Home | Oui! Create & Explore

Creative experiences in Paris for the young and the young at heart

Say Oui! to creating, exploring, and experiencing Paris

Oui! Create & Explore offers creative, culture-filled Paris experiences for families and curious travelers who love to learn by doing. Led by a former Smithsonian museum educator and lifelong maker, offerings include private walking tours, museum visits, guided photo walks, and hands-on creative workshops. Inspired by a passion for creating new memories, each experience blends local history, creativity, and connection—inviting you to slow down, see the city with fresh eyes, and always say “oui” to something new.

Meet Hannah

What oui offer:

Neighborhood tours

Family-friendly private walking tours in the historic center of Paris, the Latin Quarter, and the Marais

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Museum tours

Private tours of famed museums such as the Louvre, Musée d'Orsay, and the Orangerie

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Creative workshops

Create unforgettable souvenirs of your Paris adventure in a semi-private setting at Atelier 48

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What people are saying:

“Hannah is funny, adaptable, and extremely knowledgeable. If you’re traveling to Paris as a family, hiring Hannah will be one of the highlights of your trip.”

Maggie K., MN

“This was a fun and fascinating tour. It was that right mix of historical commentary, fun facts, and serious talk about the messy bits of history. Hannah is a font

of knowledge!”

Nathaniel G., CA

“Our daughter loved Hannah’s friendly personality immediately and so did we. If you’re looking for a great tour of Paris for both the adults and kids, Hannah is your girl!”

Megan P., IL

Read all reviews on TripAdvisor

Souvenirs

My experiences prioritize hands-on learning and interaction—with both the city and the guide! Take a look at what you might encounter on a tour with me:

Let's explore together!

Have questions about my offerings, availability and pricing? Contact me using the form below or via email at hannah.the.guide@gmail.com (please check your spam folder if you have not received a response from me within 24 hours). *In your message, please include your travel dates, group size, and ages of children in your party.

My actual child self did not ever experience snow (California problems 🌞) so I still get a little thrill when we get a heavy snowfall, especially in Paris where it’s very rare! I highly recommend taking a 5 minute whimsical walk in the driving snow before going inside and enjoying it from the comfort of your warm apartment 😅 happy snow day for those who celebrate and I hope your flights don’t get canceled!

#paris #paristourguide #parisjetaime #parismaville #parisguide

Petit recap of Art Week 2025 in a grid post 📸

For anyone who isn’t familiar, Art Week is a blanket term for a week of contemporary art exhibits, public programs and an art fair that has been sponsored by Art Basel since 2022 (before that it was sponsored by an organization called FIAC for many years). This was my first time participating in any programming and I was pleasantly surprised by how accessible it was. Most of the posts I saw from seasoned veterans warned against overdoing it 😂 which is probably very easy to do if you don’t have three kids holding you back 😉 I didn’t go to the fair in the Grand Palais which is less interesting to me because tickets are €45 and I’m not a rich art collector but maybe one of these years I’ll get around to it.

Since it’s fall break my kids and I went to check out several Hors les Murs installations which are works installed in public places. Honorable mentions go to The Elephant in the Room by Julius von Bismarck at the Petit Palais, Objets Trouvés by Harry Nuriev at Beaux Arts, and Kermit the Frog, Even by Alex Da Corte at Place Vendôme (details on all of these works in my saved Art Week highlight!). These all sparked some interesting conversations with my kids and to my surprise were noted as their favorite activities of the break so far 🤷🏼‍♀️

Now to get through the second week of vacation and fingers crossed for more of the beautiful blue skies we got last week!!

#paris #parisartweek #paristourguide #paristourisme #paristourism #artweek #artbasel #pariswithkids #parismaville #parisjetaime

It’s a Friday mood, after being solo all week with three kids on fall break 😅 vive le week-end!

💚 “Kermit the Frog, Even” by Alex Da Corte on view at the Place Vendôme through October 26th for @artbasel Paris. Check out my other Art Week visits in my saved highlight!

#paris #paristourguide #parisjetaime #parismaville #parisguide #paristourisme #pariswithkids #artbasel #artweek #artweekparis #kermit

Seine-ding you all the fall vibes 🍂🍁

#paris #seine #visitparis #parisjetaime #paristourguide #laseine #parismaville #parisguide #paristourisme #

There are so many views of Paris to choose from, but I think the view from @toursnotredamedeparis might be the most special ✨ if you disagree, present your case for best view in the comments 👇🏻

#paris #paristourguide #parisjetaime #parismaville #parisguide #paristourisme #notredame #notredamedeparis

Stills from Monet’s house and garden 🎨 we have an unofficial policy of “off-season only” for hot tourist attractions and I’m happy to report that even without water lilies in bloom, Giverny is a stunner ✨

#francetravel #giverny #monet #monetsgarden #paristourguide #tourguide

Monet’s garden was making a great case for October and off-season visits this weekend 🍂 @maisonjardinsclaudemonet

#paristourism #francetourism #france #visitnormandy #paristourguide #lifeinfrance #monet #giverny

Sound on 🎧 for a moment of zen in your feed 🧘🏼‍♀️ social media loves this installation and I guess I’m no exception (I draw the line at posing pensively in front of the artwork as I saw many influencers doing today) but I highly recommend trying to stop in and see “clinamen” by Céleste Boursier-Muguenot before it leaves the @boursedecommerce this weekend. Hypnotic! Soothing! A cure-all for your Monday mood 😵‍💫 and a great excuse to sit in silence alone or with a friend.

#paris #parisjetaime #paristourguide #parisguide #parismaville #paristourisme #parismuseum

“Paris est une fête !” 🥳🥳 Did you know that there is an annual festival about Paris and Parisians? @lafetedeparis was established just a few years ago to celebrate the city’s history and has grown to a two day event with food, dancing, artisan demos, live music, and a parade! I honestly can’t think of a more fun way to take the edge off of the rentrée 😅 We got to see the parade pass from the Pantheon to Jardin de Luxembourg, and afterward we went to check out the stands at the festival in the park. My 8 yo isn’t always excited about the cultural activities that I propose 😉 but yesterday he mentioned multiple times that next year he’d be walking in the parade and not just watching it 😆 perfect for the young and old who delight in historic reenactments, juggling, Louis IX and dogs in classic cars wearing doggles 🐶 you can see more in my story highlight “Fête de Paris.”

Be sure to mark your calendar for next year’s festival which happens on the first weekend in September. As with all activities in Paris it is worth arriving early so that you aren’t stuck in too many crowds—the parade wasn’t so bad but the park was packed, probably because the weather was so nice. We also got there late enough that many of the stands were closing up shop (demos of woodworking, black smithing and stone carving, for example) but the atmosphere was still very lively. Looking forward to next year!

Consider this my out of office memo… 🏖️

After a quick weekend trip to Bretagne and then back to Paris, my kids and I are finally off for “les grandes vacances” for the next four weeks (husband will join later, phew!). If I’m slow to respond to emails or messages, now you know why 😅 I might post some updates but it’s been such a busy spring/summer that I’m looking forward to really unplugging. Profitez-en and see you in September!

In the wake of our most recent heat wave I am kicking myself for not having taken advantage of the public pool situation in Paris looong ago 🤦🏼‍♀️ swimming is a big part of French life and kids are required to pass a swim test in elementary school so they have lessons for several weeks during the school year starting in kindergarten. Like all new experiences I used to feel daunted by Paris public pools, but now I know (more or less) how to navigate some of the little quirks that made them seem unapproachable at first:

🏊🏻‍♀️ yes, swim caps are mandatory, even for bald people and babies! This may seem odd to North Americans but everyone’s doing it so there’s nothing to be self conscious about. Same goes for men/boys and the mandatory Speedo/shorties. Embrace it! If you don’t have what you need you can usually buy it at the entry or look up the closest Decathlon.

🏊🏻‍♀️ most pools don’t have a dedicated lap swim time. The outer lanes are reserved for “beginners” (ie the elderly and families) and you just get used to bumping into a lot of people. You may also luck out and show up during Aquagym (what my friend lovingly calls “old lady soup”) and have to share the lane with 20 people bouncing up and down in the shallow end.

🏊🏻‍♀️ some pools have shallow pools specifically for kids and this will be noted on their website. Otherwise, get into the beginner lane with the rest of the kids hanging onto the lane lines!

🏊🏻‍♀️ operating hours are weird because schools use the pools during the year and sometimes close randomly due to strikes or other maintenance issues. This is just life in Paris and if you live here you get used to it. If you’re trying to beat the heat on vacation and you’re confronted with a “fermeture exceptionnelle”… I’m sorry and I hope you can pop into a Picard instead! ❄️

🏊🏻‍♀️ Paris residents with 3+ kids get into public pools for free with the Paris Familles card. Contact your local mairie for info on how to apply!

🏊🏻‍♀️ if you visit the beautiful historic @espacesportifpontoiseparis don’t miss the Invaders—one inside, one outside!

Anything else I’m forgetting?

#paris #parisenfamille #pariswithkids #parisguide #pa_603

A Seine cruise is one of those things that you might think is a touristy thing to do, and… you’re right! But guess what, touristy things are sometimes fun for locals too! You can go on Seine cruises at all price points (ranging from private boats to Bateaux Mouches with hundreds of other people aboard) and on Saturday I surprised my husband for our anniversary with a dinner cruise on @calife_paris. It’s a charming blue boat decked out with lanterns and with a smaller capacity than many of the bigger companies out there and I was actually a bit jealous that everyone else’s boats got a better view of our own 😆 the dinner was pretty solid and we took a 2 hour route launching from the Pont des Arts that circled just past the Eiffel Tower. The Olympic cauldron is currently on view in the Tuileries and some of the bridges were lit up for Pride 🏳️‍🌈 so the views were really spectacular after the sun went down. My husband travels quite a bit for work and does not really get to enjoy the scenic side of Paris as often as I do, so it was a nice treat to soak in the views together on a pretty summer evening. Honestly we are quite spoiled that we get to celebrate milestones in such a beautiful city and I try not to take it for granted 💕

#paris #parisjetaime #paristourguide #parismaville #parisguide #paristourisme #parissurseine #laseine

During a heatwave in Paris, all is forgiven after the sun goes down 🎈🌝

#paris #parisjetaime #paristourguide #parismaville #parisguide #paristourisme #paris2024 #olympics #vasqueolympique

I don’t often stay out late on a Saturday night, but when I do, it’s for #fetedelamusique 🎶 spent a hot Saturday night out with my eldest kid and thousands of other Parisians dancing their hearts out to DJ sets, harp concerts, hakas and AC/DC covers and I have no regrets, though I’ll probably be recovering from the heat and how many steps we logged for the foreseeable future 😅

#paris #paristourguide #parisjetaime #parismaville #parisguide #pariswithkids #parisenfamille #paristourisme #fetedelamusique2025

Paris lately ☀️ cats in windows, pretty skies, visits with friends, schlepping my kids around in the bike lane, and always down for whatevs ✌🏻

I’m not a Louvre girlie but I do love couture and I REALLY love when couture is treated as an objet d’art and not just something for runways and red carpets 🖼️ I loved seeing some of my favorite designers (it’s Alexander McQueen for me 😭🥲) and iconic pieces on display as well as some new to me designers, all alongside pieces in a wing of the Louvre that I’ve never spent a lot of time in.

Some things to know before you visit Louvre Couture before it closes in July:

👗 Louvre Couture is not a traditional museum exhibit in the sense that it does not have its own dedicated temporary space: 100 pieces by different designers have been placed throughout the decorative arts section of the Louvre that spans the medieval period to the Second Empire, and sometimes pieces have been incorporated into vitrines with the permanent collection so they’re not as obvious to spot! I thought this was a very clever exhibit design choice.

👗 I followed the exhibit in order (ie, starting at object number 1 as outlined in the exhibit map) but I SHOULD have started around the corner in the Napoleon III apartments because those are more popular than medieval art and get crowded as the day goes on.

👗 AS ALWAYS: go as early as possible! I had a 9 am ticket (general admission, no special ticket required) and arrived right on time because that’s the earliest I could get to the museum, and I still waited 30 minutes to get through security. However, it was pretty empty in the museum for at least an hour!

Are you going to Louvre Couture? Are you afraid of the Louvre? (You should be.) (Kidding, or am I?)

#paris #louvre #louvrecouture #parisjetaime #parismuseum #paristourguide #parismaville #parisguide #paristourisme #muséedulouvre #fashion #couture

An ode to @centrepompidou 🥰 the permanent collection is already closed and the rest of the museum closes at the end of the summer for a five year renovation. Don’t hesitate to go in for the remaining temporary exhibits and perfect Paris views before you can’t anymore! I went today for the Suzanne Valadon exhibit (highly recommend! Closes 5/26!) but technically you can enter without an entry ticket just for a little ride on the escalator 🤷🏼‍♀️

#paris #paristoday #paristourisme #beaubourg #pompidou #centrepompidou #parisjetaime #paristourguide #tourguide #parismaville #parisguide #pariswithkids

Have you ever been to Ireland? 🇮🇪 @lemondefr just shared a post this week about how travel to Ireland is extremely low in recent years (especially for families!). If you saw my stories last week, we were there for spring break and it was really refreshing to be in a vacation spot that was basically empty but I can see how low tourism really impacts the local economy especially in the countryside. So if you’re thinking about Ireland, go for it!

☘️ We started in Dublin and hit some highlights in the city (the Book of Kells, St Stephen’s Green, @bambino_dublin 🍕 and Hodges Figgis, Dublin’s oldest bookstore) as well as doing a cliff walk in Howth where we had fish and chips and saw seals!

☘️ Something to know about Dublin is that the city itself is quite small but there is a lot to do just a short drive outside the city. Personally I do not like a lot of city travel and it’s kind of frustrating for my 2 year old so we really didn’t plan much on our Dublin days, but we will definitely be back since my husband goes often for work.

☘️ We rented a car and went to county Galway for the rest of the week. Galway city is very cute and compact and we ate some of the best pizza I’ve had in recent memory at @thedoughbros (what’s with Ireland and the good pizza??), ice cream at @murphysicecream, cute boutique shopping at @woodenhearttoys, and finding some local yarn as a souvenir for me and my new knitter daughter 🧶

☘️ We stayed near Connemara National Park and wow! It was magical. If you love wild landscapes, peat bogs (I didn’t know that I loved them), fjords, hiking, and sheep, this is probably the place for you. Getting around the area requires a car and a stomach of iron (and lots of patience for your mom playing Irish rock radio) but the payoff is worth it. We hiked, went to a sheep farm (with sheep dog demo that we are still talking about), and Kylemore Abbey on the rainiest/windiest day of my life so the visit unfortunately got cut short.

Have I convinced you to go to Ireland yet? And can I come with you? 😂

#ireland #visitireland #eire #eireann #galway #travel #travelwithkids

Such a fun (and busy 😮‍💨) first week of spring break! No (cobble)stone has been left unturned in central Paris 💪🏻 and now I’m really ready for my well-deserved break next week 😎 thank you for the fun memories @basilgarlicrosemary @tineydonner @garettmarcum @kweger and all the other families I didn’t get photos with. À bientôt !

#paris #springtimeinparis #parisguide #paristourguide #parisfamilyguide #parisjetaime #parismaville #parisphoto

What better way to get to know Paris than by eating? 🍎🍓🧀🥖🍫 sometimes people ask if I do food tours but frankly that is best left to the experts, like @paris.4.kids who specialize in food tours for kids. My kids and I have tasted all kinds of French foods but a tour was perfect for giving us a spring break activity yesterday and learning more about the gastronomical history of Paris. We were with two other families on this semi-private tour and it just so happens that their ages all lined up pretty well and the vibes were great. Aly is a teacher by profession and has lots of experience working with kids and my own kids loved the facts that she was sharing. My kids also probably would never have tried snails on their own (well, one still hasn’t, you can guess which one from the pictures 😆) so it was a great stretch experience in addition to enjoying some reliable classics.

Merci Aly and the team at @paris.4.kids for a fun outing!

#paris #parisfoodie #parisfood #parisfoodguide #paristourisme #parisfamilyguide #familytourguide #pariswithkids #parisjetaime #aprilinparis #springtimeinparis

Blink and you’ll miss it… 🌸 snaps from around Paris from the past few weeks while I’ve been out enjoying this hard-earned sun ☀️ (am I imagining it when I say this is the sunniest and warmest April I can remember in ages???)

#spring #springtimeinparis #paris #tourguide #paristourguide #parisjetaime #parismaville #parisguide #paristourisme #parisisalwaysagoodidea

Spring break season has been so good to me so far, and my kids haven’t even gotten to their own spring break yet! Finished off a full week of tours today in the sun in Montmartre with the funniest trio of sisters (who made me miss being with my own 🥲) and was presented with a little gift of blossoms to brighten up my outfit. Hard not to be in a great mood when Paris is sunny and the company can’t be beat ☀️ Thank you for the fun afternoon @akhan8 and @shelbykhan !

#paris #parisguide #paristourguide #montmartre #familytourguide #familytour #jaimeparis #parisjetaime #paristourisme #parisinspring

So many exhibits to see in Paris, so little time 😰 finally made my way over to @le_grand_palais to see The Soul Trembles by @chiharushiota before it leaves in a few days 🧶 Shiota explores life and death, identity, and the links between humans in her work and I’ll be thinking about this installation for a very long time. There’s something very bittersweet about a temporary installation—they can evoke so much emotion in the viewer, and like many emotions they don’t last forever and eventually go away to make room for more 🥲

📝 One thing I’ve learned since moving to Paris is that you need to write down all of the exhibits that are coming up (AND their end dates!) so that you don’t miss them even if you think you’ll remember to buy a ticket! I tried to set up a date with a friend and tickets were all sold out that week and we said “oh we’ll try later” and when I went back on the site they were completely sold out! I kept checking the site and eventually more tickets were released for a 9 am time slot before the galleries normally open so I quickly grabbed one for the only free morning I have this month 😅

If you aren’t able to make it in person be sure to check out Shiota’s instagram account where you can see her grand scale work in action, including set design for operas and plays 🎭
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#paris #parisjetaime #paristourguide #parismaville #parisguide #thesoultrembles #chiharushiota #parismuseum

“Do you do tours even if it’s raining?” Yes!! The truth is… it rains a lot in Paris in all seasons 😅 so you can’t really avoid it! Last week I gave a tour to a mom and daughter in torrential rain and we made extra stops in cafes, bookshops and churches to have a break from all the wetness. You wouldn’t even know it was pouring from the smiles in these photos 😉 Bonus pictures at the end from a proud 10 year old finding a 100 point invader 👾 thanks for a fun morning sous la pluie, @rachelzf! ☔️
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#paris #parisguide #parisfamilyguide #parisenfamille #pariswithkids #parisfrance #parisjetaime #paristourisme #paristourism #paristourguide #parissouslapluie

Winter break is winding down and the weather got the memo that spring is almost here 🤞🏼

#paris #parisfrance #parisnow #parisphoto #paristourisme #pariscity #parisjetaime #parismaville #paristourguide

“It’s not *that* cool… don’t bother with the Pompidou” 😱 so I heard this exact quote on a popular podcast a few months ago when the theme of the episode was “fun things to do in Paris with kids.” I am not exaggerating when I say that it has been bothering me ever since 😆 and I’m not sharing this as a dig on the podcast host because his kids are still quite young and I also had very different views on kid-friendly activities when I just had babies/preschoolers at home!

Phew 😅 now that I’ve gotten that off my chest, here are some reflections about our own visit this past Saturday with friends:

🎨 there is a dedicated gallery FOR CHILDREN at the Pompidou, and it’s free for kids! Just reserve a spot for yourself and your kids, and the ticket comes with an entry ticket to the permanent collection. The current exhibit about constructing an imaginary city “Il était une ville…” is very cute and aimed at kids 3-10 years old.

🎨 Saturdays are busy but since the space is so big the floor housing the permanent collection didn’t feel very crowded. The upside of coming on a Saturday is that there are usually activities going on. In our case it was an event called “Le Musée Recopié” where people of all ages and drawing ability were invited to sit and copy the works on display. If you didn’t reserve a spot to participate ahead of time they had sketchbooks available for you to keep and draw at your leisure. The kids loved this and we spent most of our time on the floor drawing (half the kids were drawing 💩 and fart jokes so we’ll just call that Dada-inspired)

🎨 you cannot beat the view of the city from the outdoor escalators! Unless you have a kid who has a fear of escalators (one of mine did for a while) this is a fun feature for all ages too.

Maybe art museums aren’t your thing and that’s totally valid too, but this one is very accessible for all ages. Thanks for joining us @jakebsorensen!

What is your favorite kid-friendly activity in Paris?

#paris #parismaville #pariswithkids #paristourguide #parisjetaime #parisguide #parisenfamille #pompidou #centrepompidou #beaubourg

“It’s pretty cool for a sewer” 🤎💩 maybe you didn’t know that going into a sewer was an option while you are in Paris but thanks to the @musee.des.egouts.de.paris you can check that off your bucket list! A few things to know based on my visit with kids aged 11 and 7.5:

💩 one of my past clients told me that this was one of their family’s favorite activities in Paris! It isn’t recommended for kids under age 5, pregnant women and claustrophobes (you can maybe guess why) but there are a decent amount of interactive displays as well as an activity booklet for 5-7 year olds if they like that kind of thing. We were in and out in about an hour.

💩 audio guides are available in French, English and Spanish in accessible language for older kids (I’d say mature 2nd grader and up). The museum is very noisy in parts thanks to lots of rushing water and it’s VERY hard to hear so we got a little confused partway through but wayfinding was not too hard. Thanks to the guide I learned that there are estimated to be two rats for each person in Paris 🐀 you’re welcome!

💩 on the other hand, all the labels are in French only which was tricky for me with all the technical language and long historical panels in the permanent exhibit, even though I feel very at ease in my reading French level. This may not be a problem for you if unlike me you don’t feel compelled to read every single label in an exhibit (I have a masters degree in exhibit design and development and maybe appreciate the effort put into writing them a little too much 😂)

💩 if you’re sensitive to smells this might not be the visit for you 😂 I live with two cats and have a child still in diapers soooo I’m pretty used to mouth breathing when I need to 😷

What do you think? Would you summon your inner Jean Valjean and visit a Parisian sewer?

#paris #parisguide #parismuseum #pariswithkids

Today is the first day of two weeks of winter break! We needed to be out of the house for a few hours this morning so we took advantage of sunny blue skies and minimal crowds and spent some time seeing some sites in our neighborhood. Here’s the laid-back itinerary that worked out quite nicely for us (it bears repeating that getting to popular destinations EARLY will save you lots of time waiting in lines or jostling people in crowds!):

📍Notre Dame: technically this is not the Latin Quarter but it’s just across the river so I’ll count it. My kids have not gone inside yet and we were eager to do it without their toddler sister in tow! Spent about an hour inside and another 20+ minutes in an inefficient line buying a book 🥴 note to families with elementary age kids and younger: be prepared to answer lots of questions about some of the more, erm, morbid works of art on display because they WILL notice it!

📍Shakespeare and Company: my kids both have book reports for vacation homework so we dropped in to the famed English language bookstore to browse and pick out a vacation read. There was no line when we arrived around 10:30 am which is soon after opening time—sometimes it goes all the way down the street! Note that photos are not allowed inside and it is quite cramped inside, hence the long line.

📍Chanceux: I love this little cafe and they have GREAT savory options for meals. It isn’t great for big groups but we arrived around 11:15 and snagged three seats at one of their communal tables for an early lunch. You can also get your food/drinks to go if you want to eat in the park.

📍Square René Viviani: this square has a lovely view of the cathedral and lots of benches available for eating or reading.

What would you do with four hours in the Latin Quarter?

#paris #parisjetaime #paristourguide #parismaville #parisenfamille #parisguide #pariswithkids #latinquarter #quartierlatin

A little valentine from me (and Paris) to you 💘💌
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#amour #paris #valentine #paris #parisfrance #parisisalwaysgoodidea #parisstyle #paristravelguide #parisguide #paristourguide #valentines

Notre Dame has been open to visitors for almost two months now and it’s a lot less complicated to go inside than you might think!

🔔 you can make a free reservation online to skip the lines, BUT like most popular spots in Paris the best option is to just get there early! I went in at 9 am on a Friday in low season and walked right in, and there weren’t too many people inside yet. By the time I left at 10 am there was a long line forming outside. I haven’t tested this at nighttime yet but I’ve heard that the end of the day is less crowded as well.

🔔 if you are a detail-oriented person like I am 🤓 you can plan to spend about an hour inside. The labels for the artworks are in French, English and Spanish (and in one chapel they were in Polish). You might even happen upon a music rehearsal like I did which added a nice ambience to the visit.

🔔 check the website for special events and special hours. For example, the first Friday of every month is reserved for veneration of the crown of thorns (an important relic in Catholicism) so it might be extra busy during the ceremony. The cathedral is open until 10 pm on Thursday which could be an interesting option for people who want to end the day on a spiritual note 🧘🏼‍♀️

🔔 dress appropriately or they WILL turn you away at the door 😅 I thought I’d pop in before a morning walk a few weeks ago and I was not allowed inside wearing my “tenue de sport” even though I was fully covered in a fleece and leggings.

🔔 want to learn more about this jewel of Paris? Book a private tour of the Latin Quarter with me and I’ll tell you all about the significance of the cathedral as well as its place in the historic neighborhood around it!

#paristourguide #paris #parisenfamille #pariswithkids #parisjetaime #parismaville #parissecret #parisianvibes #parismonamour

I’ve been quiet on socials since the holidays but keeping somewhat busy in my real life! It’s been a whirlwind of activity and other life things including a few tours. Yesterday I got to take a group of volunteers from my church on a tour of the Marais and we had a blast. I know a couple in the group from my university days (they are retired English professors and I worked in the English department for a couple of years), and it was fun to trade spaces and be the one teaching this time around 😉 Most of these folks have lived in Paris for a year or less and hadn’t had a chance to explore so I was happy to take them through some of my favorite spots and get them oriented. We even lucked out with some sun and didn’t have to dodge the rain until the very end ☀️ Thanks to this fun group for helping me start the week off on the right foot!

The ceremonies celebrating the reopening of Notre Dame may have ended and the crowds of people being rerouted around the perimeter have dispersed but the rain and police barricades are still persisting 😅 Looking forward to seeing Notre Dame up close sometime in 2025!

idk if you heard but it’s snowing in Paris today ❄️

#paris #parisjetaime #paristourguide #parismaville #parisenfamille #parisguide #pariswithkids

Sun and blue skies on repeat for the first week of fall vacation 🍂 is that an October miracle or what??

Snaps from an afternoon at the @petitpalais_musee 🖼️ if you have a chance to make it over before the street art exhibit We Are Here closes in November, go for it! Though even without an exhibit passing through there is something really special about the Petit Palais ✨

#paris #parisguide #parismuseum #visitparis #petitpalais #parisjetaime #parisvibes #parislover

File this suggestion away for a rainy day! 🌧️ One of my biggest complaints about Paris is that there is not much to do indoors with little kids when it’s raining (and it rains a lot here!). It makes sense when you consider that kids go to school all day starting at age 3 and that most babies and toddlers are enrolled in a crèche, but all I’m asking is for the libraries to be open for story time in the mornings 😆 anyway, it was pouring rain yesterday thanks to Storm Kirk and we had luckily made a reservation several weeks ago for @lamaisondeshistoiresparis! This is a darling space for 0-6 year olds and their families in the @chantelivreparis bookstore, available by reservation only. Sessions are animated by staff who do story and singing time (all in French) and the rest of the session is free play in the activity space that has been built around the themes of popular children’s books (most published by L’École des loisirs, a well-known children’s publishing house). After my almost two year old realized that I was not dropping her off and leaving she had a great time 😅 the staff are super friendly and the space is clean and well-organized. They even have a little cafe in the entryway where you can purchase snacks (and themed merchandise that is very cute).

All of this is available by reservation only (and the slots go quickly so be sure to follow their account as they announce in stories when time slots are on sale) but the bookstore itself is open to the public and has a cozy reading space for bigger kids. Will definitely be returning in the winter when it’s too cold to be outside!

#lamaisondeshistoires #paris #parisenfamille #pariswithkids #parisjetaime #paristourguide

May you have as much pep in your step as a horse in the Garde Républicaine trotting down the street on a Monday afternoon 🐎

#paris #parisfrance #paristourisme #latinquarter #quartierlatin #parisjetaime #paristourguide #parismaville

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of guiding a group of ladies visiting Paris with @coucou.tour (a stopover en route to Marrakech! Dreamy!) and got to take them around the Left Bank. We hardly scratched the surface but I loved crafting this route to include architectural gems as well as yummy patisserie and cute shops. Definitely a great way to beat jet lag as these women all arrived that morning—Paris on a sunny fall day beats a nap any day 😉 thank you Ali and Toni for including me in your fun itinerary!

#paris #parisguide #paristour #paristourguide #parisjetaime #parisinteriors #parisinautumn #paristourisme

“The City of Light” is a nickname that dates from the 17th century when Paris became the first city in Europe to have widespread use of gas lamps to light the streets (in order to crack down on crime 😬). Personally I think Louis XIV would appreciate how ✨extra✨ the nickname has become thanks to the view from the Louvre these days 🎈

#paris #parisjetaime #paristourguide #paris2024 #parismaville #olympics #parisenfamille #parisguide #parisolympics

One last little photo dump of the Olympics 🥇
1-3: family time at the Parc Urbain for freestyle BMX (and running into @olympicsuperfan who was kind enough to take a pic!)
4: distant view of the Olympic cauldron/hot air balloon
5-6: track and field!
7: one last shot of my fave volunteer lifeguard tower 🥹
8-10: date night with my husband to see the closing ceremonies 🔥 and blessing my grid with my scream when Tom Cruise rappelled off the stadium 😂😂

Can’t wait to live it all again with the Paralympics!!

That’s a wrap on #Paris2024! Hard to decide what was my favorite part of the last two weeks—my kids might say that it was the unlimited screen time (anyone else not count keeping on the Olympics in the background most of the day as screen time? 😂), or the fan zones throughout the city where they were introduced to new sports and got to experience familiar haunts in Paris in a new way. I loved seeing the city transform into a 24/7 outdoor party! I feel lucky that we scored last minute tickets to the closing ceremonies last night thanks to a generous friend because it felt like a proper closure of this exciting chapter. What was your favorite part of the Olympics, whether or not you were in Paris?

Can’t wait to continue the fun with the Paralympics in just a couple of weeks! Vive les JO et vive la France! 🇫🇷

Parc Urbain 🛹🚲🏀 a spot I actively try to avoid in my everyday life is one of my favorite Olympic spots 😂 we got tickets for women’s skateboard and mixed freestyle BMX which means that you get entry to the urban park set up at Place de la Concorde (this is basically a huge intersection that is often busy with traffic in normal times). This is a unique spot because you get a new view of old monuments, like the obelisk and the Eiffel Tower, while also getting to participate in urban activities! You can also purchase an entry ticket for the park without having purchased an event ticket so you can enjoy the ambience ✨ you can line up to take a picture with one of the Olympic torches or Olympic rings, and each day the available activities change. We saw breakdancing, basketball, and jumprope demos (audience participation encouraged!) as well as DJ sets and a nice view of the events happening in other stadiums. Plus, this elder millennial loved the nostalgic soundtrack during the skateboard event… all those teen years of suffering through watching boys I had crushes on do mediocre skateboard tricks paid off when I saw pros expertly performing them 🤣

One of the goals of the organizing committee was to highlight the culture of the city of Paris and I think they did a great job including a variety of tastes—from classical art on the Seine during the opening ceremony to the graffiti demo in the Tuileries, the unexpected blend of styles has worked so well! As we were walking home through the Tuileries with the hot air balloon off in the distance I asked my daughter if she thought Louis XIV would approve of all the spectacle and she gave an emphatic yes 👑
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#paris #paristourguide #parisjetaime #paris2024 #parismaville #olympics #pariswithkids #parisenfamille #parisolympics #parisguide

Some tidbits from one of the more fun day dates we’ve had in a while ☀️ my husband and I had tickets for the women’s street skate finals so we spent the afternoon at the Parc Urbain over at Place de la Concorde (see more in my story highlights), caught a glimpse of the hot air balloon in the Tuileries, and rode our bikes around the city and caught a perfect sunset 🌅 (in front of the Conciergerie, forever changed to me after the opening ceremony 😂). The new perspective of monuments I see daily has been a unique experience!

We’ve been pleasantly surprised at how the Olympics have (or haven’t) impacted our daily life here in Paris aside from the week leading up to the opening ceremony. There are volunteers everywhere (they’ve been so cheerful too!), the event-goers we’ve seen have been friendly and courteous, and people are still going about their daily lives in the less affected areas—in fact, we could probably use more tourists to bring in business! Social media always makes things sound either perfect or terrible and as I like to say, two things can be true at once 😉
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#paris #paristourguide #olympics #paris2024 #olympicgames

Day 2 of the Olympics and there’s more rain ☔️ so we headed out early to the Hôtel de Ville to check out the Terrasse des Jeux constructed for the Olympics. If you’ve been on my Marais tour you’ll know that the plaza in front of Hôtel de Ville wasn’t always known for such joyous occasions (more like riots and public executions back in the day 😬) but now there is always something fun to do here!

At the Terrasse des Jeux you can find a laid back space featuring games like badminton 🏸 mini golf ⛳️ and table tennis 🏓 as well a rock climbing wall 🧗🏽‍♀️ and a play space for very young children. They’ve even installed a track to run around on!

There are also lounges, concessions, screens broadcasting Olympic events, and even concerts (check the schedule online)! The space is focused on accessibility** and environmental awareness and there is also a “calm space” for anyone in need of an area away from noise and overstimulation. Lots of toilets and a changing table, too!

Most days the space is open from 10 am to midnight and runs until the Paralympics end on September 8. Pro tip: get there early to beat the crowds and the heat (when it does eventually get warm, that is…) 🥵Profitez-en!

**I should mention that Paris is woefully behind on accessibility compared to other big cities but I am taking the view that recent efforts to improve facilities and public awareness are important. If these types of public spaces are well attended and get good feedback, I hope there will be more available in the future 🤞🏻
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#paris #parisjetaime #parismaville #villedeparis #olympics #paris2024 #paristourguide #pariswithkids #parisenfamille #parisolympics

We did not get tickets for the opening ceremonies but the show still came to us! 💃🏼🕺🏻 The entry point for a section of ticket holders was queued up outside our front door all afternoon and we had our own Parade of Nations with quite a few countries represented 🌎

In all our people watching probably lasted about the same amount of time as the actual ceremony 😮‍💨 (check out my Olympics highlight) and even had some creative country uniforms make an appearance. Which one is your favorite?
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#paris #parisjetaime #paristourguide #olympics #paris2024 #parisolympics #openingceremony #parislover #parisnow #parismood

On the first day of summer vacation I reinstated our Museum Monday tradition and we went to one of the kids’ favorite spots: the Centre Pompidou (aka Beaubourg if you are Parisian)! Four reasons that you will want to check out the Pompidou if you’re in Paris right now:

🛹 “Cycloïde Piazza” by Raphaël Zarka is a temporary art installation on view in front of the museum until 15 September. Come to watch the skaters wipe out on the half pipe, or bring scooters for your kids to ride around themselves. Or they can just run around like mine did 🤷🏼‍♀️ the front of the building has also been transformed into a giant screen with videos of athletes for a collaboration with Nike (on till mid-August)
⛺️ La Galerie des Enfants is always a hit and is currently hosting “Tenir Tête” by Marion Fayolle (on view till January 2025). Tents, shadow puppets and dress ups are available for a laid back play experience for younger kids. Free for kids, €15 for adults (includes access to the museum’s permanent collection if you want to include a museum visit!)
⛲️ the Stravinsky fountain next to the museum reopened a few months ago after a multi year renovation and it is always a delight to walk by when the sculptures are moving!
❌ the museum is closing in 2025 for a five year renovation so best to fit in as many visits as you can before then!
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#paris #parisjetaime #paristourguide #pariswithkids #parisenfamille #parisguide #jeuxolympiques #pompidou #beaubourg

I know it’s easy to be cynical about the Olympics but it’s day 2 of the flame relay in Paris 🔥 and Paris has understood the assignment! The flame is passing through most of the arrondissements with performances to accompany each handoff (ie, give you something to watch while waiting—not a bad idea!) and yesterday we went to see @yoann_bourgeois perform in front of the @pantheon.paris before the flame was handed off. I was pleasantly surprised that there wasn’t more of a crowd but I read that there are an estimated 10-12 million people coming for the games 😳 so I’m sure I’ll be feeling the crush soon 😅 are you going to any Olympics events?
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#paris #parisjetaime #paristourguide #parismaville #pariswithkids #parisenfamille #parisguide #olympics #parisolympics #paris2024 #jeuxolympiques

If you’re traveling to Paris with really young kids, taking a neighborhood tour might be the last thing on your mind. But rest assured, it is possible and dare I say… fun?? With younger kids you can plan on taking longer at some stops and less time at others, and I try to focus on observation and stories that old buildings can tell us. I had a delightful family tour in the Marais yesterday with kids ages 2, 4 and 6 with breaks to draw friendly lions and fire goddesses ✍🏻 eat pastries 🥐 and play a bit of I Spy 👀

While learning about history with young kids might look a little different than with teens or adults, everyone still leaves having learned something new. After Sophie (age 4) pointed out a red “carrot” on a tobacco shop after we had talked about shop signs in medieval Paris vs today, she said, “how do you know SO MUCH???” 😂😂 thanks for a fun morning, Annabelle and fam!

#paris #parisenfamille #parisguide #paristourguide #pariswithkids

“Fake it till you make it” is my general motto for living in France but also during a Fête de la Musique singalong when you don’t recognize the song 🙊 it never hurts to follow the crowd on one of the most fun nights of the year to be in Paris! 🎶
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#parisjetaime #paris #parismaville #parisfamilytour #paristourguide #fetedelamusique #fetedelamusique2024

Do we have a future Viollet-le-Duc on our hands?? ⛪️ I had a tour with some budding artists this morning and I was so impressed with the progress on this Notre Dame drawing during our tour that I asked his mom to send me the final result 🤩 thank you to Keri and kids for a fun (and mostly dry ☔️) morning in the Latin Quarter!

I have been woefully behind on social media updates—life, admin (soooo much admin… welcome to France!) and *lots* of tours have been getting in the way 😅 as always I’m so grateful for the tour requests and lovely reviews I have been receiving. Thank you for making this job a fun one!

#paris #parisjetaime #notredamedeparis #paristourguide #parisfamilytour #parisjetaime

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