar to my little sister for later and she was thrilled about for later 😊
The sandwiches weren’t appetizing at all. My dad took one bite and gave up. Looking around, most passengers didn’t eat theirs either. It’s unfortunate how much food gets wasted on planes. I wish airlines would just ask if you want a meal first before just handing one out to every person without asking—it could really help cut down on waste in the travel transportation food industry.
🌍 Touchdown in Madrid
After 9.5 hours, we finally landed in Madrid (MAD), and we were beyond excited to stretch our legs and be on solid ground again. Long flights aren’t my favorite, but it’s certainly worth it to get from the U.S. to Europe any time.
Once we freshened up and used the restrooms, we went through customs, which was smooth. Our passports were quickly stamped, and the process was very laid-back. Afterward, we had a four-hour layover in Madrid, so we made our way to Terminal 1 for our EasyJet flight to Paris (CDG). Since we had already passed through customs, we had to go through security again, but that was quick and easy, putting us back into the domestic (interconnecting European) flight area.
Inside the terminal, we found seats near a window and bought some basic Spanish sandwiches (with bread, cheese, ham, and egg) for dinner. We also had some fruit snacks for dessert getting as close to real fruit as we could—yum! 😊
🛬 A Short Hop Over to Paris
After the four-hour layover, we boarded the EasyJet flight to Paris. It was a short one, lasting just about an hour. We were all groggy and dozed off for most of the flight, but my sister and I woke up just in time to see the Eiffel Tower glowing in the warm Paris sunset right before we landed at the CDG airport. It was surreal to see such an iconic landmark from the air for the first time in our lives.
We landed around 10:00 PM (22:00) and made our way through the airport, pulling our carry-ons behind us. We had chosen to pack only carry-ons for this leg of the trip to avoid the risk of lost luggage and to save time at baggage claim. Yes, it meant packing lighter for our entire 10-day European trip, but we managed to fit everything we needed for both Paris and Madrid’s weather into that each of our one carry-on bag(s).
Thanks to this decision, we exited the airport rather quickly and found our pre-booked Uber. We chose a van since it fit the four of us and our luggage comfortably for our ride to our hotel near Disneyland Pairs. If you need more info about where to meet Ubers at CDG airport, click here.
🚐 Smooth Arrival: Uber to Our Hotel Near Disneyland Paris
Once our driver pulled up at the curb, he helped us load our bags, and we were off. The 30-minute ride to Marriott’s Village d’Île-de-France hotel was peaceful, and we enjoyed seeing the city lights.
When we arrived, the front desk was checking us in when suddenly the fire alarm blared off. It was very loud—definitely a wake-up moment in the middle of the night. The alarm kept us awake until it was resolved, and we finally received our room keys.
This is where we finally rolled our bags along the cobblestone paths to our townhome, which was one of the furthest from the main clubhouse area. The wheels of our luggage on the cobblestone were also so loud—I hope we didn’t wake anyone up!
All in all, our travel day was more like a day and a half. It felt much longer than the 30 hours we had spent hopping from airports to planes across two continents. By the end of it, we were exhausted, greasy, and ready for nothing but a shower and sleep—and honestly, who could blame us?
June 12, 2024 – Day #1: First Day In Paris
Our first full day in Paris started a bit later in the morning than we expected, since we didn’t get to bed until about 1:30–2:00 am, after a long day of travel the day before.
Lucky for us though, our hotel was amazing and comfortable! We stayed at Marriott’s Village d’Île-de-France in the cutest little two-bedroom townhome. It had two stories with a kitchen, half bath, dining room, cozy living room, and a washer/dryer area on the main floor. Upstairs were two bedrooms and two full bathrooms—one with two twin beds where my little sister and I slept, and one with a king bed for our parents. It was the perfect setup for our family and made getting ready in the mornings much faster with the two bathrooms.
🥐 A Quiet Morning & Breakfast at The Marketplace
While we waited for our parents to finish getting ready in the morning, my sister and I explored the hotel grounds just around our townhome. They were absolutely beautiful—filled with charming cottage-style townhomes, peaceful little ponds, and arched walkways covered in blooming climbing roses. The hedges were neatly trimmed, and everything felt like it belonged in a fairy tale. We did spot some scary spiders hidden in the bright green hedged bushes, which we definitely avoided, but everything else was so delicately designed for an immersive experience for each of Marriott’s Paris guests.
Around the ponds, we heard frogs making the loudest croaking noises. And one of the best surprises on the grounds were the swans. There was one large mother swan with her two petite babies resting on the green lawn. (We found out that swans hatch their off springs between May and July, so if you visit during this time, keep an eye out!) Just don’t get too close—the mama swans are super protective and will hiss if they feel threatened.
Once everyone was ready, we headed to The Marketplace in the hotel’s main lobby for some breakfast. It had a great selection—pastries, cereal, snacks, drinks, and pantry staples. We grabbed some croissants, snacks, milk, and cereal, and even used the machine that presses fresh orange juice right on the spot. The fridge in our townhome made it easy to store leftovers for the next couple of mornings, making the shopping trip at The Marketplace easy and logical for us.
🚇 Navigating the Paris Train System
After our quick breakfast, we took the Marriott shuttle to the Marne-la-Vallée Chessy Train Station, which is conveniently located right next to Disneyland Paris. We bought our round-trip shuttle tickets at the hotel’s front desk for about $7–$10 per person (prices vary, so check with the staff when you’re there). Also, don’t forget to check the euro-to-dollar exchange rate during your visit to budget accordingly based on the conversion rate at the time. The front desk was super helpful—they showed us the current bus schedule so we could plan our daily travel plans around it, making sure we got from our hotel onto the shuttle and to the train station all at the right time.
The hotel shuttle was super easy to use, but figuring out the train system was a bit more complicated. It took us a while to decide which tickets we needed, which train to take into the city, and how to actually pay for everything. After we accidentally purchased the wrong ticket, we waited for awhile to get help from the service desk, where we finally ended up taking Train A (the red line) into the city and got off at Châtelet – Les Halles, which is close to Rue de Rivoli and the Louvre.
In my opinion, the train prices felt a bit pricey compared to what it would cost to rent a car for the whole day. But if you're planning on using public transportation, make sure you buy the correct tickets starting from your specific location you want to board the train at. For example, Marne-la-Vallée – Chessy Station (right next to Disneyland Paris) is located in Zone 5, so you’ll need to purchase a ticket that starts at Zone 5 and goes to your destination—like Zone 1 or 3 near downtown Paris and the Louvre.
If you're unsure about anything when purchasing tickets, I highly recommend waiting in line to talk to a real person at the service desk. It might take longer, but it's worth it to ask your questions, explain where you're going, and specify whether you want a one-way or round-trip ticket. This way, you reduce the risk of buying the wrong ticket from the self-service machines on the wall and still having to wait in the service desk line.
Once we had the right tickets, everything else was easy. As long as you follow the maps and colorful signs around the station and inside the trains, you’ll be fine. Riding the train is actually a really fun and efficient way to travel in Paris—it made the whole experience feel more authentic and local as we started our Paris adventure.
We caught our train around 12:00 pm, so it wasn’t too busy and we were able to find seats together. But if you’re riding during rush hour (mornings or evenings), be prepared to stand and be a little squished on your train ride.
When we got off at Châtelet – Les Halles we rode the escalators up to street level and it felt completely surreal. We were finally in Paris—a city full of history, beauty, and charm. I’ve seen so many pictures of the city and always dreamed about visiting, but being there in person was on a whole different level and made the experience more exciting. It didn’t feel real at first, but as we explored the streets and took it all in, it finally began to sink in that we were actually in the Paris!
Once we were on the streets, we wandered around for a while between the charming Parisian cafés and tiny, specialized shops. Some of the streets are still paved with carefully laid cobblestones, and seeing that kind of detail makes you appreciate the city’s rich history even more. It was such a special experience to explore a European city like this with my family for the first time together.
🥞 Lunch Stop: Au P’tit Grec Crêperie
For lunch, we stopped at a small crepe shop called Au P’tit Grec Crêperie. It’s a casual spot where you can customize savory or sweet crepes, with a few outdoor tables set up under a little patio area. The menu had plenty of options to choose from, and the staff was friendly and helpful when it came to ordering and suggesting combinations for each crepe for everyone in my family.
When we arrived, it wasn’t too busy, so our crepes were made quickly and served hot, with gooey, melty cheese spilling out from the inside of the buckwheat crepe. Each of us ordered a savory crepe with our own person wants and twists—some with ham, egg, arugula, cheese, peppers, and so much more.
Overall, it was a fun experience eating a crepe on a Parian street, and the food was tasty, but it wasn’t anything extraordinary for a city that is so famous for their food creations. One thing was the portions were also, quite large, making it a challenge to finish. While we enjoyed trying it once, it’s not a place we’d go out of our way to revisit again. It needed more flavor to make this place something crave-able and special to share and want to make a trip back to. If you’re looking for a memorable food experience in Paris, I’d recommend trying other creperies with more unique flavor or atmosphere than this location offered.
🛍️ Rue de Rivoli & The Louvre
After lunch, we walked down Rue de Rivoli, a busy retail shopping street in central Paris lined with popular stores like Levi’s, Sephora, Zara, IKEA, HEMA, Pull&Bear, and more. It’s a very touristy area, so be prepared for crowds. We kept our shopping quick, stopping in at Zara and Sephora. While we didn’t buy anything, it was fun to browse and see the European influence in their product lines—especially how different the selections are compared to back home in the states.
The Louvre sits just off the south side of Rue de Rivoli. We didn’t go inside this time, since visiting the museum takes at least a couple of hours—and with only a few days in Paris, we had other sights on our list we wanted to visit a little bit more. Still, we enjoyed walking around the historic palace exterior, taking in the grand architecture of what used to be a royal residence, and just see the outside area of this famous art museum.
📸 A Quick Stop at the Louvre Pyramid & Gosselin Bakery
The line to get into the Louvre was long when we visited, so we took a quick photo in front of the iconic glass pyramid in the courtyard before we kept going further into the city. From there, we crossed the street into Jardin des Tuileries, a beautiful public garden stretching west of the museum. There’s a large fountain in the center surrounded by chairs and benches where people were sitting to enjoy the June sunshine when we were there. The garden paths were lined with manicured trees and bushes making it a peaceful area to take a stroll through. And from certain points, you can even catch a distant view of the Eiffel Tower!
We continued our self-guided walking tour by crossing Pont Royal, one of the bridges over the Seine River, and made our way to Gosselin, a bakery on the corner of Boulevard Saint-Germain. This is their second location, opened in 2001, and they’re known for their galettes and other wonderful pastries. We were still full from lunch, so we just shared a pain au chocolat and a chocolate éclair.
Everyone tried what they wanted and between everyones thoughts -both were absolutely incredible. The croissant dough was buttery and flaky, with just the right amount of chocolate in the pain au chocolat for a perfect sweet bite. As for the éclair, my parents said it was one of the best they’ve ever had—and they’ve tried a lot of éclairs in their time, so that’s saying something! If you're looking for a delicious Parisian bakery, we definitely recommend visiting either Gosselin Caumartin (the original) or Gosselin Saint-Germain (where we went).
Everyone tried what they wanted and between everyones thoughts -both were absolutely incredible. The croissant dough was buttery and flaky, with just the right amount of chocolate in the pain au chocolat for a perfect sweet bite. As for the éclair, my parents said it was one of the best they’ve ever had—and they’ve tried a lot of éclairs in their time, so that’s saying something! If you're looking for a delicious Parisian bakery, we definitely recommend visiting either Gosselin Caumartin (the original) or Gosselin Saint-Germain (where we went).
👟 Packing Tip, The Eiffel Tower, & Other Sites
Packing Tip: When it comes to seeing as much of Paris as possible, I highly recommend walking everywhere you can. Get out into the city and just start exploring—you’ll see so much more that way. Just be sure to pack comfortable walking shoes, because full days on your feet are part of the experience and you want to come prepared, so you’re comfortable.
Being on foot in Paris is how you truly connect with the city—its history, its people, the food, and the endless landmarks this place has to offer. And by the end of the day, that satisfying ache in your feet will be proof of how much you saw, did, and experienced.
So, after our pastry stop at Gosselin, we were recharged and headed southwest toward the Eiffel Tower, passing by Hôtel des Invalides along the way. This enormous historic building is where Napoleon Bonaparte is buried. The first thing you notice is the golden dome topping the massive complex that is absolutely stunning from the outside. You can purchase tickets to go inside, but from what we’ve heard, just seeing this site from the exterior is good enough. So, if you're traveling on a budget, simply viewing as you pass by is perfect.
Once we arrived at the Eiffel Tower, we discovered that the Jardin de la Tour Eiffel (the grassy park in front of the tower) was fenced off and closed. We soon made the connection that it was all due to preparations for the 2024 Summer Olympics! The area was being converted into an event venue—volleyball matches were scheduled to take place here, right in front of the iconic landmark. Although we couldn’t access the main lawn like we had hopped, we still walked around to get close to the base of the tower and take some family selfies near it.
The Eiffel Tower itself is enormous, and seeing it up close is definitely one of those “bucket list” moments. But be aware—it’s a major tourist hotspot, and we noticed quite a few sketchy individuals casing the area, likely looking for easy tourist targets for pickpocketing. So to stay safe, we kept our bags on our fronts, didn’t carry valuables in our pockets, and stayed alert. That helped us feel more comfortable while enjoying the view and I would highly recommend doing the same when you visit the tower.
We didn’t stay too long, especially with all the Olympic construction and the light afternoon rain starting to fall on us. We also opted not to pay for a trip up the Eiffel Tower—it’s a fairly expensive ticket, and we decided to save our money for other sights we were more excited to explore. Plus, the cloudy weather meant we likely wouldn’t get the best views anyways for the extra costs.
After seeing the tower, we started walking back north into the city, we crossed Pont Alexandre III, a gorgeous arched bridge with ornate decorations and golden statues. From the bridge, we watched bateaux mouches (sightseeing boats) cruising along the Seine, full of passengers enjoying the evening river tours.
Continuing our walk, we passed by both the Petit Palais and Grand Palais, which are now museums, but original were royal estates. Even from the outside, these buildings are stunning. If you have extra time, both offer exhibits you can explore with pre-purchased tickets. As with most attractions in Paris, making a reservation in advance is a good idea to guarantee entry at your desired time slot.
We also caught a glimpse of the Arc de Triomphe at the end of Avenue des Champs-Élysées. That entire street was closed off due to Olympic setup, but it actually gave us a great view of the monument from a distance. If you have time, getting up close or even driving around it (on the famously wild traffic circle!) would be a fun experience for you and your group.
Farther into the city, we even passed by Palais Garnier, the famed Paris opera house. We didn’t go inside, but just walking past it was a highlight—the architecture is grand, elegant, and unmistakably Parisian. This is one of those stunning buildings in Paris, France.
🍝 Dinner Delight at Bianca: A Cozy Italian Gem in Paris
Then finally, we ended up eating dinner at Bianca, a stylish little Italian restaurant located on Rue des Petits Champs. I absolutely loved this place—and so did the whole family! The interior was bright and cozy, with bohemian wicker basket lights hanging from the ceiling, giving the space a soft glow. The room was decorated with lemon trees and greenery that cascaded from above, while potted plants lined the walls to create a cozy, jungle-like atmosphere. The vibe was fresh, inviting, and modern— for an unexpected gem in Paris.
Here’s what we ordered:
Caesar Salad
(Romaine lettuce, Caesar dressing, croutons, parmesan, crispy chicken, and cherry tomatoes) - This was hands-down my favorite dish of the night and one of the best salads I’ve ever had. The crispy chicken was tender and added just the right texture, while the croutons gave the perfect crunch. The Caesar dressing was flavorful and coated the lettuce beautifully, and the parmesan brought a creamy saltiness that balanced everything out. The cherry tomatoes were vibrant and fresh— I’d come back just for this!Mozzarella in Carrozza e Salsa Pizzaiola
(Fried mozzarella with pizzaiola sauce) - We're not huge fans of fried food, but this was done really well. The portion—four pieces—was perfect for a family of four to each get just one crispy, cheesy bite without it being too heavy.House Bread (not on the menu – ask for it!)
This was made from leftover pizza dough and came with olive oil for dipping. It was simple, delicious, and great to snack on while we waited for our main dishes. Definitely ask for it if you’re dining here and you want some bread on the side.Focaccia al Rosmarino
(Rosemary focaccia bread served with an artichoke cream dip) - We love bread, and this was fun to try—especially since my little sister makes amazing focaccia at home. Theirs was warm, airy, and drizzled with olive oil, but my sister’s version might just be a little bit fluffier and more tender. That being said, it was still a nice addition—just maybe skip one of the breads if you're a smaller group like us. Two bread orders was a bit too much for four people!Rigatoni Freschi al Tartufo Fresco
(Homemade rigatoni in a truffle cream sauce with fresh truffle shavings) - My dad ordered this one and loved it. The fresh pasta combined with the rich, earthy truffle flavor was hearty and satisfying—especially for mushroom lovers.Pizza Margherita
(San Marzano tomatoes, fior di latte mozzarella, and fresh basil) - This artisan pizza had a soft, airy crust with a thin, chewy center. The tomatoes and cheese were perfectly balanced, offering a fresh, sweet-savory flavor cobonation. Their pizza dough is excellent, so I’d recommend exploring any of their other pizza options they offer as well.To Drink
We ordered still bottled water imported from southern Italy—it was soft, cold, and refreshing alongside our hearty Italian meal.Fondante al Cioccolato con Gelato di Casa alla Vaniglia
(Warm chocolate lava cake with house-made vanilla gelato) - My family said it was absolutely incredible. The molten center of the cake poured out rich, warm chocolate with every bite, and it paired beautifully with the creamy vanilla gelato. They loved it and next time they would love to want to try the Torta di Mele alla Tatin (apple tarte tatin-style dessert with vanilla whipped cream).
During dinner, it started to rain pretty heavy, but luckily it cleared up just as we were headed back toward the train station. On our way, we walked down Rue Montorgueil, a charming, pedestrian-only shopping street lined with cafés, bakeries, international restaurants, fruit stands, and so much more. While we didn’t have time to stop and shop, walking down the street was a treat—the air was full of delicious smells, and twinkling lights above added to the atmosphere of this famous historic street.
👜 Navigating & Safety Tip
After about a 10-minute walk, we arrived back at Châtelet – Les Halles station. The train was packed, so we had to stand in the stairwell for most of the ride because there were no seats left during the evening rush hour(s).
Travel Tip: Paris train rush hours run roughly from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm (17:00–20:00). During this time, trains are usually crowded, and you’ll likely have to stand. Still, getting on any train during this period is a win, since they fill up quickly and you noramlly just want to get home.
We got on around 7:00 pm (19:00), and something surprising happened—my mom actually caught a pickpocket in action during our train ride. She saw a man trying to unzip another passenger’s backpack. She then spoke up right away and warned the guy whose bag was being targeted. The thief just reacted with giving a smug smirk and slipped out at the next stop without a word to anyone on the backed train.
So here's another tip: Keep your bags in front of you during busy hours and in that case always keep it on your front so you can always see it—it's the easiest and most effective way to avoid being a target and get stolen from in any side around the world.
After the crowded 40-minute ride, we finally made it back to Marne-la-Vallée – Chessy Station and caught the hotel shuttle back to Marriott's Village d'Ile-de-France. We were exhausted and immediately crashed into bed.
Our first day in Paris was packed, exciting, and a little surreal. I still can’t believe we made it to Paris - I’m so grateful for that opportunity!
June 13th, 2024 – Day #2: Disneyland Paris
Our second day in France was filled with adventure and lots of Disney Magic, with spending the whole day at Disneyland Pairs.
It was a day full of thrilling rides, a good range of delicious treats, and we made a ton of unforgettable memories as a family. It really was a one-of-a-kind experience that I hope everyone gets to check this of their bucket lists at one point during their life time.
👉 Read more about our full day in Disneyland Paris be HERE!
June 14th, 2024 – Day #3: Palace of Versailles
Day three of our Paris trip took us outside the city to the famous Palace of Versailles! It was a day packed with appreciation for history, amazement for the skillfully crafted royal site, and lot of laughs for the unexpected moments of weather and misunderstandings.
Exploring everything from the lush detailed gardens to the golden trimmed palace, and all the way to cute little Trianon estates made the day in Paris something I will never forget!
👉 Keep reading to hear about our journey through Versailles, what to expect, and tips HERE!
June 15th, 2024 – Day #4: Last Day in Paris
This was our last full day in Paris. Sad, but also exciting to think of all the new places we will explore in the future! We only had four full days in France, but honestly, that was more than we originally expected, so I’m incredibly grateful for each precious moment we got to spend in this beautiful country.
I do wish we’d had a couple more days to fit in some amazing France day trips to places like the Loire Valley, Mont Saint-Michel, or even a drive down south to Nice or Marseille. But I guess those many adventures will have to wait until next time, which I can’t wait for! For now, we were determined to make the most of our final day in Paris, France by heading back into the city one last time.
🚗 Renting a Car vs. Using Public Transport
We woke up around 9:30 am, got ready, and packed up the car we had rented the day before at the train station. It made such a difference not having to rely solely on public transportation that can be overly crowded and take extra time to navigate. Driving into the city gave us the freedom to take in the views above ground—admiring the buildings, wide boulevards, and iconic landmarks—rather than being underground in the dark train tunnels. Being able to drive in the car made it felt more personal, and we loved the added flexibility to go wherever we wanted to explore!
Here’s something we learned:
Trains are perfect if you’re staying within Paris and want to stay centralized. Day-pass tickets can be a good deal if you plan on hopping around the city all day to get the most for your money.
But if you’re staying outside of the city—like we were—a rental car can be more practical, more affordable, and great for groups/ families.
Train tickets add up fast when you’re traveling from the outer zones around Paris daily, and depending on the size of your group and how many destinations you want to hit in a single day, a car often ends up being more cost-effective than relying only on the trains/ buses in the city. Plus, with just a simple navigation app like Google Maps, driving around and getting to your desired locations, can be surprisingly easy and manageable.
🅿️ The Parking Is Easy
With the car we rented, it worked great for my family of four, and we found plenty of parking once we entered the city! We parked in a central area that we knew would be perfect if we needed to grab jackets, drop off items we purchased along the way, or just take a minute to regroup while planning our next steps.
We did have to pay for parking, but the cost was relatively low and well worth it for the convenience of having access to the car throughout the day as we moved about the city.
Once we were parked, we headed out on foot toward breakfast/lunch at a place called Kozy. While we walked, we were glad we had brought our thicker jackets because it was quite cold, and the wind had a bitter bit to it within the narrow streets of the city. We even got sprinkled on with some rain, which made it feel even colder, especially with how the wind funnels the rain through the streets openings.
Packing Note: I thought Paris would be much warmer during the summer months, but during our visit in June, jackets were a staple item we constantly wore. Paris can have warmer temperatures in July and August, but for the most part, the rest of the year tends to have cooler weather that requires extra items for you to pack. Depending on when you go, I recommend watching the weather closely so you can pack accordingly and bring enough of the right clothes to stay comfortable while you travel. Personally, I packed for warmer weather in Madrid and I really wish I had brought more jackets for the cooler temperatures in Paris 😊.
🍯 A Sweet Stop: La Chambre Aux Confitures
Anyways, along our walk to Kozy, we stopped at the cutest jam and jelly store called La Chambre Aux Confitures. It was a great little shop with so many different flavors of delicious spreads to choose from. The store employee even allowed us to sample a variety of products that helped us decide what to purchase, but really it helped us buy a lot more products than we had orginally planed to take home.
After tasting and browsing the store’s petite shelves, which were loaded with jams and jellies, we bought a few: Pear Vanilla, Strawberry White Chocolate, Lemon White Poppy Seed Spread, Pineapple Passionfruit, Apple Cinnamon, Caramel Spread, Chocolate Hazelnut Spread, etc. The flavors are seasonal and change regularly, but they’re always so unique and delicious! If you want to shop for some French jams or jellies to take home, La Chambre Aux Confitures is the perfect place. They even offer small sizes that can go in your carry-on, so there’s no need to even check a bag!
We bought so many jams and jellies to take home and share with friends and family that my dad quickly ran them back to the car so we wouldn’t have to haul them around all day. And there you go—first reason justified for why we rented a car in Paris!
📍 Kozy’s Notre-Dame Location
Once my dad caught back up with us, we walked the rest of the way to Kozy. But, like most restaurants in Paris, there was a long line waiting outside due to the limited seating capacity of the small breakfast-themed restaurant.
The wait wasn’t too long—around 25 to 30 minutes—but the light drizzle and biting wind made it feel a little longer. Again, we were grateful we had brought our thicker jackets to stay warm while we waited for the yummy food.
Kozy has a few locations around Paris, but we went to their Notre-Dame location. It was the closest to us and also conveniently located for our short walk to see the progress on Notre-Dame Cathedral since the fire on April 15, 2019.
After our wait was up, we were seated inside—in the very back corner of the chic, breakfast-themed restaurant—were we quickly looked over the menu so we could order right away before we had to wait any longer.
Here’s what we ordered:
Mom: Pancakes with seasonal fruit (whipped cream, seasonal fruit, hazelnuts, and maple syrup)
Dad: Seasonal Eggs Benedict
Me: Homemade Granola (yogurt, granola, seasonal fruit, maple syrup, and peanut butter)
Little Sister: Seasonal Pancakes
All the food was delicious and really hit the brunch spot for us!
🏰 Notre-Dame: A Stunning Restoration
After we ate, we walked across the Petit Pont – Cardinal Lustiger bridge to Notre-Dame, which was still closed for renovations during the time we visited. Even though it was still be worked on, the exterior was stunning. I honestly think it’s a miracle that the cathedral is still standing and was able to be salvaged after the severity of the fire. What’s been done to preserve its history and originality is amazing. It think it is now open for tours, and the pictures of the interior looks incredible!
Around Notre-Dame, there are plenty of street carts with artists selling paintings, postcards, and other little touristy items. The overhead coverings of these carts came in handy when it started raining more heavily, as we walked along the river area, keeping us relatively dry.
This area is a bit touristy, located along the Seine River, but we found some charming little paintings that doubled as postcards—just what we were looking for to bring home as a piece of the "City of Lights".
The rest of the day, we wandered through the petite streets of central Paris, stopping along the way and occasionally moving our car to a new parking spot as needed, so we could see everything we wanted to and more!
Here are a few places we stopped (in order):
Pirates Candy: This shop is fun to look at but definitely overpriced and clearly aimed at getting tourists to pay way more then they should for bulk candy. It’s worth a quick peek into the store, but don’t fall for the over inflated prices.
Amorino: An Italian gelato shop known for creating rose-shaped gelato cones—so cute!
À la Mère de Famille: A historic French chocolate shop founded in 1761. Their Coffret de pâtes de fruits are incredible—delicate fruit jelly squares coated in crunchy sugar crystals. A fresh burst of flavor in every bite and something my family loved! I want to go back here so bad!
Maison Louvard: We tried the original “crookie” (a cookie dough–stuffed croissant). My sister said it was very buttery and not all that flavorful. She said it was fun to try, but not something she would not recommend to other people to go out of your way for.
Black Beans Mexican Food: Yes, we got Mexican food in Paris for dinner! Surprisingly, it was pretty good. The salsa was spicy though!
🌮 Dinner at Black Beans Mexican Food & The End
Here’s what we ordered at Black Beans Mexican Food:
Mom: Chicken tacos with rice and beans
Dad: Chicken burrito served on a bed of black beans
Me and My Little Sister: Cheese quesadilla with a lime-dressed salad and guacamole
For the table: Homemade rojo salsa and a side of black beans
Overall, the food was fairly generic but had good flavor. The salsa and the chicken burrito were a bit spicy, but everything else was mild. We love Mexican food in general, so it was fun to try something different—especially all the way in Paris, France, so far from Mexico itself.
It was still raining and cold by the end of the night, so once it started getting dark, we decided to head back. Luckily, our car was just a street over. Which made it nice instead of squeezing into a crowded, uncomfortable train, we hopped into our warm, cozy car and drove back to the train station. There, we returned the car and caught the Marriott shuttle back to our hotel, Marriott's Village d’Île-de-France, for the night.
Wow! I still can’t believe we were in Paris, France. It was amazing! I loved experiencing the city, the history, and the people of such a beautiful and fascinating place. I’m so grateful for the opportunity—it truly was unforgettable. I hope you all get the chance to visit Paris one day, too!
