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Traveling with my mom and two daughters to Paris was something I’ll never forget. This wasn’t just another family vacation—it was a wonderfully adventurous Paris trip tied to stories from the past, special memories made, and a little serendipity along the way.
Why I Booked This Paris Trip
There were two big reasons we made this trip to Paris, France. First, my mom was turning 70 and always dreamed of going to Europe. Second, I found a note tucked inside a cuckoo clock that belonged to my late grandparents.
It’s a super sweet story which I’ll go more into later on!
Booking Our Paris Trip (Without Losing My Mind)
First, let’s talk about booking our trip to Paris. To make life easier (and less stressful), I booked the entire Paris tour attractions and itinerary through a boutique travel company called Chocolateine Travel. They’re based in Washington and specialize in curated trips to Paris and sometimes Italy. I had zero time to research or map out the logistics of places like the Louvre or Notre-Dame, so I handed it all over to them.
Honestly, it was not cheap. When I saw the final total, I had a bit of sticker shock—but I would do it again. They arranged everything, from private drivers to museum tickets and even our walking tour. If you’re able to, I highly recommend going this route, especially if you’re visiting for the first time or planning a family Paris trip during peak season. It saved us so much time (and stress).
Where to Stay in Paris
We stayed in the 7th Arrondissement, just steps from the Eiffel Tower. If you’re looking into places to go in Paris and wondering where to stay, I can’t recommend this area enough. It had a quieter, more residential vibe but was still walkable to everything.
We had initially tried to book a place through VRBO, but they canceled—twice. It was a nightmare, honestly. Airbnb saved the day, and our apartment turned out to be perfect for our needs.
Eiffel Tower Magic on our Trip to Paris
After we landed and settled in, we went out for pizza (which was just okay) and decided to walk to the Eiffel Tower. Total magic. As soon as we arrived, the lights began to twinkle—and we lost our minds in the best way.
We didn’t realize that the twinkle only lasts five minutes on the hour, so we felt lucky to catch it right at 10 PM. The entire lawn was packed with people picnicking, drinking wine, and soaking it all in. It was chaotic and beautiful all at once. The girls were obsessed.
Walking Tour of Paris Highlights
The next day, we were picked up for a full-day walking tour. It was a lot—think 9 to 5—but worth it. We started at Notre-Dame, and since the fire, it’s been redesigned to feel lighter and brighter inside. It was beautiful.
Our guide, Sophie, was amazing. She made an effort to show us kid-friendly corners of the city—like playgrounds and quieter areas—but I’ll be honest, my youngest was not into it. She was tired, cranky, and pretty much found everything “so boring.”
Paris is stunning, but it’s not the most kid-centric destination. Even the children’s museums didn’t really hold her attention. That said, the Eiffel Tower was a winner, and both girls were completely enchanted by it.
Exploring Versailles: Worth It (Once)
The next day of our Paris trip took us to Versailles, which was beautiful—but also incredibly packed. We only had a guide for the garden portion because touring the interior requires signing up with a Versailles-specific group (separate from the company we used). It felt like one of those classic Paris tour attractions that’s cool to experience once, especially if you’re not super familiar with French history.
As someone who had just watched the Louis XIV Netflix series, I was fascinated. My oldest daughter loved it too, but my youngest not so much.
The palace is undeniably stunning, but between the shoulder-to-shoulder crowds and the lack of food options nearby, it was a lot. If it’s your first trip to Paris, France, it’s worth a visit—but I probably wouldn’t go back.
Sparkling Towers & Our Favorite Restaurants in Paris
That same day, we were supposed to visit the YSL Museum, but it was unexpectedly closed. The Louis Vuitton exhibit was also shut down, and we couldn’t get into the Guerlain one either. So instead, a guide walked us around to some smaller fashion houses and boutiques in the 16th Arrondissement. It was a more relaxed experience—and a fun change of pace after Versailles.
That evening, we tried to catch the Eiffel Tower lights again, but they were scheduled for later (only at 11 PM that night), and everyone was too tired to wait. Still, we soaked in the magic of the tower again, and I have the cutest photo of my daughter doing a handstand in front of it—a classic vacation memory.
Let’s talk about food for a second: it’s probably the least impressive part of any Paris trip, in my opinion. I know people rave about French cuisine, but I genuinely found most of the meals underwhelming. However, two restaurants did stand out—Milagro in the 7th and Andia in the 16th. Both were absolutely worth it.
A Cooking Class & The Iconic Seine Cruise
While I went to a tech conference, my mom and the girls did a cooking class—and they loved it. Our chef, booked through Chocolateine, made the whole experience fun and hands-on.
That evening, we all went on a boat tour along the Seine River, and I can’t recommend this enough. Yes, it’s touristy, but seeing the city from the water? Unreal. Paris is already beautiful, but from the river, it’s next-level magical. If you’re planning one of those city breaks to Paris, definitely add a Seine cruise to your list of Paris tour attractions.
Bonus memory: the girls found a new favorite drink onboard—something called Orangina. They became obsessed. Apparently, it’s way better than Fanta (according to them), and it became our drink of the trip.
A Fashion-Lover’s Dream at the Louvre
The next day, we went to The Louvre, but not for the typical art. We skipped the religious paintings (my kids would’ve been bored to tears) and headed straight for the special fashion exhibit—and wow. It was one of my absolute favorite parts of this Paris trip.
They featured iconic designers like Alexander McQueen, Versace, Karl Lagerfeld, and Yohji Yamamoto, displaying each piece alongside the cultural or historical inspiration behind it. I was obsessed.
We still made time to see the Mona Lisa, but fair warning: it’s chaos. We waited in line for 30 minutes, crammed like sardines, but we made it to the front—even if we were smooshed up against backpacks and strangers. The kids weren’t exactly thrilled, but hey, bucket list moment.
Shopping, Wandering & Soaking in the City
Like most city trips, shopping and wandering the charming streets were a big part of the experience. We spent some time on the Champs-Élysées—an absolute scene in itself. I picked up a little perfume and scoped out a few luxury pieces I had my eye on. It wasn’t a full-on shopping spree, but definitely a moment to dream about what I’d come back for.
One of our slower-paced days took us up to Sacré-Cœur, perched on a hill with some of the best views of the city. My mom said this was her favorite day—browsing adorable local shops, popping into boutiques, and just soaking in the vibe. It was one of those relaxed days during our Paris trip that didn’t follow a strict plan but ended up being so memorable.
We didn’t do a tour for Sacré-Cœur, and while we totally missed some historical background, we accepted it after days of learning about Louis XIV, Napoleon, and Marie Antoinette. It was nice to just explore at our own pace.
And once we figured out the Paris Metro, it changed everything. Seriously—don’t be afraid of it. Just download one of the local transit apps like this one and you’ll get step-by-step directions. It’s way faster than Uber, cheaper, and saves you from the brutal traffic. If you’re wondering how to get around to all the best places to go in Paris, the Metro is 100% the move.
Wrapping Up Our Paris Trip
We wrapped up our Paris trip with one last visit to the Eiffel Tower. We had a guide, but honestly, I wouldn’t recommend booking one—it’s not necessary for this attraction. You’ll get the same experience (minus a few fun facts) without the added cost.
That night, we had dinner at Madame Brasserie inside the Eiffel Tower. It looked beautiful, but the food? Not great. And we didn’t even get a good table. So, my advice: definitely go up the tower, but maybe skip the meal unless you’re just going for the views.
Onward to Zürich: A Brief Stop in Switzerland
We wrapped up our time in Paris and hopped on a train to Zürich. Booking tickets was super easy, and our driver dropped us off at the station. First impressions? Zürich felt young—like, everyone looked 25. But most importantly: the food was amazing.
After the less-than-stellar meals during our Paris trip (sushi in Paris was a big nope, even in the well-reviewed Rue Cler area), it was such a relief to sit down to something delicious. We stayed at the Marriott, which had air conditioning and all the creature comforts we were missing.
Sunday in Zürich, however, was… underwhelming. Everything—and I mean everything—was closed. I knew this ahead of time but didn’t mention it, so we just ended up wandering a bit and then chilling in the hotel for hours.
In my opinion, Zürich is more of a stopover than a destination. If you’re planning to explore other parts of Switzerland, it’s a good home base. But I’d say don’t dedicate more than a day here.
Into the Black Forest: Following My Grandma’s Footsteps
First, I want to preface this story with the fact that I am not a woo woo kind of person. That said, when things like this happen, I hold them close.
So remember that note in the cuckoo clock I mentioned at the beginning? The cockcoo was a gift from my grandmother who I was incredibly close to. The note I found had names of places from my grandmother’s solo European tour which is when she purchased the cuckoo clock. While we were in Europe, I had this bright idea that we could try and retrace her steps and find where the cuckoo clock was made.
I had kept this part of the trip secret. I didn’t tell my mom we were going into Germany and retracing what we believed was my grandmother’s original tour. The night before we went on the tour, I finally shared the plan—and my mom was so excited she ended up “talking” to her mom, asking for a sign.
Now that you get the context, let’s go back to our time in Switzerland when that sign came—loud and clear, in the form of a little dog named Spike.
Rhine Falls and a Sentimental Journey to Lake Titisee
We headed to Rhine Falls (in Switzerland), which was powerful, loud, and absolutely worth seeing. You’re literally standing on a ledge in the waterfall spray—it’s intense and beautiful. Afterward, we crossed into Germany to explore Lake Titisee, where my grandmother had once purchased our beloved cuckoo clock.
Our guide, Joseph, was incredible. He was speaking German with the locals, trying to find out any clues about the original clockmaker. We didn’t uncover a lot of concrete history, but I did spot a clock that looked just like my grandmother’s and took a photo of it. We had lunch overlooking the lake, and that’s when things got…unexpected.
Counting Dogs and Getting Signs
Earlier in the trip, my mom and the girls started counting dogs to help keep my youngest engaged—especially on long walks or tours. It was funny and it worked! At lunch that day, my mom said, “If we’re going to get a sign from your grandparents, I think it’ll be that we see a Pomeranian.”
That might sound random, BUT my grandparents had a Pomeranian named Spike, and he was my grandpa’s everything.
After lunch, we drove deeper into the Black Forest, eventually visiting a store built inside the world’s largest cuckoo clock—yes, an actual house that’s also a working clock. Then we continued on to Triberg, where we were scheduled to visit a historic church—one that may have been on my grandma’s original tour route.
The Moment That Gave Us Chills
Our guide, Joseph, walked us toward the church and we stopped for chocolate along the way (I’m such a sugar addict!). As we were walking back to the car, my daughter pointed out a dog under a bridge and asked (for the hundredth time), “Is that a Pomeranian?”
And, this time… it was.
We hadn’t told our guide about our Pomeranian thing, but he kindly walked over to the man with the dog, who was playing guitar. He spoke in German asking about the dog. We caught one word: “Spitz.” When we asked Joseph about it, he turned to us and said, “It’s a Pomeranian. His name is Spitz.”
Spitz means “spike” in German. The name of my grandparents dog!
And just like that, we were all crying. I hugged my mom as tears streamed down our faces. The moment was surreal—perfectly timed, deeply personal, and totally impossible to explain. Even our guide got goosebumps.
It was such a memorable moment and for our family it was an affirmation that our grandparents were with us!
A Beautiful Ending to our Family Paris Trip
That night, we drove hours back to Zürich and had dinner at the hotel, still in complete awe of what had just happened.
Before the tour, I had kept part of the trip secret. I didn’t tell my mom we were going into Germany, retracing what we believed was my grandmother’s original tour. The night before, I finally shared the plan—and my mom was so excited she ended up “talking” to her mom, asking for a sign. And that sign came—loud and clear, in the form of a little dog named Spike.
It was the perfect closing chapter to an unforgettable journey.
To Wrap It All Up
From iconic Paris tour attractions like the Eiffel Tower and Louvre to the emotional depth of our Black Forest adventure, this trip to Paris, France (and beyond) will stay with me forever.
For anyone planning city breaks to Paris, don’t be afraid to mix a little magic with your itinerary—whether that’s museum-hopping, walking tours, or even chasing a family story across borders. You never know what you’ll find.
Now I have a lot more travel guides that you can read, for instance our recent family trip to Japan. Or you can also check out how I plan for a vacation, which is really helpful especially to those who travel with kids.
