Paris Off the Beaten Path : Quiet Spots in the Middle of the City

Paris is one of those cities that everyone has on their bucket lists, but what makes a trip to Paris truly memorable is taking in the city like the Parisians do.  That means venturing off of the beaten tourist path and seeing places in the city that the tourists might not know about, making them the perfect quiet spots to enjoy the French capital and see Paris through the eyes of the Parisians.  I love finding spots on each trip to Paris that might not be in a tourist guide or a map of popular destinations.  The best spots in Paris are sometimes not even that far from major tourist spots, but it's peeking around corners and behind famous buildings that lay some of the best places in Paris to enjoy a quiet afternoon, perhaps eating a fresh baguette or a box of macarons and watching the world go by.

Square Jean XXIII
Right behind Notre Dame sits a fantastic little park that is always empty.  I've been all times of year from the quiet Winter months to the busy Summer months and for some reason, hardly anyone ventures to the back of the famous Cathedral, meaning it's the perfect spot to take in a peaceful afternoon.  This little square is landscaped beautifully all times of the year and the back views of Notre Dame are perhaps even more breathtaking than the front where the massive crowds of tourists flood.  My favorite thing to do is to grab a freshly baked croissant and a glass bottle of Orangina from Maison Martin on the Île Saint-Louis, find a bench in Square Jean XXIII and then just watch as Paris buzzes around me.

Le Jardin du Luxembourg

I only recently found the Luxembourg Gardens on my last trip to Paris last Summer, but I know this spot will become a regular for return trips.  Not only are the gardens breathtaking, filled with flowers and ponds, but the Palais du Luxembourg is a gorgeous architectural treat as well.  Perhaps the best thing about the Luxembourg gardens though, is that it's not a major tourist attraction (yet).  It's mostly filled with locals doing yoga or reading a book on a warm Summer afternoon.  For a spot in the middle of the Left Bank that's untouched by tourists, this is your spot.

Jardin des Tuileries

While floods of tourists will be at the Louvre as well as the large open squares that border it, if you walk just a bit further towards Musée de l'Orangerie, the Tuileries can be a surprisingly quiet escape.  The South West corner of the park is lined with trees and small paths and a surprising amount of peace can be found so close to the crowds near the Louvre.  I love to grab a box of macarons just up the street at Ladurée on Rue St. Honoré, find a chair in the Tuileries and pull out a good book.  This area can be a great escape from the heat in the Summer months as well, with lots of shade and nice breezes off of the large ponds throughout the park.

Grand Canal de Versailles

Though this spot isn't in Paris proper, I always suggest travelers make the trip out to Versailles while in the city.  It's a quick 30 minute train ride to the famous palace and it's definitely worth the trip to take in the Palace and grounds.  However, it can get quite crowded here as well, so when you want to find some peace and quiet at Versailles, rent one of the small paddle boats on the Grand Canal and spend the afternoon floating on the water.  Not only is it peaceful, it's a scenic adventure too with swans and great views of the Palace gardens and grounds.  It's always worth getting away from the massive crowds you can encounter at the Palace and this is the perfect spot to get away.

Photo Credit : Nick Nieto

Road Trips

Hi Route Bliss readers!  I’m Casey from True Colours and I’m so excited to be here guest posting today.  I’ve been a fan of Christina’s for a while now and her passion for the open road and seeing what’s out in front of us is totally inspiring.  I do a lot of traveling and over the years, one of my favorite thing about spots around the world have been driving through the countries, experiencing more than just the cities.  So here in no particular order are some of my favorite road trips that I’ve experienced, near and far!

Being based in Oregon, there is so much see in the Pacific North West, that often a road trip is the best way to take in the gorgeous scenary that my home has to offer.  A few months ago my husband and I made the 3 hour drive from Portland to EasternWashington State, a drive full of rolling hills and wind farms, mountain forests and road-side streams.  The drive is breath-taking and totally unique to this part of the world. 

Where to stay when you arrive: Desert Wind Winery

Don’t miss: the scenic drive through the Columbia River Gorge as you make your way East.

A couple years ago our Thanksgiving plans opened up a few weeks before the holiday and not wanting to waste a holiday weekend, we booked tickets for Iceland, a place that had been at the top of our list for a while.  We hopped on a flight to Reykjavik and embraced four days in this gorgeous country.  We spent one whole day driving around the Icelandic countryside with a guide, which gave us the option to stop at spots along the way that the normal tours don’t cover.  We watched the sun rise over Thingvelir (where the first Viking parliament began), stopped to nuzzle Icelandic horses and took in the sunset over the ocean and Southern beaches.  It’s still a day I remember with magical memories.

Tip to hiring a guide: Spend the extra money to hire a personal guide.  They will offer a more private experience and have some great knowledge of fantastic spots.

Don’t miss: Thingvelir and Gulfoss

For Memorial Day last year, my husband and I spent the long weekend road tripping through New England.  We based ourselves in Boston and spent one day driving North to Maine and another day driving South through Cape Cod and Rhode Island.  The scenery is gorgeous here and totally worth the adventure, but add in lighthouses galore, lobster rolls and scenic cliffs, this is a road trip not to miss in your life.

Planning tip: Plan out a directional itinerary and know where you want to stop, but leave room for unintentional stops as well.

Don’t Miss: Newport, Rhode Island – this town was by far our favorite!

Last November, we spent time exploring the UK and Ireland.  In Scotland, we based ourselves in Edinburgh and rented a car to make the drive up the coast to lovely little St. Andrews.  It was such a wonderful experience and besides the experience of driving on the “wrong” side of the road, we took in gorgeous Scottish countryside and stopped in little charming towns along the way. 

Where to stay: Don’t miss the experience of staying in the Hotel Missoni in Edinburgh.  It’s the perfect jumping off point and a fantastic experience!

Don’t miss: Sticky toffee pudding in a Scottish pub!

Along with Scotland, we also road tripped through Northern Ireland, renting a car in Belfast and driving North along the coast.  We stopped in towns like Bushmills (famous for their whiskey) and had one of the best meals of our travels, explored the Giant’s Causeway and walked through ruined castles along the cliffs.  Driving through miles and miles of green fields and sheep roaming along, you realize “this is Ireland.”

Driving tip: Research the speed zones before you get in the car when driving abroad.  Ireland doesn’t post their speeds, you just have to know them.

Don’t miss: The tiny town of Bushmills (eat at the Bushmills Inn) and the views on the Giant’s Causeway.