Is there anywhere better for a road trip than France? Last year we were lucky enough to hire a car and take a road trip in France, and we got to take our time while traveling, enjoying the freedom of the open road and stopping off whenever we felt like taking a picture of the gorgeous scenery.
First, we went to Paris, where we had invested in a lovely hotel close to the Eiffel Tower. If you’ve ever looked at hotel prices in Paris, you’ll know that they’re not cheap, but Paris is one of those once-in-a-lifetime trips where you want to experience it at its best.
We strolled down the Champs-Elysees and gawked at the flagship stores, ate at modern bistros in the sixth arrondissement, and spent a morning at the Louvre. We strolled throughout the city, ate croissants and people-watched in cafes, and went to the top of the Arc de Triomphe to get the best view of Paris.
There’s no doubt about it- Paris is magical. But we wanted to see a little more of France, so we also drove to Avignon, where we marveled at the Palais des Papes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and toured the interior rooms. We also visited some of the museums, adn wandered along Pont Saint-Benezet, where, legend has it, a shepherd was told by angels to build the bridge, and was given superhuman strenghth to raise a rock to construct the bridge.
France is well-known for its food, and we took a gourmet food tour, learning about the culture, history, and food of this destination. This was a great way to understand the layout of the city.
I’d been told that if I went to France I couldn’t miss Nice, so that’s where we headed next. The first thing we did was wander along the Promenade des Anglais, which was built in 1820. I love old towns in Europe, and Nice was no different, with its maze of cobblestone streets. One of the most popular landmarks here is Fenocchio Glacier, a gelataria where you can choose from more than 94 flavors. Yes we did visit multiple times.
While Nice is a beachside town, there’s no sand here. However, there are excellent eateries along the Riviera, and we enjoyed drinking wine, eating delicious food, and soaking up the view.
