In addition to my five-week summer camp, my family had the opportunity to visit France for three weeks in late May and early June. I’m so lucky to have had these experiences, and I was able to practice my French quite a bit while in France. I was mistaken for a French university student once, which was very flattering, as I’m fourteen and American. I couldn’t have a blog and not write about this incredible trip, so here are my highlights! 

Best Meals: 

I recommend Le Crêperie Bretonne Fleurie. It’s been my family’s tradition to eat dinner there every time we visit Paris. Though it’s further away from the heart of Paris, it’s one of the best small traditional creperies you’ll find in the city. I usually get a jambon fromage (ham and cheese) for my savory, and a caramel au beurre salé (salted butter caramel) for my sweet. 

If you’re near or in Amboise, which is a town in the Loire Valley, I beg of you to visit Creperie 4 Saisons. Quite literally the best crepes of my life. Their crevette tigreé (tiger shrimp) crepe is one of my favorites. 

Best Place We Stayed: 

By far the best and most memorable place we stayed was Château de Perreux, a 19th century chateau with eleven beautiful guest rooms. The grounds are gorgeous, and it’s a short car ride into the nearby town of Amboise. The château is beautiful, all white stone and ivy, and walking down the halls really transports you to another time. At night, the château gets deliciously creepy (not too much, don’t worry), with soft (fake) candlelight lighting the hallways. 

Best Museum:

My favorite museum is actually outdoors. It’s Monet’s Garden and Museum, which really does live up to the paintings. If you go in the spring or early summer, the flowers and ponds are truly in their prime, with bursts of color, best viewed from the benches placed right where Monet painted. It’s a beautiful escape from the smog of Paris (sorry Paris, I love you, but you’ve really got too many smokers) and the crowds of the Louvre. There’s a decent amount of people there, so I’d recommend catching an earlier train out there to get a little bit ahead of the crowds. Bring a baguette from La Parisienne (truly the best baguette I’ve ever had, from a true connoisseur) and a pain au chocolat from Le Pont Traverse (the best gluten-free pastries in the city that I’ve had) right across the street, and you’re all set! 

Best Shopping:

My favorite shopping experience was when my mother and I hired a professional thrifter to teach us how to thrift like her, at her favorite thrifting shops of Paris. My favorite shop she took us to was Episode. Episode is a very unconventional thrift store, in the best way possible. It’s organized by types of clothing like sweaters, but the sweaters are organized further into chenille sweaters, crochet sweaters, cap sleeve sweaters, etc. They also make upcycled dresses and shirts with pieces that have fun fabrics but either have damage in some way or would just be better suited to being cut up. It’s such an insanely cool store, and the prices are very reasonable. My mother and I went back two times after that first time, and every time we’d find at least two amazing things each.