Things to do: Paris

There is more to do in Paris than walk around inside museums - get outside on a bike, tour a local market and have a picnic on the Seine.

There are a million things to see in Paris, but for me there are a few go-to things to do that make for a fun, memorable trip. Hands down one of the best parts of Paris is how easy it is to be outside and enjoy the bright buildings, blue skies and the energy that is Paris.

Versailles Bike Tour

Versailles is definitely worth checking out. But at 2,000 acres, it can be a daunting task. Fortunately, a friend had raved about a Versailles bike tour with Fat Tire Tours and now having done the bike tour twice, I can attest this is one of the most fun days you can have during your stay in Paris – and it’s easy!

During your day you will spend time at the Versailles Marché (pro tip: grab the best juice ever and a crepe from Squizz Squizz out in the square before getting your goodies for the picnic you will have later in the day at the Grand Canal) before heading off on your bikes to the grounds of Versailles. You will learn all about the history of the grounds, what finally sparked the French Revolution (looking at you and your private village Marie Antoinette) and tour a few of the mini palaces on the grounds.

Your group will skip the lines (which are painstakingly long!) and head straight into the Palace where you can explore the famed Hall of Mirrors. To be honest, after that you will feel you have seen it all, so be sure to save time to wander the massive gardens afterwards.

Also, fun fact, Versailles is closed on Mondays, so plan accordingly!

Champagne Tour

Without a doubt, taking a tour of the Champagne region was one of the most fund days we had during our girls trip to Paris. Our adventure getting to Reims (pron. Raintz, seriously) however, was not a highlight of the trip. But, it turned out that our lack of punctuality paired perfectly with two other people on our trip who also missed the train, and we ended up having the most fun day with our new friends.

We booked our tour through A la Francaise and I cannot speak highly enough of how great they are. After learning all about the champagne making process at Veuve Clicquot (my favorite!) I do question how each bottle of champagne is not thousands of dollars. Thankfully for my taste buds, it is not!

Our group roamed around Reims stopping at a church from the 1600s, wandering through one of the many vineyards learning all about the vine growth techniques and chalk in the soil that makes Champagne what it is, and had a perfectly glutenous lunch outside (with champagne, natch) after learning how to taste the different notes in Champagne. Of course, having the house dog Harry join us only enhanced the experience.

We ended the day at a private Champagne house that has been around since the 60s, and toured the caves and had a tasting with the owners, where I was able to practice the little bit of French I can still muster. Since we never would have been able to try this champagne at home as they do not export to the states, we made sure to pick up a few bottles to tuck in our suitcases.

Cooking Class

Being in Paris for a full week left the window open to spend more time doing things other than walking around museums (albeit fun!). I had always wanted to take a cooking class in Paris, and I discovered La Cuisine Paris through a tagged Instagram post (isn’t that how we find all things now?).

There is zero question or hesitation that this was my most favorite thing we did in Paris this last trip, and something I cannot recommend enough to anyone going to Paris. Our morning stared at Marché Maubert, where we navigated the various stands of meats, seafood, cheeses, fruits and vegetables. During which we snacked on what will undoubtedly be the best croissant I will ever have in my life, from La Maison d’Isabelle, which has received the famed 1er Prix (first prize) in 2018 and 2019 for the best croissant in Paris.

Once back in the kitchen, we were put to work peeling vegetables, learning knife techniques, how to properly steam and sauté veggies, and I was conquering my fears of using a mandolin. The entire class was hands on, learning as we prepared a phenomenal meal we later enjoyed with delicious French wine.