Once the Vacances d’Hiver officially began in Paris, I had plenty to look forward to! I had already planned and booked an ambitious backpacking trip, but before I would embark on that adventure, I got to experience some fun a bit closer to home.

I spent the first five days of my vacation in Paris with two of my best friends from the U.S.! While Riana took a quick train down to Paris from Le Havre, France, Hannah came all the way from Kansas City for a super-fun long weekend in France.

Sightseeing

One of the most important activities when friends come to visit? Checking out the landmarks and museums, of course! Riana and Hannah have both visited Paris numerous times, but we obviously made sure to take a walk over to the Arc de Triomphe and Tour Eiffel. We also spent time exploring Montmartre and looking at art in the Musée d’Orsay.

Shopping

We also dedicated plenty of time to shopping at our favorite Parisian stores and boutiques! Highlights include Sézane, & Other Stories, and Naf Naf. Obviously, we needed some fuel to help keep us energized, so we also made a stop at Stohrer, the oldest pâtisserie in Paris.

Food and Drinks

It wouldn’t be a true fun February with friends in France without some amazing food and drinks! We visited some of my favorite spots during the weekend, including Sunday in Soho, Bisou Bar, Le Relais de Venise, Bouillon République, and Pink Mamma. Plus, we tried plenty of authentic French wines along the way!

Croissant Making Class

The croissant cooking class at Maison Fleuret was undoubtedly a highlight of my staycation. Hannah and I spent about 2.5 hours learning the art of cooking perfect croissants and pains au chocolat. The cooking part of the class was super fun, but the taste test at the end was definitely the best part!

Throughout all the activities and excursions during this long weekend staycation in Paris, it’s easy to pinpoint the best part. Moving abroad was intimidating and still provides difficulties at times, but I’m happy I am still able to preserve the friendships and relationships that mean the most to me. And, of course, I can even use the fact that I live so far away as an advantage, as we all love travels and adventures so much!