France, Fun for All in the Family

I remember going to France when I was younger and I loved it. But usually when you think of fun family trips you think more along the lines of Disney world or land- which, don’t get me wrong, is an amazing place and one of my favorite places to visit to this day. Alexandra Regan writes about her family trip to France in the article, “Strasbourg, France: A City to Enjoy with the Kids.” She makes a good point than when travelling with a family there is still a segregation in interests, kids want to go to fun parks, adults to museums, teenagers, elders, all have different interests. So, it is important to travel to a place where everyone can find adventure and fun.

This vibrant symbol of European unity (it is the headquarters for the Council of Europe, the European Parliament, and the European Court and Commission for Human Rights) has a complex and fascinating history, and the blend of French and German architecture, cuisine, and language makes Strasbourg very different from other French cities.

Winter is a fabulous time to enjoy Strasbourg’s coziness. The Christmas markets that run from the end of November through December 24th are perhaps the best in France. These outdoor markets sell hot spiced red wine (spiced cider or orange juice for the kids), pretzels, crepes, and cakes, as well as crafts and inexpensive Christmas items.

Cathedral Notre Dame - This stunning pink stone cathedral is one of the most beautiful gothic cathedrals in Europe. Victor Hugo described it as “a skillful combination of monumental size and delicateness.” Building began in 1015 and the spire was completed in 1439. The kids can burn off some energy (and their parents the heavy Alsatian meals) by climbing the 330 steps to the base of the spire. From the cathedral platform you can enjoy the view of the city and beyond in all directions.

If the kids get hungry outside of regular mealtimes, try one of the informal brasseries found throughout the city. Perhaps because of the German influence, meal times seem to be earlier than in most French cities, and we found it easy to dine before 7:00 pm. Most restaurants will have Alsatian dishes such as choucroute and tarte flambe on the menu.

Tour Guides and France make the Best of Friends

Not perfectly comfortable environment, in a different country, with a different language, and travelling alone, Candice Walsh found a comforting way to experience the wonders of France through Context Travel. Candice Walsh got to enjoy the business trip of a lifetime after concern by the small tours found on Context Travel led by experts as she states in . Thanks to a "bit of a gamble," Candice Walsh met her guide Lily, who helped her experience the best of the best and feel safe at the same time while in France.


However, disaster kept thwarting me at every corner. 1) I don’t speak French. 2) My hotel was outside the city boundaries, near the Charles du Gaulle airport, where absolutely no tour operators would venture. 3) I only had one evening to explore. 4) I was a young lady traveling alone. Running out of options, I Googled “private tour guides”, and stumbled upon Context Travel: walking tours for the intellectually curious.


After speaking English at an excruciatingly slow pace for two weeks, I was incredibly relieved for a normal flow of conversation. Since it was my first time in Paris, I asked Lily to show me all the major highlights. The fact that this tour was completely customizable was the highlight of my trip: we crammed a great deal of walking and sightseeing into five hours.


We wandered into the Notre Dame, gaping open-mouthed at flying buttresses and columns and gothic stained-glass windows. I saw the Place de la Bastille, the Pantheon, St Germain des Pres with its ancient tower, the Grand Palais, and the Louvre. And yet, we still had time to discover the Italian district, browse a Canadian bookstore, read poetry painted on a building, and skip into Gelati Alberto for my first gelato experience shaped like a flower (Lily insisted it was the best, and she has great taste).


Our last stop was the Eiffel Tower. Lily took me to a spot along the Seine where I had a clear view, and then she told me to wait.

When the Tower began twinkling, I nearly toppled headfirst into the water. The view of the monstrous structure was impressive enough, but I had absolutely no idea that it twinkled for five minutes every hour.


Without Lily’s expert knowledge of the city and her ability to speak two languages, I would never have enjoyed Paris as much as I did. When the evening was over, she ensured I safely found a cab, kissed me on both cheeks, and told me to keep in touch. I left Paris richer, with one new friend.

A Refreshing Tour through Champagne

Kent St John, Senior Travel Editor at GoNOMAD.com, takes readers through some of the less frequently toured places in France’s historic Champagne producing region. Sampling some of his favorite bubbly, scoping out the vineyards and chateaus, and enjoying some French cuisine, Kent gets a taste for the region’s hidden treasures:

Essoyes is picture perfect and not only by my standards: Pierre-Auguste Renior himself moved to the village and painted it often. He also stated often that the bread and wine was much better than in Paris.

Memories of the painter are found not just in his remaining studio and home. Throughout the village huge poster size replicas of his paintings stand right where he would have painted them. It was awe inspiring to stand and see just what Renoir saw; little has changed to the eye in Essoyes.

That itself is a recurring blessing of traveling through lesser- known Champagne. Though the region has all the modern day accoutrements, it is off the beaten track that Champagne’s subtle magic bubbles up, as from the bottom of a glass of its best known wine -- sure to whet an appetite for further exploration.

Bring on Bordeaux

Ahhh Bordeaux... a magical place, with excellent cuisine, beautiful people, and of course their wine. During my backpacking trip my friends and I made an extra effort to make it to the city as well as the country. When I was there I enjoyed taking wine tours in only a few of the many wineries throughout. My friends and I stayed in the cheapest hostel of our entire trip - at just $8 and night, we were in heaven. TravelLady Magazine wrote a great introductory article Welcome to Bordeaux:

The wines of Bordeaux inspire descriptions like "extraordinary balance" and "gorgeous showstopper," but many people do not know there is actually a city of Bordeaux.

Bordeaux is one of France's largest cities and has some of the country's finest 18th century architecture. Adventuresome chefs, hoteliers and winemakers are infusing both the city and its surrounding countryside with a welcome new energy. And an ultramodern new tram system provides service to most of Bordeaux’s neighborhoods. Nestled along the western coast of France, Bordeaux is lush with 2.3 million acres of vineyards. There are about 40 different wine regions, the four major ones are: Pomerol, Graves, Pessac-Leognan, St-Emilion and Medoc. Visitors to this region can stop at a chateau to taste young wines from the barrel and then, to complete the experience, enjoy a mature vintage of the same wine with dinner.

Like most wine capitals, Bordeaux has always been a good eating town, and its inhabitants are fond of its oysters with little sausages, foie gras, and roasted chicken, duck, and lamb.

For more information, visit TravelLady Magazine