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France was one of those places I had dreamed about seeing for years.

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When I was studying abroad in Barcelona, my family came to visit me, and one of the places we traveled together was Paris. After months of exploring Europe on my own, it was such a special experience getting to share a place I loved with the people who had supported me from home.

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One of the moments I will never forget was seeing the Eiffel Tower with my parents.

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My mom had always dreamed of seeing it, so getting to stand there together and watch her experience something she had wanted for so long made it even more meaningful. I have always loved traveling independently and challenging myself to explore new places alone, but there is something so special about sharing those moments with the people you love.

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Traveling alone has taught me independence, confidence, and how to step outside my comfort zone. But traveling with my family and my sister reminded me that some memories are even more special when you have someone beside you to experience them with.

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We stayed a little outside of the main part of Paris, but honestly, I loved experiencing the city that way. We relied on the metro to get everywhere, and I became the navigator for my family. After months of living in Barcelona and using public transportation every day, I felt confident figuring out routes, transfers, and getting us around the city.

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One of my favorite moments was seeing the Eiffel Tower light up at night. There is something so magical about standing there and watching one of the most famous landmarks in the world sparkle against the night sky. Seeing it during the day was incredible too, but nighttime made it feel completely different.

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We spent a lot of time walking around the city, which honestly is my favorite way to experience a place. There is something about wandering through different neighborhoods, seeing the architecture, watching people go about their daily lives, and discovering little streets you weren't expecting.

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One of my favorite areas in Paris was Montmartre.

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The neighborhood had such a different energy from the rest of the city. It felt lively, artistic, and full of personality. The streets were filled with people, cafés, artists, and musicians. It was probably our favorite area we explored, even though we didn't stay near there.

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One thing I loved seeing was all of the love locks around the city. Seeing couples leave locks with their names or messages felt like such a romantic symbol of how many people have created memories in Paris. There was something special about seeing all of those little reminders of love from people around the world.

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Of course, Paris was expensive.

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But honestly, it was exactly what I expected. Between restaurants, attractions, and shopping, it definitely added up quickly. Still, experiencing the city and being surrounded by so much history made it worth it.

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One experience that I will never forget was our bike ride outside of Paris.

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To get there, we had to take a train with our bikes, which was already an adventure by itself. Once we started riding, we quickly realized our guide was not taking it easy.

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It was supposed to be a relaxing ride through the countryside, but our guide was absolutely flying.

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My sister and I were struggling to keep up. I was pedaling as hard as I possibly could, feeling like I was in a professional cycling race just trying to stay close enough to not get left behind. It was definitely humbling.

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By the end, I was exhausted and very relieved it was over.

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The weather wasn't exactly what we hoped for either. It was rainy, cloudy, and a little gloomy, so we didn't get the bright countryside views we imagined. But it was still such a cool experience seeing a different side of France—passing horses, small villages, and open landscapes outside the city.

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A couple of weeks later, I returned to France, but this time I went south to Nice.

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The French Riviera was completely different from Paris.

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The coastline was absolutely stunning. The water was this unbelievable shade of blue, and the views along the Mediterranean were everything I imagined. Walking along the coast and seeing the mountains meet the sea was one of those moments where I had to stop and appreciate where I was.

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Nice itself was beautiful, but I did feel a little uneasy at times walking around alone. I noticed people staring at me more than I was used to, and being alone made me more aware of my surroundings, especially around some men. It was a different feeling than other places I had traveled.

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Despite that, I still loved experiencing the French Riviera and would absolutely go back.

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And of course, I cannot talk about France without talking about the food.

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The croissants were everything.

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I genuinely looked forward to getting one every day. They were so fresh, buttery, and flaky.

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One of my favorite food memories from Paris was trying the famous cookie croissant with my sister. It sounds simple, but it was incredible. A perfectly baked croissant combined with a sweet cookie-like filling was one of those little moments that made traveling so fun.

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France was a beautiful country filled with history, incredible landscapes, delicious food, and unforgettable experiences.

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From watching the Eiffel Tower sparkle at night with my family, wandering the streets of Montmartre, biking through the countryside, and seeing the turquoise waters of the French Riviera, France showed me how different each part of a country can feel.

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I would absolutely return one day—not just to see the places I missed, but to experience more of the slower, everyday side of French life.

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