Picnic In Paris
The park around the Eiffel Tower can buzz with hundreds and even thousands of people depending on the time of day and year. Finding a spot to be quiet, let alone have a romantic picnic, can be next to impossible. However, when you book a picnic in the park experience with Discover Every Flavor, you are left in Tamara's capable hands to take care of all of it on your behalf.
When booking, we selected the package we wanted and could put in notes for any special requests. Such as a specific wine or notes on the type of location you are hoping for. I requested off-the beaten path but would leave it up to her based on her expertise.
The day was absolutely beautiful. A funny insight, Dave was not super excited about sitting on the ground. Even in the picture above, you can see him sitting uncomfortably. But he was a great sport about it, for my sake. He also has learned how to take many of my pictures and videos on my trips. He has been very patient with the concept of, let's take 100 and we will probably get 2 good ones out of the bunch.
Our picnic time was an hour and a half, and we saw maybe 5 people walk by us. It was the perfect location, and the picnic items were delicious. We had a wide variety of cheeses, meats, water, a bottle of wine, fruit, and even a dessert. Tamara walked us through everything she ordered and even guided us on what items to pair together. Plus, she set everything up for us and took care of all the cleanup afterward. She even took photos and videos of us and provided a few sightseeing tips. I felt very pampered and absolutely loved it. She was a sweetheart and very knowledgeable.
Did you know there are no ants in Paris?
Dinner with a view
There are a handful of restaurants that provide a view of the Eifel Tower, but none of them are right on the Eifel Tower property with a view like the one below.
If you have a hotel concierge, I highly recommend you have them secure this dining reservation. It is the hardest reservation to get in Paris. I tried several times by myself with no luck. They only book up to 2 weeks in advance, and reservations go quickly.
Girafe in Paris is truly a one-of-a-kind dining experience. They have an indoor space as well, but everyone prefers the patio, and you will too!
If you happen to dine during a cooler evening is very common and acceptable to bring in a bag with a blanket and/or a coat. They do offer a blanket per chair, but they are fairly lightweight.
The spot is also very Instagramable, and the weight staff is accustomed to pitching in as a photographer. It is also the perfect place for that dress in your closet you have nowhere to wear. I saw girls dressed from pants to cocktail dresses, so wear what makes you feel beautiful and enjoy your view!!
Pro Tip: Pick the first reservation at either 7 or 7:30 pm so you can enjoy the daytime view and nighttime sparkle of the Eiffel Tower. Plus, the pics with the sunsetting are amazing!
Funny Note: The bench seat that you see us sitting in the picture below was incredibly soft and comfortable, but I chose to sit in the chair across from it, which was not as comfortable because of the VIEW! I could be comfortable later! THAT VIEW!!! I honestly do not remember much about the meal or what we talked about; I was just in awe the entire dinner! The view does not get any better!!!!
Champagne Tour in Champagne
There are several tours you can book, or if you have a car, you can venture on your own. You can even use a private tour guide and customize your tour. We opted for a group tour and visited a large Champagne facility and a smaller one. You all know I love supporting small businesses.
The day started bright and early as we were picked up at 7 am from our hotel. We had 3 other groups with us, so they made a couple of other hotel stops, and we happened to be the first. Champagne country is actually in an area called 'Reims' and is about 1 hr and 40 min from Paris. The french countryside is absolutely beautiful. There are highways but no freeways, and I would describe the towns we saw as more like villages. I wish I had taken some pictures, but we were enjoying the moments, and I had not yet had my coffee. LOL
TIP: Stop by a local boulangerie the night before an early morning tour and pick up some pastries to eat in your hotel room.
Our tour guides were very knowledgeable and were both studying to become wine aficionados. I believe Alex was on his way to achieving Level 3, and Willie was working on Level 2. But their knowledge was amazing, and it was so great having a personal wine guide fill in some of the details and give you additional private tips. They also answered any questions any of us had during the day.
Do you know how many times you need to twist the screw of a Champagne bottle before it should pop? Watch my video below for proper instructions (in a French accent) for popping open a bottle of Champagne.
**it has age restriction because it is wine. If you are over 21, please feel free to click to watch.
Our first stop on the tour was world-famous Mum Champagne House. I highly recommend at least one cellar tour on your visit. Even if you have had wine tours, a tour of a champagne house is unique, and the French champagne-making process is quite different than any other.
Mum is actually German, not French but produced in Reims, France. I absolutely loved our tasting. It is my favorite Champagne that I have tried.
We were in the cellar for about 30 min, and it was really chilly. But otherwise, that was the only cold part of our visit. I was told by the company we would be chilly for quite a bit of the trip, so I opted for warmth over cuteness. So I recommend layering if you want to wear a cute outfit. We used WineDays as the Champagne Guide company, and I would recommend using GetYourGuide to find any trusted ticket companies for any of the sights or tours that you book. As GetYourGuide does a verification to ensure it is a legit company and tour.
Here are a couple of fun champagne facts:
1. Do you know the significance of 'Brut' on the bottle of Champagne? It refers to the level of sweetness.
Brut - sweeter (6-12% sugar)
Extra Brut- less sweet
Brut Nature- dryest
2. Did you know to remove the sediment from a bottle, They use a beer cap to hold in the liquid, turn it upside down, and freeze it. The sediment freezes at the top and acts like a cork. They then fill the remaining bottle with more champagne and sugar and finish the process. This step is what gives it the bubbles.
3. There are 3 types of Champagne grapes: Chardonnay, as well as Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier. I thought Chardonnay was just for the white wine Chardonnay, but it is not. It is all about how it is processed.
We even learned the proper way to pronounce Veuve Clicquot, because I always botch it. It is pronounced Vuv Clicko .
Our last winery was a smaller production at Laurent Lequart. We learned a great deal about how the smaller producers work together in a co-op system to be profitable. They have their own vines and care for their own grapes, but. they share the production equipment so they can share in the cost. They know that by working together, they can each help support one another and be profitable, and have the ability to be successful together. I love that concept and support system!! If you have the opportunity to purchase from this specific Champagne producer, Laurent Lequart, please do. We were able to meet with one of the owners, and he was a lovely man and so passionate about his business. They do supply various areas of the U.S, such as California, Minnesota, and a few other states.
We had such a fun group with us. There were 7 of us plus our 2 guides. Everyone was so fun and friendly, and we had such a great day.
Spend the day exploring without a plan
Whenever you plan a trip, I recommend leaving time in your schedule after you have been there a couple of days and gotten more comfortable with the surroundings. Plus, I always tend to walk past a place I had not found when researching or come across a recommendation from one of the locals when visiting. And it is just fun to explore. You never know what you may stumble across.
I knew I wanted to check out a farmers market and an area outside the typical tourist areas. We randomly found that perfect area when we were near the Catacombs. We ate at Cafe Daguerre, right across from the Catacombs. We enjoyed a cheese plate and a glass of wine. I was amazed at the wine pours in Paris. They Cafes always poured to the top of the glass, and a $4.95 glass of wine was really good and did not give me a headache.
Eat light at the cafe. There is a market right down the side street by the Cafe on Rue Daguerre Avenue. You are in the heart of the local part of Paris. I loved that I felt immersed in the city's culture with the locals. We walked into each of the stores and even sampled some of the foods. The gelato was amazing, and we picked up some pastries at the boulangerie since our Champagne day was the next morning, and I knew we would be out of the door before breakfast started.
Since you have already made your way this far out of the city, make sure you walk another mile to Luxembourg Gardens. Leave yourself time to enjoy, sit and stroll. The gardens are huge and beautiful and lots to see. On a pretty day, you will find a lot of locals strolling the gardens with their loved ones, playing bocce ball, or studying.
Funny insight: I learned a few basic greetings and words in French prior to our trip and used them regularly. Most everyone you encounter in Paris speaks English, but they appreciate it when you greet them in French. One time we were making a purchase at a store, and based on the situation, I could tell they were asking how I was paying and if I wanted a bag, and I responded in French. However, the girl proceeded to speak sentences to me in French, and I smiled and told her I was American. She paid me the highest compliment by telling me she thought I was French and even my annunciation was spot on. So, I guess I am moving to Paris friends!
Check out more photos and videos in my IG Paris highlights
Au Revoir,
Lisa
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