I learned a lot about travel from this trip. I was way too ambitious with planning and ended up wearing myself down. My perspective has shifted from thinking I have to visit everything because I may not be able to return, to seeing what I can and whatever I miss, I’ll visit the next time I come. It is a great idea to think we can visit all the major sites we want to, but it is not always realistic.
I have found that a balance between learning, play, and relaxation is key. The biggest mistake I made on this trip was with museum overload. I have placed stars next to some of my favorite spots. Warning: view this itinerary as a learning experience.
Day 1 (First Full Day)
- Champs Elysees
- Arc de Triomphe
- Notre Dame*
- Louvre
- Au Lapin Agile (cabaret)
Day 2
- Place de Concorde
- Tuilleries*
- L’Orangerie*
- Musee D’Orsay
Day 3
- Versailles
- Rodin Musee*
- Notre Dame Tower (Gargoyles)*
Day 4
- Marce Aux Puce
- Montrmartre (fabric shopping)*
- Giverny (Monet’s Home)*
Day 5
- Pere Lachaise Cemetary
- Petite Palais
- Batobus (Seine River)
- Arsenal
- Fete de la Musique*
Day 6
- Luxembourg Gardens*
- Deportation Memorial (Behind Notre Dame)
- Eurostar to London
- Harrods
Day 7
- Tour (Stonehenge, Bath*, and Stratford)
Day 8
- Borough Market*
- Globe Theatre
- Tate Modern
- Millennium Bridge
- London Eye
- Westminster Abbey
- St. James Park*
Day 9
- Churchill War Cabinet Rooms*
- Buckingham Palace (Changing of the Guard)
- Hyde Park (speaker’s corner)
- British Museum
Day 10
- Kew Gardens*
- Picadilly Circus
- Trafalgar Square
Day 11
- Windsor*
- Windsor Castle
Day 12
- Tower of London
- St. Paul’s Cathedral
- St. Pancras Platform 9 ¾
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Liberated Traveler 
I love that you have found the balance for travel. So often people rush through a place. They want to hit as many key spots as possible and end up missing the whole point of travel…to experience, smell and feel….as they say, it’s the journey, not the destination. Nice post.
I can’t wait to really take in Paris this summer. I may find that I don’t want to come back home… Thank you for posting!
My pleasure. Hate, can’t say as I blame you. Who wouldn’t want to stay Chez Paris!