A Perfect Family Getaway to France Tour: History, Culture & Cooking Class

At breakfast, you sip a foamy, rich cappuccino and notice the kids staring with wide eyes at the chocolate croissants. The aroma of fresh baked goods and fruit preserves is comforting. The kids delight in their chocolaty breakfast before the family reaches the gates of the Chateau de Versailles. The palace was originally a hunting lodge for King Louis XIII in the 1600s. The decadence of the grounds grew with each subsequent king, into the lavish collection of gardens that symbolizes the monarchy’s extravagance. The kids are excited to explore a real, live palace, one that housed kings and queens, and hosted elaborate parties.

The opulence of the palace is no more apparent than in the Hall of Mirrors. The kids dance and joke in front of the large arched panes set to imitate the windows opposite them. Elegant chandeliers dangle from the painted ceiling. The walls and crown molding are gilded. The room was meant for ceremonies and diplomatic receptions. The kids parade around the room pretending to be royalty, bowing to one another before giggling. Each room offers another glimpse of exuberant life. When the crystals on the chandeliers refract the light, the marble floors begin to glow.

Mont Saint-Michel is an inspiring island unlike anywhere you have ever seen. At low tide, a pathway opens to the mainland. At high tide, the water comes sweeping back to the shores with fervor, showing a difference of more than 47 feet. After the pleasures of breakfast, whether it’s delighting in a creamy cheese spread over a baguette or following the kids’ lead with raspberry jam on a buttery croissant, you make your way to the island’s shores. The towering spires of the Abbey of Saint-Michel overshadow the grassy shores of Normandy.

The enjoyable aroma of the sea drifts all around you. Historic walls encompass a portion of the lower island, protecting the town against the rising tide, and creating a road winding through the landscape. The kids remark how the town looks like it was carved out of the rocky island itself. The spires of the Abbey rise 508 feet above the sea. The abbey was constructed between the 11th and 13th-centuries emanating a sensational Gothic style.

The kids enjoy the walk to through the old gates, stretching through the village and up the 350 steps of the Grand Staircase. The grounds open up to a tranquil garden. The kids have never been surrounded by so much history. To them, it feels like these walls could have been erected by the Romans or in the time of dinosaurs. The serene architecture of the second floor incorporates 220 granite columns. The kids listen to your guide explaining with enthusiasm and interesting detail about how the sanctuary was constructed.

The region of Normandy is ripe with beauty, both human-made and natural. The creamy and frothy flavors of a morning cappuccino liven your senses and the family ventures out of the hotel to a guided tour of Bayeux and Omaha Beach. In the afternoon, you return from the history around Normandy, eager to relax on the sandy beaches and boardwalk of Deauville. Striped umbrellas color the shoreline yellow and blue, shading the beach with a hint of a classic 1920s luster. Sunbathers soak up the sun, and shops line the boardwalk with vibrant displays of seaside fashion and enticing baked goods. Locals sit underneath umbrella-shaded tables at cafes, sipping on crisp white wine and watching the activity of the afternoon.

The kids point at all the sailboats gliding along the water. The boardwalk is more than 2,100 feet long and clade with cabins named after American film stars, many of whom enjoyed the scenery themselves. The kids shiver when they dip their toes into the water, but the sand is warm under their feet. Small boats and yachts wade in the marina. In the distance, the limestone cliffs rise over the azure water in contrast to the sandy shore. The lapping water ushers in the sounds of the Deauville, blending with the jovial conversations emanating from the nearby cafes.

In the morning, the sun casts a light over the eastern horizon and captures the azure waters of the English Channel. After breakfast, you make your way to the charming village of Honfleur, located on the estuary of the Seine. The town is known for its picturesque port. The homes along the walkways are richly colored. Artists like Monet and Boudin would settle in the marina and paint the homes and stone buildings. The city invokes an ambiance of Normandy’s maritime past, from the 16th and 17th-centuries. Walls made of stone form the old harbor. Fishing vessels moor in the gentle waters. The kids watch the masts wade back and forth. The cafes alongside the historic area brim with life.

Houses press against one another connecting into a row. In the morning, the fish market is at its most lively. The fishermen return to the shores and make their way to display and sell their illustrious catches. The vivid activity captivates the kids. The vibrantly colored seashells illuminate the marketplace underneath the overhangs. The cobblestone streets are a constant reminder of the history. The kids look around adoringly, absorbing every step with intent. When the kids notice an artisanal patisserie, their eyes practically sparkle at the blueberry tart displayed in the window.

In the morning, the City of Lights bursts to life with the aroma of frothy cappuccinos and buttery croissants emanating from street-side cafes. Locals linger in the shade and nibble their pastries. The kids eat their morning pastries with vigor, enjoying the flaky crusts around the croissant. After breakfast, you embark on a journey to see the Eiffel Tower, an iconic image of the city. From the Palais de Chaillot, the marbled walkways practically lead you to the tower’s arched frame opening to the Champs de Mars. The tower was erected in the 19th-century, designed by Gustav Eiffel, and acted as the welcoming gates of the 1878 World’s Fair.

The latticework decorates the side of the tower, rising into the Parisian sky at 1,063 feet tall, and was the tallest building in the world until 1930. The tower impresses both you and the kids, both as a landmark of Paris and as a marvelous structure overlooking the Seine River. Locals picnic on the grass of the Champs de Mars, eating cheese and sipping wine. The lookout atop the tower provides a charming panorama of the city, all the way to Montmartre in the distance. After your visit the Eiffel Tower, the remainder of the day and the rest of Paris are yours for a spectacular adventure, whether it’s visiting the Musee d’Orsay or exploring the catacombs for a ghost story excursion of the city’s past.

The morning sunlight filters through the opulent glass of the rose window and captures the gargoyles of Notre Dame Cathedral. After breakfast, you embark on a different kind of adventure through Paris, opting to explore the city as a family on bicycles. The city has over 270 miles worth of bicycle paths, allowing the family to travel across the cityscape like locals, taking pleasure in the breeze and iconic scenery of the city. The sound of the turning wheels adds to the jovial conversations emanating from the cafes. The kids multi-task, staring at the lavish 19th-century buildings and paying attention to the crowds around them once you reach the Marais district.

The neighborhood is the oldest in Paris with aristocratic beginnings in the 13th-century. The Place des Vosges is the oldest public square in the city, set along the dividing line between the third and fourth arrondissements, built by Henry IV in the 17th-century. Buildings with exposed brick facades and elegant colonnades encircle the square. The vaulted arcades create a historic atmosphere against the greenery of the park. Near the lush hedges bordering the walkways, the fountains trickle. You continue traversing the streets of Paris, venturing near the Pyramid adorning the Louvre Museum and stopping on the Ile de la Cité basking in the shade of the Notre Dame Cathedral.

The morning light shines through the glass pyramid in the forecourt of the Louvre Museum, adding natural light to the sunken lobby, creating an atrium ambiance. The kids wake up and eagerly head to breakfast, sipping on creamy hot chocolate. The city springs to life in the sunlight. Designer shops along the Champs Elysees and Avenue de Montaigne glisten in their display windows. After breakfast, your private transfer meets the family at your hotel and escorts you to the Charles de Gaulle International Airport for your flight home. The splendors of France glowed from gardens to towers, villages to beaches, and you were able to experience it all with your family by your side.