Mother/Daughter Paris trip.

Find all of our activities on the link below:

We made a promise to our children on their 10th birthdays: they could choose a special trip to take with either Mom or Dad. Lily selected Paris as her destination with me! This city holds a cherished significance in our family's narrative, it was in Paris that Ryan and I got engaged in 2013, while Lily was still on the way.
Although her birthday was last summer, we had postponed the trip for some time. Eventually, Ryan discovered flights available over a holiday weekend, and before I realized it, I found myself organizing an entire international adventure in under five days!

Here is a look at what we did:

Arrival Day- Upon arriving at CDG airport, we had a private transfer directly to our hotel, arranged through Viator, which I highly recommend! After an overnight flight, it's common to feel a bit disoriented and fatigued, but this service made our arrival at the hotel completely stress-free. We checked into Hotel Pilgrim, located in the Latin Quarter, which was conveniently accessible to all the attractions we wanted to visit. Most sights were within walking distance, and the Metro station was just a short stroll away. I cannot speak highly enough of this hotel; the staff was exceptional—friendly and accommodating, earning a solid 10/10! As a bonus, they offer a jetted pool, steam room, and a state-of-the-art gym!

We walked outside to find a quick bite at Pub St. Germain about 10 minutes from the hotel.

After lunch, we took the metro to the Arc De Triomphe for a audio guided tour. Then we visited the Galleries Lafayette for some shopping and to take in the panoramic view of the city on the observation deck.

Dinner was pizza around the corner from our hotel at Bonvivant Pizza ( incredible!) We took our pizza to- go and headed to the rooftop at Hotel Pilgrim to watch the Eiffel tower sparkle. Lily was exhausted but anxiously awaiting to explore her first full day in Paris after a good night’s sleep.

View from the rooftop at Hotel Pilgrim.

Day 1- Seine River Cruise with Vedettes De Paris. This was one of the best tours we did. Seeing Paris from the water gives you an entirely different perspective. The boat was large, comfortable and equipped with snacks & drinks. We learned interesting facts about the monuments and buildings that we passed by on the boat from our guide.

Then it was onto the Montmartre area of Paris. We ate lunch at Adelaide before meeting with our next tour group. This small group tour took us on a leisurely walk around the Montmartre, teaching us about the culture, history and the influence this neighborhood had on Paris. 10/10!

Our guide recommended that we walk down Rue Des Martyrs and find a cafe & we ended up at Cafe Ventura. Excellent food, extremely friendly and helpful waitstaff and a fantastic espresso martini! Just what I needed for an afternoon pick me up!

We strolled back to the hotel from the right bank to the left- about a 30 minute walk, grabbed our umbrellas quickly from the hotel room and headed to Luxemburg Garden. The grounds were stunningly beautiful. We sat down on the lawn with a snack and took some pictures before the rain came down heavily. That night, it was room service at the hotel- a cheese board with warm pumpkin soup!

Lily exploring Jardin du Luxembourg.

Day 2 - This happened to be Easter Sunday. With Paris being particularly busy that weekend, we woke up early and got a taxi to Angelina. It opened at 8 am, we arrived at 8:15 and only waited 5 minutes for a table. The place was completely full! There are no reservations here so I do suggest waking up early to avoid the crowds- It’s well worth it. The hot chocolate was divine. Not too sweet, just perfect. Angelina is worth the hype! It was a lovely spot to enjoy a fancy breakfast on Easter.

Then, we strolled around the Jardin Des Tuieries before meeting our small group at the Louvre. This guided tour is a must if you want to visit the Louvre. We skipped the line and were able to listen to our guide while he narrated & gave us insight on what we were seeing. The Louvre can be extremely overwhelming & I am glad we visited with a knowledgeable guide!

After our tour, we took a short walk to lunch at Cafe Saint Honore. This was a whimsical, fairytale like cafe. Lily loved her lunch here and it was perfect for a cute, cozy, mother daughter lunch.

Lily outside Cafe Saint Honore.

From lunch, we strolled along the right bank of the Seine, stopped into a market for some chocolate, champagne & coca cola. We headed to the Saule Pleureur de la Pointe, the perfect picnic spot along the Seine. Overlooking the Pont des Arts bridge and many other views of the city, this was the best spot to unwind & take in the magic of Paris. I love a good spot to post up and people watch and I would say this is one of the top 5 places in the world for that!

We then strolled along the Seine and bought some books and posters from the Bouquinistes, ( the green- colored used book boxes.) This is a must while in Paris! We found such unique books from authors that we loved and adorable Chanel art posters to display on our walls at home!

Dinner was grazing and Aperitif hopping in St. Germain. Along the roads; Rue St. Severin, Rue St. Andre Des Arts and Rue mazarine, we stopped into cafes and had small plates, Aperol Spritz & Champagne for me, and watched the vibrant city streets.

Exploring St. Germain.

One of our notable stops was Les Deux Magots. This café, with its rich history of attracting renowned artists and writers such as Jean Giraudoux and Ernest Hemingway, was high on my list of places to eat and drink. With over 150 years of history, it stands as an authentic piece of Parisian culture.

Enjoying the ambiance at Les Deux Magots.

The evening ended with us unwinding at the hotel’s pool and steam room.

Day 3-

Today began early, as we had a photoshoot scheduled with Flytographer at 6:30 AM! Our chosen location was the Trocadéro, which offers an unparalleled view of the Eiffel Tower. We definitely arrived ahead of the crowds, and despite the rainy Parisian morning, we managed to capture stunning photos of Lily and me. I am incredibly grateful for these images, as they have become my most treasured memories from this vacation.

After wrapping up with our photographer, we headed toward the Eiffel tower and ate breakfast at a cafe nearby. ( I will not reference the name of the cafe, as it was extremely touristy.)

At 9:15 a.m. we met our guide and a small group for an exciting ascent of the Eiffel Tower! Our group was lively, and the presence of other parents with children made it a comfortable experience for Lily. Our guide was outstanding, sharing numerous fascinating facts about the tower and the city of Paris. This experience is an absolute must when visiting Paris. We bypassed the long lines and gained a wealth of knowledge that morning.

Climbing the Eiffel Tower!

After climbing back down the Eiffel Tower, Lily and I visited the garden where her father, Ryan, proposed to me. It was surreal to have her there with me in that special spot that holds a sacred place in our family’s heart.

Our engagement spot.

We strolled over to Rue de Cler to gather delicacies for an afternoon picnic in front of the Eiffel Tower. This was my favorite thing we did in Paris. We could have sat and relaxed, ate & people watched all day long! What a magnificent backdrop we had to look at and spend quality time together. The rainclouds unfortunately started moving in and we took the Metro back to the hotel to freshen up and change.

From the hotel, we walked to the Pantheon and visited the “ Midnight in Paris” steps. What visit to Paris is complete without visiting a Pharmacie and buying skincare? We stopped ito Pharmacie Monge and picked up their Caudalie Paris products.

Dinner was take away Pizza at Bonvivant Pizza & back to the pool to unwind after an incredible day.

Day 4-

Departure day always carries a touch of sadness. We enjoyed breakfast at Hotel Pilgrim, which featured an absolutely remarkable spread. After quickly packing our belongings, we made a final stop at the pool to invigorate ourselves before the long flight. The hotel concierge arranged a taxi to the airport, and we were on our way!

I am delighted to share our mother-daughter trip to Paris with you all. I hope this inspires you to embark on a similar journey! For details on our bookings, please click on my Viator guide.

“ Je me souvuendrai toujours de Paris avec ma petite fille. Quel voyage special et magique nous avons passe, creant des souvenirs inoubliables.”