One of the most iconic small towns in Germany is Rothenburg ob der Tauber. As we planned a family tour through Germany, we dedicated a short visit – too short in fact – to this romantic town. We were able to get a good sense about the best things to do in Rothenburg, but we…
Growing up, I was taught bits and pieces about the Berlin Wall. But I failed to really understand why it was built. Maybe that was my own doing – although I paid attention and got good grades in school. Visiting Berlin, seeing the path of the Berlin Wall throughout the city and touring the Berlin…
I grew up watching the 1963 movie, The Great Escape. The movie tells the story of a group of allied airmen from World War II who were held at a Prisoner of War camp roughly 125 miles southeast of Berlin. The group dug a tunnel 30 feet deep, 330 feet long and roughly two feet…
You’ve likely seen the work of French sculptor Auguste Rodin. But if you’re like me, you’re terrible at identifying art and its respective artist. So as we entered the Rodin Museum (Musee Rodin) in Paris and I saw The Thinker, I thought – “Now that’s a piece of art I recognize.” And now I know…
The Palace of Versailles is a beautiful, ornate and historical piece of European history. But it’s more than just a palace. It’s also gardens, hamlets, hideaways and fountains spread across more than 2,000 acres of land. Different parts of Versailles open at different times of the day. This article will help you plan a day…
When you make plans to visit Paris, you often thing of museums featuring colorful works of art or enjoying a crepe in a small cafe. But have you ever thought of wandering through tunnels below the city, lined with bones and skulls? The Paris Catacombs are a unique experience that’s sure to creep you out…
The Arc de Triomphe is one of the most iconic monuments in Paris – probably second only to the Eiffel Tower. Although it doesn’t stand as tall as the famous tower, it’s the perfect spot to see some of the best views of the city. I’ve been to the top of this historic monument twice,…
Twenty years ago, I was living in a small town in Southern France. I learned all about the culture and even brought a little piece of it home with me. I purchased a nativity set of little clay people known as santons. They’re indicative to southern France and are a great reminder to me of…
We took two of our kids to experience Paris last month. We’d been saving for a few years in order to make it happen. But one of the challenges we have when booking family trips is finding an inexpensive hotel that can accommodate kids. My experience with hotels in Paris is that they’re super small….
Local cuisine is a great way to immerse yourself in the culture of the place you’re visiting. For my family, learning to make French desserts in Paris was a fun and engaging way to learn from a local and enjoy delicious treats. We took a three hour French desserts class at Le Foodist during our…
