CRAIG HOCKENBERRY CINCINNATI OHIO SUPERINTENDENT…read more The final resting place of Doors Frontman Jim Morrison. It was a little tough to find the tomb, but when we got there it covered with people. It was tucked away between many people and it was nothing special. He died at age 27 and his work will last for many generations. Craig Hockenberry Craig Hockenberry

Graveyards can invoke many different emotions, but mostly for me it's the history and and stature…read morethat given them a breath of life. Visiting with Jim, then Oscar Wilde, two men who blazed their own trails, is deeply energizing. It was moving just being close to them.

Sacré-Cœur rewards the climb with one of those views that make Paris seem almost impossibly…read morebeautiful. Walking up through Montmartre is good exercise in its own right, with the staircases near the top providing a wonderfully direct final approach as the white basilica rises above you. The surrounding neighborhood is beyond charming, and reaching the summit feels like a fitting culmination of exploring one of the city's most distinctive quarters. Once there, the sweeping view across Paris is spectacular, particularly from the broad steps beneath the basilica. The Romano-Byzantine architecture is striking up close, while the enormous gold mosaic inside gives you another reason to step away from the panorama and enter the church. Few places capture Paris quite so completely: beautiful architecture, a lively neighborhood, and that extraordinary city unfolding beneath you.

I've been to Montmartre a few times over the years and can't quite say whether I've been inside the…read moreSacré-Coeur. If I have, it was well over a decade ago, and I have seen many churches in the intervening years. What I do know is that I've stood outside it several times, to admire the church as well as the iconic view of Paris from its front steps. We had intended to go inside the basilica on our recent family visit, but we had a sick child and the line was long and exposed to the sun. There were a ton of people up there, as dense a crowd as we saw all trip, everyone trying to enjoy the same viewpoint. Luckily, there was plenty of that to go around. We spent some time admiring the city and taking pictures (my father-in-law's one souvenir was that we send him a family photo from Sacré-Coeur), then wound our way downhill through charming Montmartre. Maybe next time I'll venture into the church, but it's worth going just to walk around outside.

Underwhelming. The selection of shops was not great. Pretty venue but bit worth the hype.read more

The reviews made this sound a lot larger than it was. There weren't many shops and half weren't…read moreopen when we went. It's a pretty building but it's not quite like the descriptions.

After a morning exploring the Louvre, my boyfriend and I headed to the Rue Montorgueil for either a…read moresnack or a meal. I learned about Rue Montorgueil on YouTube as a great market to explore. I got to live out my dreams exploring the local market and eat fresh fruits. Rue Montorgueil has been a street market area since the middle ages, and most of the shops here have been opened for generations. There are bakeries, butcheries, cheese shops, and of course groceries. This iconic street was immortalized in art when Claude Monet's painting of Rue Montorgueil. This area is a great experience of a real Parisian community, away from the more tourist traps. If you are looking for a spot to eat in the area, I recommend really looking at the menus to see if there is something you like, and also to doublecheck the price. We noticed that the prices were more on the edge locations and was more reasonable in the middle of the street. I had the best meal of my time in Paris at Au Rocher de Cancale in the heart of Rue Montorgueil. I'll expand on that in a separate review.

A very lively mostly pedestrian street in the 2nd arrondisment…read more Was lucky to have stayed at an Airbnb with a lovely view of the Parisian rooftops and far in the distance the Eiffel Tower On the balcony the street noise was very loud but thanks to great windows we couldn't hear any noise when closed Lots of cute cafes, restaurants, bars , boulangeries and ice cream shops Quite a few mini monoprixes grocery stores available Street cleaning could be better- plenty of dogs and people who don't clean up after them

The Pantheon is a marvelous neoclassical structure that was originally planned to be a church,…read morehowever the circumstances of history changed its course, and instead pays homage to the heroes of France and those who helped shaped its culture and history in the world. We visited on a rainy day in Feb 2026 and there was quite a line. We waited about 30 mins and paid 13 euros each, plus an extra 4 euros for an audio guide. I would recommend purchasing tickets ahead and the extra 4 euros for the audio guide is well worth it. Give yourself at least 1 hour, but you could be in here all day. The crypt houses many including philosophers and authors: Voltaire,Rousseau Victor Hugo and Alexandre Dumas, as well as scientists like Marie Curie, and activists. Right next door is a beautiful church Eglise St Etienne du Mont which should not be missed!

A church turned mausoleum for greats like Victor Hugo (interestingly enough, when we were in…read moreBrussels we actually stayed next door to a home he had there). Neoclassical architecture that's stood the test of time for centuries. Deeply rooted in French history it's a must-see for any architecture and/or history buffs. The tour is educational and informative.

This will blow you out of the water! Every other art show on tour housing comparison to wonder…read morecollection that is at the Atelier des Lumieres. There was a double feature when I went of Picasso and Rousseau. I was in awe the entire time. The Picasso show was about 40 mins and the Rousseau was 20 minutes. I felt immersed in the art of the Rousseau collection, but I saw the story in the life of Picasso during his collection. This is a must when in Paris

I can't remember how I found out about this "exhibit"…read more When I originally saw the ad it was about Klimt being the main show. That would have been so cool. It ended the week before my arrival. But it was still a great show. Purchase your ticket online and pick a date and time. Originally thought the exhibit was in an old warehouse, but it's the main floor of a residential building. Two stories of open space. The images are projected on the floor and all the walls choreographed to music. The first was Van Gogh's Starry Night with other of his works mixed. Japanese Images of a Floating World was next installation. The works have movement and floats through the vast space. There are no seats. Be careful walking around, as people just sit in the middle of the floor to watch. You can hang out and watch it a second time. Highly recommend seeing this.