Paris

The City of Lights and Love is truly special. There is so much to do, see, and taste in Paris and often too little time, making it easy to feel overwhelmed when planning. Besides the major sites, our favorite way to enjoy the French capital is just walking around the different neighborhoods, stopping in a café to just enjoy the moment.

Charles de Gaulle and Paris Orly are the two nearest international airports. Orly is smaller and offers the Orlybus shuttle from the airport to Paris Denfert-Rochereau Station in the city center. The bus costs about €8, takes roughly 30 minutes, and departs every 15-20 minutes. It is also possible to take a bus from de Gaulle into the city but may take longer due to traffic. Uber is also in the city and an efficient option.

If you are coming from London, take the Eurostar from St. Pancras Station direct to Paris Gare du Nord. The trip takes about 2.5 hours total.

While Paris is magical any time of year, we love it best in spring and fall. The weather is milder and the tourists that descend upon the city in summer have long gone home. Try visiting during the first weekend of October, when Parisians celebrate Nuit Blanche. “White Night” is an all-night festival when museums, art galleries and other cultural institutions are free and open all night. The city also celebrates special installations and performances which are hosted in public spaces throughout the city.

While in France attempt to speak French! Parisians are friendly but even friendlier if you dust off your rusty high school French.

EAT

Brasserie Bellanger- Cozy and inviting traditional French Brasserie in the 10th Arr.

Café de Flore A Paris staple. Head here for brunch- one of the best french onion soups in town!

Chez Alain MIam Miam - Hearty sandwiches and crepes in the 2nd Arr. Go during the weekday to beat the crowds.

Derriere A fun and funky spot for dinner. Good for groups.

Ellsworth Casual spot where the Parisians take on some American classics

Restuarant Girafe Paris - trendy and upscale restaurant in the 16th. Go for the views and the vibe.

Le Comptoir du Relais A well-known bistro in St. Germain.

La Jacobine A tiny, adorable and affordable restaurant in St. Germain. Make a reservation for dinner.

Le Marais Boulangeries (bakeries) Wander around the neighborhood and treat yourself to the local specialities: croissant, pain au chocolate, baguette tradition, and chausson aux pomme.

La Petite Perigourdine Quintessential French restaurant in the Latin Quarter. Try the steak and aligot, a smooth, buttery potato side.

Le Relais de L’Entrecôte No menu, only Steak and Fries- a trademark spot in Paris. The food is simple but done to perfection. No reservations so we recommend to go early!

Saint Pearl Tasty brunch option in Saint Germain-des-Prés. Try the dirty chai and pancakes. Its a small spot so you to need be patient with the service!

Will`s Deli Not your traditional French lunch but great for a quick lunch. The Reuben is one of the best we have found in Europe!

DRINK

Bar du Marché This St. Germain bar is open late and a great stop for a night cap.

Candelaria Not far from Le Marais, this taqueria features a hidden, speakeasy in the back. Good for cocktails.

Chez Jeannette Hip bar between the 3rd and 10th arrondissements with a PYT crowd.

Gramme Paris - Cute coffee shop & restaurant in le Marais

Le Perchoir Marais Chic neighborhood rooftop bar

Les deux Maggots Hemingway is rumored to have frequented this old world, St. Germain cafe. Stop here for a coffee or beer and watch the world go by.

Le Syndicat An amazing cocktail bar in the 10th.

Lockwood Relaxed and understated cocktails in the 2nd.

OChateau Wine + Cheese tasting lunch Lunch and learn!

Prescription Cocktail Club Posh cocktail lounge in St. Germain. Recommended by friends.

PLAY

Centre Pompidou- This is home to the largest modern art collection in Europe and is home to a large public library. Pompidou is also known to host many traveling exhibits so be sure to check out whats on during your next visit!

Eiffel Tour Paris’ most beloved icon. Sit on the lawn and admire the view with a picnic.

Jardin du Luxembourg A lush sanctuary in the heart of the 6th arrondissement.

L'Arc de Triomphe Stop to admire this monument built to honor Napoleon before strolling down the posh Avenue des Champs-Élysées.

Le Marais One of Paris’ coolest neighborhoods, go for the delicious French pastries, medieval cobble-stoned alleys and trendy boutiques. We especially love Blue Lemon Paris, Merci and Sézane.

Louvre Home to da Vinci’s timeless Mona Lisa, plan to spend at least a half day at the world’s most famous museum. While here, check out the nearby Tuileries Gardens. Bring some cheese, wine, baguettes, and enjoy the views.

Montmartre This village-esque art enclave on a hill is one of our favorite neighborhoods in Paris. Stop by the Sunday Brocante des Abbesses market, admire the Sacre Coeur church, observe the street artists and musicians, and look out across the gorgeous city view. The Moulin Rouge is also nearby.

Musée d'Orsay Internationally recognized for its Impressionist art, including works by Monet, Manet, Degas, Cézanne and more. The museum is closed on Mondays.

Notre Dame Cathedral A must see. Truly beautiful architecure inside and it. Aside from your day visit, we recommend an evening walk along the river to photograph the illuminated cathedral.

Saint Germain and the Latin Quarter The 5th and 6th arrondissements are traversed by the ghosts of literary and artistic legends who flocked here in the 19th and 20th centuries. Today these bohemian, student neighborhoods are excellent for a mosey around. Be sure to check out Le Bon Marché (the oldest department store in Paris) for a little shopping!

Seine river cruise A bit touristy but offers amazing views of the city from a different vantage point. Go at sunset.

Day Trips

No trip to France is complete without a visit to the Champagne region. Home to Moet, Veuve Clicquot, and Dom Perignon, this region is a must see. Rent a car for a self-guided trip or book a tour through Ô Chateau.

Palace of Versailles The opulent, former seat of the French monarchy is an easy day trip from the center of Paris. About an hour by train, go in the morning to tour the chateau before spending an hour or two in the gardens. For a little insider tip, rent a golf cart to explore the full extent of the gardens. Buy tickets online in advance.

STAY

Our favorite neighborhoods to stay in are Le Marais (3rd arrondissement), the Latin Quarter (5th) and Saint Germain (6th). Airbnbs are generally the best value for money. We enjoyed our stay at Bonsoir Madame, this four star boutique hotel is perfect for a short stay! Great location, cute (but small!) rooms and lovely staff. Friends have also recommended the four star Hôtel Atmosphères near the Sorbonne in the 6th arrondissement.

Paris

LOCATIONS NEARBY

Kansas City

TOP THINGS TO DO IN KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI

Travel guide and photos by guest contributor Caitlyn Camacho.

Situated almost in the exact center of the continental United States, Kansas City, Missouri calls itself the heart of America. It’s packed with history -- the start of the Oregon Trail was in nearby Independence, Missouri -- and famous for BBQ and jazz. Kansas City is the perfect low-key weekend getaway for food, music and art-lovers. We’ve outlined below our top things to do in Kansas City.

Downtown KC is a short 20 minutes from the small MCI airport. (Hot tip: The airport is so small that when flying out you don’t need to arrive 1.5-2 hours before your flight as with larger U.S. airports like San Francisco, Washington DC or NYC.) From the airport, we recommend taking an Uber if you’re planning to stay downtown. If you’re looking to explore the prairies farther afield then rent a car.

If you’re focusing your visit around downtown KC, you can ride the free KC Streetcar from the historic Union Station up to the city’s River Market district.

EAT

BBQ We’d do the city a disservice by not starting here.

For a traditional local spot, visit black-owned business Gates BBQ at one of its locations. Order at the counter and take your tray to a booth (or do carry out). Be prepared with your order when you get to the front of the line. We recommend the short ends (ribs) with fries. 

If you’re looking for a trendier BBQ experience, try Q39 in Westport. The chef puts a spin on traditional BBQ with brisket poutine and other deliciousness. The first time we went our waiter told us Gordon Ramsay had been there the previous night. 

If you want to venture north of the river (10 minutes from downtown), stop by Hawg Jaw BBQ or go next door to Big Rip Brewing (a horror/sci-fi themed brewery) for a beer sampling and BBQ.

The Antler Room Ranked one of the best restaurants in KC, this upscale small plates spot offers a seasonally-changing menu with great cocktails and wine. They’re known for their Georgian soup dumplings, but if it’s on the menu, also get the duck. Make a reservation.

Banksia A cute Australian bakery! In Kansas City! They were featured in an episode of Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives although they fit none of those categories.

Brewery Emperial In the vibrant Crossroads neighborhood, this bar features a large outdoor patio and beer garden. Inside, you’ll find a rustic 70’s vibe and bar seating over the open air kitchen. Great food (especially meats), although you can find some yummy vegetarian options like jackfruit tacos. 

Betty Rae’s Try their unique flavors like maple blueberry pancake, lavender honey, and goat cheese, apricots & candied walnuts. They also offer vegan sorbets. 

Carollo’s Italian Deli Delicious, cheap Italian sandwiches. Great for a picnic.

Fox and Pearl Delicious farm-to-table brunch spot.

DRINK

Amigoni Urban Winery A local KC winery harvesting California grapes. Come for the $10 wine tastings. 

SOT Handcrafted cocktails in the Crossroads.

East Crossroads Breweries This side of the Crossroads neighborhood is dotted with great craft breweries. You could spend a day or more hopping around and trying them all but our favorites are Border Brewing for the friendly beertenders and awesome brews like hibiscus ale, Ribbon Cutter IPA, date sour ale and the dog-friendly Casual Animal.

Strange Days Another local brewery, this is one of the larger ones and located in River Market. Also, a big soccer bar. 

City Market Coffee Grab a coffee or iced honey lavender latte and stroll down to the Town of Kansas pedestrian bridge and Riverfront Heritage Trail. 

PLAY

Boulevard Beer Hall Boulevard Brewing is KC’s largest craft brewery and you can’t miss a stop at their Beer Hall. Features floors of games like shuffleboard and foosball, tasting room only beer samples, and you can take the brewery tour. 

City Market Stop by City Market to peruse the shops, visit the weekend farmers market (one of the largest in the Midwest), or grab a coffee or sandwich from one of the local restaurants. 

Crossroads Crossroads is the vibrant art district in an area that is being revitalized by local boutiques, restaurants, breweries and distilleries. Spend an afternoon checking out the street art and bar-hopping. Visit the Made in KC flagship store for local maker gifts.

Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art A free admission art museum with rotating exhibits. Outside the museum is a sculpture park that is great for picnicking. 

Pawn and Pint A board game bar with thousands of games and a full-service bar. $5 entry fee gets you access to any games. 

Union Station KC’s historical train station. The hall has rotating exhibits and activities and is still an operating Amtrak station.

West Bottoms Don’t miss this hotspot for antique shops housed in the old warehouse district. While most of the shops are only open the first weekend of each month, you can still catch a few with hours every weekend. 

WWI Museum This is the national WWI monument and museum with tons of historical artifacts from every country involved in WWI. It makes for a great rainy day stop and is the best spot to take KC skyline photos.

DAY TRIPS

Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve Two hours from KC, the highlight here is a trail that takes you through a bison pasture. The bison roam right across the trails. Warning, stay at least 100 yards away from the bison.

Konza Prairie Biological Station Just 1.5 hrs from KC, this prairie has rolling hills and trails of 2.6 miles, 4.7 miles, or 6.6 miles. 

Western Kansas rock formations If you’re on a cross country trip or open to driving across Kansas, stop by the following spots around 5 hrs from KC: Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park and Monument Rocks. It’s hard to believe these are in Kansas! All are located off dirt county roads but well traveled so you don’t necessarily need an SUV. They’re also a little more than halfway between KC and Denver, so feel free to continue your trip to the Rockies.

STAY

Any option you choose in the downtown area will be close to the streetcar line for travel. If you’re looking for a boutique hotel experience, check out Crossroads Hotel. They’re known for their rooftop bar.

LOCATIONS NEARBY

Kansas City, Missouri

São Paulo

This sprawling metropolis is Brazil’s financial hub and most populated city.

São Paulo is huge and its public metro system extensive. If you are comfortable navigating public transport systems in major cities, it will be a piece of cake. Pay by ride (like New York City’s subway) or for a longer visit pick up a Bilhete Único reloadable card.

As with any large city, pickpockets are common. Take care and keep belongings close.

EAT

Brazilian food is comforting, dynamic and delicious. A few “must-tries” include the sandwich de mortadela at the Municipal Market of São Paulo, feijoada (black bean stew with chorizo and pork), pão de queijo (baked cheese roll), bacalao croquettes (fried cod sticks) and Brazilian pizza.

The Liberdade neighborhood, or “Little Japan”, has loads of traditional Japanese eats and is home to Brazil’s largest Japanese population.

DRINK

Açaí berries Try mixed into fresh juices. Vendors are plentiful.

Cold beer Brazilians will tell you this is the only way it should be drank!

Cachaça A Brazilian liquor made from sugarcane. Try it in caipirinha, the national cocktail.

PLAY

Ibirapuera Park Run or ride bikes through São Paulo’s Central Park,.

Trianon Park This breath of fresh air is a small but beautiful park in the city center with trails, playgrounds and birds.

Vila Madalena Sweet neighborhood known for its hipsters, bohemian shops, good restaurants and bars.

São Paulo Museum of Art You can’t miss the large concrete building with imposing red pillars.

STAY

Stay in either Vila Madalena or the city center. We had a fine stay at the affordable, 3-star Hotel Ibis São Paulo Paulista in the center.

São Paulo