Day one:  Afternoon departure from Minneapolis International Airport via Northwest airlines. Meals provided on board.

Day two: Arrive at Charles de Gaulle airport in the morning. Transfer to the Loire Valley.  Neighborhood orientation and castle visit of Blois, dinner in small groups. Overnight in Blois.

Day three: After our morning café au lait & croissants, we’ll take the bus to two storybook castles in the Loire Valley: Chambord, a Renaissance Masterpiece designed by Leonardo Da Vinci in the early 1500’s, with its 440 rooms & 344 fireplaces. In the afternoon, we’ll travel to Cheverny: a little marvel from the early 1600’s, that is still in the same family today. Overnight in Blois.

Day four: Ready to go to Paris? Today we will pack our bags and go to our final home base: Heart of the City walk upon arrival.  Lace up your comfy shoes, as we’ll be exploring the center of town: the banks of the Seine, Notre Dame church, a stop at the Conciergerie, Hotel de Ville and Pompidou Center…Stroll through the Luxembourg gardens for a treasure hunt, and Rue de la Huchette on the Left Bank, in the student district…

Enjoy this activity filled day!

Day five: After our delicious Parisian breakfast, we’ll take the subway to the Orsay museum.  This former train station was renovated to accommodate XIX th century art pieces.  Its architecture alone is a masterpiece. After its visit, we’ll have a picnic lunch in the Tuileries gardens. We’ll spend the afternoon in Montmartre.  Visit of Sacre-Coeur church & painters’ square on Place du Tertre. What a colorful day!

Day six: Today we’re heading to the largest museum of the City of Lights: the Louvre. Mona Lisa, Winged Victory, the Venus of Milo and so many more are expecting your visit today.  After our visit, we will meet at the glass pyramid and stroll through the Tuileries Gardens, cross Place de la Concorde: site of the beheadings during the French Revolution, and up the Champs Elysees, all the way to L’Arc de Triomphe: Napoleon’s tribute to his faithful officers. Today is another day filled with history.

Day seven: Today we’ll take the commuter train to Versailles and immerse ourselves in palace life.  If weather permits, we’ll walk thru the gardens and all the way to Marie-Antoinette’s hamlet.  (Comfy shoes necessary.) Late afternoon return to Paris for an evening at the Eiffel Tower.  Watch the Iron Lady in the night skies as she twinkles like a Christmas tree while Paris is all aglow.

Day eight:  Time to enjoy one last croissant & café au lait before closing our suitcase.  Afternoon return to Minneapolis via NWA.  Au revoir la France!