Panoramic view of a charming Parisian street with classic buildings, outdoor cafes and an orange vintage car.

 

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My son, Dylan (now 8) has a knack for "manifesting" what he wants to do by just announcing to everyone that he's doing it. So when he got it in his head that he was taking a trip to Paris, it wasn't long before he had my mother, his "Mimi" booking flights. Meanwhile, I decided to third-wheel the trip because, well, Paris. Here's a brief recap of the trip so we can remember all our favorite parts.

 

We started out on a flight that stopped in Iceland, and got to hang out at the Business Lounge in Logan Airport and the Iceland Airport.

Young passenger wearing a blue cap sits in an airplane seat during a flight with window visible in background.
Passengers enjoying a flight on Icelandair as seen through the plane's window with blue sky visible outside.
A group of people enjoying drinks and socializing at a restaurant with warm lighting and festive atmosphere.

When we arrived in Paris we headed toward our hotel, the Hôtel Elysées Union in the 8th Arrondissement just blocks from the  Arc de Triomphe. There were bistros on every corner in each direction from the front door, and a view of the Eiffel Tower out our room window.

Tree-lined Parisian street with sidewalk cafes, orange awnings, and vintage cars parked along historic buildings.
A quaint hotel entrance with a dark awning and decorative plants on a charming European city street.
Elegant Parisian street with classic Haussmann buildings and the Eiffel Tower visible in the distance.
Classic Parisian architecture with ornate stone facades, wrought iron balconies, and French flags along a sunny street.
Decorative holiday garland with red ornaments and greenery hangs above a red cafe awning in a festive display.
Aerial view of a narrow Parisian street lined with classic Haussmann-style buildings and parked cars.

We started with a quick walk to the Trocadéro, an elevated plaza that overlooks the Eiffel Tower, and were surprised to find out that we had walked right into the Hermes show at Paris Fashion Month. Photographers were everywhere and models strutted in their streetwear for them up and down the road as we passed.


Story time:

The first night in the hotel was a bit rough, as my mother got confused with the time change. She was up in the middle of the night rustling around in the bathroom and I could not understand what she was doing, or why she wasn't making any effort to stay quiet, given her grandchild was sleeping in the same room after a long day of flying. Finally, she burst out of the bathroom and announced "Ok, you guys, you have to wake up. We have to be at the Eiffel Tower by one and it's already eleven."

I rubbed my eyes and looked at her, unsure of how to phrase what I wanted to say. "But, Mom, it's still...today. It's yesterday. It's...it's nighttime."

"No, Courtney, you slept in. It's time to get up, we don't know how long the train takes from here and we don't want to be late for our tickets."

I can't believe I had to do this, but I got out of my warm, cozy bed, walked over to the window, and opened the shade to reveal that it was pitch black outside. "Mom," I said again, "it's 11 o'clock...at night."

Still for some reason not believing me, or the lack of sunlight, my mom finally checked her phone. "Oh, huh." And with that we all got to go back to bed, my mother fully clothed, hair done, makeup flawless. As you can imagine that incident has come up a few times since.


The next day, when that day really came, we did indeed take the train to the Eiffel Tower. Two things Dylan loves are trains and architecture. He loves trains so much, in fact, that each time our Metro train would arrive we would have to let it go and wait for the next one so he could watch the first one go by.


We climbed the 674 steps to the second floor of the Eiffel Tower, then took the elevator to the very top. We used the Paris Pass, which gave us access to this tour and all the biggest museums and many other little experiences throughout our trip.

A small child stands alone on an empty subway platform in black and white, creating a dramatic perspective.
Architectural detail of a steel bridge truss structure shown in black and white through tree leaves.
Two people lean in close together while sitting at a table with drinks and papers spread out in front of them.
Panoramic series of photos showing different angles of the iconic Eiffel Tower in Paris against a blue summer sky.
Low angle view of the iconic Eiffel Tower in Paris against a blue cloudy sky showing its intricate iron lattice structure.
Young child playing on wooden playground equipment with a playful expression.
Two people stand beneath the iconic metalwork of the Eiffel Tower on a sunny day in Paris.
Tourists ride a bus in Paris with the iconic Eiffel Tower visible through large windows on a sunny day.

After the Eiffel Tower climb we headed down to the river where we boarded the Bateaux Parisiens, a riverboat that travels up and down the Seine for a beautiful tour of the city. Before boarding we stopped at one of the stands on the riverside that were selling snacks and drinks and we were able to get a refreshment for Dylan and a bottle of Rose to share for Mom and Mimi. We sat out on the side of the boat and Dylan realized it was super fun to get the sunbathers out on the riverside that day to wave to him. After the boat ride, we stopped briefly by the Eiffel Tower when Dylan saw some amazing portrait artwork and wanted to have his portrait done.


Our goal that night was to see the Eiffel Tower lit up, which took some staying up considering it was summer at we were jetlagged, but we made it!

A black and white photograph showing a parent and child standing together in dappled sunlight outdoors.
View of the Eiffel Tower and ornate golden statues on the historic Pont Alexandre III bridge in Paris, France.
Artist sketches a portrait on paper while subject sits in turquoise chair during outdoor drawing session.
A group enjoys a sunny boat ride on the water with blue skies and calm conditions visible through multiple snapshots.

On our second day, Mimi and Dylan headed to the Louvre and I opted to have a relaxed French morning alone. Dylan discovered that the Lourve actually has a whole arcade/mall area attached to it so he got to play some fun video games, and he fulfilled his lifelong dream of trying McDonald's in France. In other junk-food news, Dylan discovered that the vending machines in the Paris train stations sold a drink called "Oasis," something similar to Gatorade, which became his new obsession (and, if you asked him today, maybe his favorite thing about the trip).

Tourist stands in front of the iconic glass pyramid at the Louvre Museum in Paris on a sunny day.

Meanwhile, I discovered that the perfect meal for me is the Petit Dejeuner, the Parisian breakfast available at just about every bistro in the city, which for me is coffee, a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice, and a chocolate croissant. Not a bad morning for Mom.

French cafe exterior with green awning and chalkboard menu signs displaying daily specials on a sunny Paris street.

Next I took the Metro to Le Marais, a trendy neighborhood where I hoped to do some shopping. I love the colors there and all the fun decor of the shops and restaurants.

Vintage black and white photograph of a classic Paris Metro entrance sign with ornate Art Nouveau design details.
A series of four black and white photographs showing a cat resting on cobblestone streets in different poses.
Yellow storefront window with 'CREPES TAKE AWAY' sign and menu board displaying food items in French.
Decorative floral garlands with red roses and greenery hang diagonally against a blue sky and beige wall backdrop.
Outdoor cafe terrace with striped awning and rustic stone counter displaying fresh fruits and plants in natural light.
A charming Parisian cafe terrace with classic rattan chairs and awnings nestled among green trees along a city street.

Later that day I met up with Mimi and Dylan at Montmartre, the artsy neighborhood on the hill overlooking the city, famous for the Sacre Coeur and the Moulin Rouge. Even though we had stopped for ice cream partway up the hill, we stopped again for snacks and champagne at Au Cadet de Gascogne. Next, we took a little trolley train around the city, to Dylan's delight.

Purple window shutters frame a traditional French window with ornate iron railing on a cream colored building exterior.
Parent and child share ice cream cones together on a sunny sidewalk outside a cafe.
Small plates of dessert bites with orange citrus and cookies served on white dishes with red trim at a restaurant.
Tourists walk along the exterior of Sacré-Cœur Basilica in Paris with its ornate Romanesque-Byzantine architecture.
The iconic domes and towers of Sacré-Cœur Basilica rise against a blue sky in Montmartre, Paris.
Colorful red awnings and blooming flower boxes adorn a charming Parisian street with Sacre-Coeur basilica visible in background.
The iconic white domes and architecture of Sacre-Coeur Basilica in Paris stand majestically against a bright blue sky.
A French flag flutters in the breeze on a sunny day in a quaint European town square with trees and buildings.
Black and white photograph of graffiti drawings on a wall showing a beetle sketch and comic strip panels.
Hanging ivy vines create a natural green border against a turquoise background with window frames visible.
Architectural detail of a white stone church bell tower with arched windows against a bright blue sky.

In the afternoon we had a snack in the garden area inside our hotel square, which of course consisted of French bread and all kinds of French cheese.

Two people play a fun game of ping pong on an outdoor table in a courtyard with benches and greenery.

On Day 3, our goal was to climb to the top of the Arc de Triomphe. We got there before it opened and were among the first of the day to climb the narrow, spiral staircase to the upper deck where we could see all of Paris and confirm that Dylan really likes tall buildings and monuments.

People enjoy a shaded outdoor area with trees casting dappled sunlight on a sunny summer day.
Two people enjoying a sunny day in a park with trees, one wearing red and the other in brown.
A child poses excitedly beneath the ornate architectural details of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.
Looking up a spiral staircase in sepia tones with dramatic shadows and geometric patterns created by the railings.
Group of tourists posing together for photos in front of the Arc de Triomphe monument in Paris.
Architectural detail of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris showing ornate coffered ceiling patterns and carved stone decorations.
Person admiring cityscape view from observation deck with metal safety fence under bright blue sky.
A person climbs the steep spiral staircase inside the Statue of Liberty's crown on a sunny day.
People looking through metal fence posts on a viewing platform with mountain landscape in background.

From there it was on to the Musée d'Orsay, which Dylan was excited to see because it is in the site of an old train station. Still not sick of tall buildings, we headed next to Montparnasse Tower so that we could see the view from the top of that, too.

A series of photos showing someone posing playfully in front of Van Gogh self-portrait paintings in a museum gallery.
A sequence of fisheye lens photos showing someone performing skateboard tricks on granite steps near a modern office building.

On day 4 I decided to go my own way and see something I've always wanted to: the Palais Garnier opera house, the inspiration for the Phantom of the Opera, while Dylan and Mimi rode on the Hop on, Hop Off bus around the city.

Ornate gold-trimmed ceiling and chandelier at the Paris Opera House featuring baroque architectural details and painted murals.
A series of decorative glass panels with ornate swirled patterns and red lighting creating a moody atmosphere.
Tourists enjoy a sunny day while sightseeing on an open-top bus tour in Paris with classic Haussmann buildings visible.

By this point it was clear to me that, thanks to the insane heat and lack of air conditioning in Paris, plus Dylan's insistence that we take the stairs up and down to our fourth-floor hotel room each time, I had been changing outfits multiple times a day and was out of clean clothes. I made a trip to a local laundromat and had a confusing and embarrassing conversation with a French man who I thought worked there but, as it turns out, was just being nice to the clueless tourist who couldn't read any of the signs. As my laundry tumbled, I wandered around the 8th Arrondissement taking pictures.

Rustic wooden wheelbarrow filled with colorful spring flowers and a vintage patisserie sign creates charming garden decor.
White modern apartment buildings with mansard roofs and windows against a cloudy sky in an urban setting.
Ornate architectural detail shows a row of decorative stone carvings with floral patterns and faces on a classical building.
Vintage orange Citroen 2CV car parked outside a French cafe with orange awnings and flower boxes.
A vintage architectural colonnade with white pillars and arches creates a symmetrical covered walkway in sepia tones.

Our last day started with a baking class, which was my favorite part of the trip. We got to make cookies, croissants, and baguettes, sample pastries baked by the professionals, and leave with bags full of pastries. We stopped by a the grocery store for some cheese and took our picnic to the  Jardin des Tuileries by the Louvre. The Olympic flame was there as well as the Roue de Paris which Dylan was thrilled to ride.

A young boy rolls croissants at a French bakery in a Parisian baking class.
Two people in a commercial kitchen wearing aprons work together at a granite countertop preparing food.
A series of photos showing a person walking in front of a large white Ferris wheel in a sunny park setting.

We finished our trip with another trip to Montmartre for dinner overlooking the Sacre Coeur.

Tourist family enjoying a sunny day at Sacre-Coeur Basilica in Paris, wearing summer attire.

Dylan returned home with gifts for everyone, the most loved being the berets for his brother and sister.

A toddler wearing a bright red beret and pink pants plays with a wooden toy on a hardwood floor.
A sequence of photos showing people walking and biking on a charming European street corner with outdoor cafes and trees.