During our second month of travel, we were perfectly situated to explore Northern Italy and Southern France. We took a few short, memorable trips and wanted to share some quick highlights from each trip:
PARIS, FRANCE
We took two little trips to Paris, each one making us fall in love with the city a little more. The first highlight was an afternoon we spent in Luxembourg Gardens with some cheese, a baguette, and a couple bottles of wine - overlooking the beautiful Luxembourg Palace and observing our fellow indulgers. The second major highlight was attending the French Open. Seeing the famous clay courts in person was an exciting moment for me. We saw two matches, one men’s singles and one women’s singles. While we didn’t get to stay the entire day, it was awesome seeing some of the action and being part of the atmosphere.
MARSEILLE, FRANCE
Located on the southern coast of France, Marseille is a port town known for having multiple Michelin restaurants. We only spent one night here but had the best meal we’ve had in France so far. Aux Antipodes is a Brazilian/French/Thai fusion restaurant that truly brings out the best in each cuisine. We would tell you what to get, but you really can’t go wrong. Just make sure to get the tiramisu before leaving happy.
SANREMO, ITALY
I transitioned into the “30 and above” crowd in May so we wanted to celebrate properly with some gelato and ocean views. Sanremo, only an hour drive from Buggio, was the perfect spot. Our hotel, Royal Hotel Sanremo, went above and beyond to make me feel special, and the property itself offered old fashioned luxury with impeccable service. We also discovered an open-air market full of fresh fruits, vegetables, and other goods that was full of life and exciting to walk through.
LYON, FRANCE
Lyon is often referred to as the food capital of France, however the highlight for us was the hotel. MiHotel is a unique hotel concept started by two French women seeking a new kind of luxury experience. MiHotel is rooms/suites scattered across Lyon that are beautifully and uniquely decorated. In their own words, “prestigious, individually designed suites equipped with the latest technology for you to personalise your suite to suit your needs”. If you want to independent feel of an Airbnb with the amenities of a hotel, this is the perfect place for you. They are currently only in Lyon, but have plans to expand to other cities.
MENTON, FRANCE
A quaint beach town on the southern coast of France, Menton is one of the last towns before crossing over the border into Italy. Menton is a quintessential town in the French Riviera - colorful buildings with orange roofs, crystal blue waters, and waterfront restaurants, it’s the perfect place to relax in the sun and enjoy some good food. Our favorite was a restaurant called La Cantinella, a small restaurant with one knowledgeable, hardworking, and personable waiter (on the night we went there). The special of the night was a salt-crusted baked branzino. It came out with 3+ inches of salt on it, which the waiter deftly removed before expertly de-boning and plating the fish.
MILAN, ITALY
We spent one night in Milan to see what it had to offer. We had heard several negative things about Milan so our expectations were low going in, however we ended up loving it! It’s a beautiful city with cool style and a unique personality. We were initially drawn to the touristy area near the Duomo, but eventually ventured a little more off the beaten path where we discovered B Cafe, which might be one of my favorite bars we’ve been to so far. It’s located on a quiet street and offers exceptional cocktails. While there’s no food menu (during the time we were there, not sure about other times), they brought us complimentary toasts tops with cheeses and meats with each round of cocktails we ordered. We sat in an open floor-to-ceiling window and watched Milan pass by.
SALO, ITALY
Our time Salo was some of the most beautiful and relaxing we’ve had. Located on Lake Garda, a popular lake in northern Italy, Salo is a small town with incredible views. We stayed at Hotel Villa Arcadio, an old monastery that was converted to a hotel about 13 years ago. The hotel is perfect from head to toe. The grounds include olive trees, awe-inspiring flowers, poolside cocktails, beautifully designed rooms, delicious food, and generous service. We can’t say enough about this gorgeous property. But perhaps the greatest part of our time in Salo was when the St. Louis Blues won the Stanley Cup for the first time. We woke up at 2am to watch game 7 and I was crying tears of joy by 5am.
BASEL, SWITZERLAND
Our final stop before moving to Paris was Basel, Switzerland. We decided to come here to spend some time at Art Basel, the world-renowned art festival. Our drive to Basel from Italy was done without a rear window in the rental car. We went to load up our car and discovered a small whole which, upon opening of the hatch, turned into a fully shattered back window. Luckily the nice weather led to a nice breeze during our 5-hour road trip.
