france

Paris, France

Published on June 7, 2019January 8, 2025 by Skylar M. BeckLeave a comment

Oh Paris…the city of lights, warm croissants, addicting macarons, and a sparkling tower every night. I’ve been wanting to return to this enchanting city since my last visit a couple years ago and recently I was able to. I had four days filled with lots of food and lots of exploring and I loved every moment. Here’s a small guide of places to eat, see, and overall tips!

Eats

* Coffee: Cafe de Flore, Angelina’s, Cafe Kitsune

* Breakfast: Any bakery with croissants

* Lunch: Ob-La-Di, Peonies

* Dinner: Pink Mama, Picnic under the Eiffel Tower

* Macarons: Laudrée, Pierre Hermé

Things to Do:

* Climb to the top of the Arc De Triomphe. In my opinion, this is the greatest view in Paris and well worth the stair climb to the top. Be sure to purchase the tickets online in advance to avoid long lines.

* Take the metro to Montmartre. It’s a charming part of Paris where all the artists and writers spent most of their time years ago. I suggest having drinks and snacks at La Maison Rose, it’s a picturesque place with a delicious menu.

* Visit one of Paris’s many museums. I had the chance this trip to visit the Musee l’Orangerie and saw Monet’s famous waterlilies. It was breathtaking in person!

* Eat lots of sweets: macarons, croissants, crepes! There are so many fresh bakeries with warm croissants and countless crepe stations throughout the city. Macarons are my personal favorite and the best in the city are from Laudrée and Pierre Hermé.

* Explore the various arrondissements of Paris. My favorite neighborhoods are 1,5,18. Each has so many different shops, cafes, sites, which gives a unique experience to each area.

* Have a picnic under the Eiffel Tower. This was one of my favorite experiences. Go to a nearby grocery, stock up on brie, baguettes, fruits, and wine and find a spot to view the stunning tower Eiffel. Pro Tip: have a dinner picnic so you can enjoy the Eiffel Tower sparkle at dusk.

Tips & Tricks

* If you have a lot of sites you want to see and time is limited, invest in a metro day pass that includes all zones. This was a life saver for me, throughout the day I could hop on and off several different metros to take me where I needed to go without having to buy a new ticket each time. The metro also saves a lot of time since the major sites are spread out.

* The Eiffel Tower sparkles every night starting at dusk for the first five minutes of every hour until 1am. It’s pure magic, spend at least one night watching it light up.

* Purchase museum tickets in advance to skip the line it will save so much time.

* Another great view of the Eiffel Tower from a far is from Trocadero. It’s a beautiful platform that gives the perfect shot of the Eiffel Tower from a distance. There are also plenty of spots to sit along the edge for pictures or just to marvel at Eiffel’s beauty.

* Plan out specific sites and attractions you want to see but also leave time to wander and explore Paris without any plans.

My top 5 favorite travel destinations

Published on September 13, 2017March 12, 2018 by Skylar M. Beck3 Comments

I was fortunate enough to travel a lot this summer and recently I’ve been thinking about all of the experiences and memories I had. Everywhere I went was special but there are certain places that make me feel happiest when I look back on the pictures. I decided to share a list of my top 5 favorite travel destinations from this summer:

Florence, Italy. Florence was my favorite city in Italy. Florence was also the first city I visited alone so it will always be significant to me. I immediately felt welcomed from the moment I stepped off the train. I am hoping to be back in Florence very soon in the next year or so.
Procida Island, Naples, Italy. Procida was the most colorful place I visited. The vibrant pastel colors on the buildings throughout the island always makes me happy to look at. Procida also had the best pizza I’ve ever tasted, which made the island even more enjoyable!
Paris, France. I had high expectations of Paris, mostly because I had been wanting to visit since I was little. I was not disappointed. Paris offered a charming atmosphere unlike any other city I visited.
Cliffs of Moher, Ireland. Ever since I returned home to the USA all of my friends and family have been asking what country was my favorite. My answer has been Ireland. I went to several cities around Ireland, but of course, the Cliffs of Moher was the most breathtaking place. Ireland was my favorite mostly because of the calm environment and because it was much different than every other place I visited in Europe.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Orlando, Florida. I’m a huge Harry Potter fan. The books, the movies, the aesthetic it has created for it’s fans over the years make me so overwhelmingly happy. The Harry Potter World has been on my bucket list for a few years now and I’m thrilled this summer I was finally able to go with my family.

Photo Diary: Paris, France

Published on July 1, 2017March 29, 2019 by Skylar M. BeckLeave a comment

“Paris is always a good idea”

Paris, France, where do I begin? Paris has been at the top of my bucket list for years now and I am so happy I was finally able to spend time in this magical city. I spent four days exploring all the tourists sites, filling my belly with lots of baguettes and macaroons, and watching the Eiffel Tower sparkle every night. There were so many things I wanted to do but didn’t have the time, which only makes me believe I’ll be back soon Paris. Au Revoir!

A Trip along the French Riviera

Published on June 27, 2017March 12, 2018 by Skylar M. Beck1 Comment

I left Rome two days ago and now I am on my way up to Paris…with a few stops along the way. From Rome I went up to Milan and took a train to Monte-Carlo, Monaco. Monte Carlo is incredible. There are no other words to describe the atmosphere. The best part about Monte Carlo is the surrounding area. From Monte Carlo, I was able to take a bus to Èze Village and Nice, France.

I highly recommend taking a bus ride to Èze Village if you are ever traveling along the French Riviera. It was such an enchanting town. It is up on a giant hill top which offers amazing views from every angle.

From Èze Village, Nice, France was a short thirty minute bus ride away. I didn’t get to spend a lot of time here but from what I saw, it was beautiful.

Monte-Carlo, Monaco