Cassis (& Paris) – A Couple Cooks

Right here’s what to do within the South of France! I traveled to the city of Cassis France on trip with household and had the time of my life. Right here’s a obtain of every part we did!

I extremely, extremely suggest touring to Cassis in the event you’re dreaming of the South of France! All the small print what to do are under, in addition to some notes on our journey to Paris with two children in tow. I additionally included London as a result of we made a short cease there too.

This was a “only for enjoyable” household trip that ended up being an entire lot extra: a giant journey and a inventive inspiration for all 4 of us. There are such a lot of issues to share! We’ve included all the information we might consider under.

What To Do in Cassis

​See my Instagram video highlights right here

Cassis is an extremely distinctive city within the South of France close to Marseille. It occurs to not solely have stunning seashores and cute winding streets: it’s additionally proper subsequent to Calanques Nationwide Park, a panoramic pure space with miniature fjords with turquoise waters. It actually does look identical to a postcard! We have been blissful to seek out it wasn’t (but) overrun with too many vacationers after we have been there in early June.

The place we stayed

We stayed ​at this Airbnb​ with my sister and my pricey pal and her household (8 folks complete). It had an unimaginable salt water pool and exquisite gardens with cypress and palm timber, in addition to two separate important residing areas. It was completely good and the youngsters swam day by day. Every night we’d grill dinner and eat on the patio overlooking the water and cliffs. It was good for vacationing in the event you’re with a big group and we’d extremely suggest it.

What to do

For the reason that Paris a part of our journey was fairly busy (we visited it first), we needed to maintain Cassis tremendous relaxed. Right here’s what we did:

Seashore

• Our home was close to ​this seashore​, which a extra secluded, personal seashore than the primary Cassis seashore. It’s rocky however completely good for teenagers, and there are just a few bars the place you will get a drink or ice cream.
• Our favorites have been a double caramel Magnum bar and the standard Pastis (right here’s my Pastis recipe)​, an anise flavored liqueur.
• Remember that topless sunbathing just isn’t out of the odd, so be prepared for potential questions from kiddos on the cultural variations!

Calanques Nationwide Park

• Our home ended up being inside strolling distance to city, the seashore, and Calanques Nationwide Park, which was completely ideally suited. It’s extremely stunning and the fjords are merely magical towards the turquoise water.
• There have been 3 completely different Calanques that have been inside mountain climbing distance from us. The 2 older children (7 and 4) have been capable of hike to the second Calanque and search for shells and wildlife. Completely different teams of us took hikes over at completely different instances of the day: sundown was particularly magical!

City

• We walked to downtown Cassis day by day: it’s a cute little fishing village with pastel coloured outlets and eating places. It was enjoyable to buy and get espresso and a pastry within the cafes.
• Our favourite bakeries have been ​La Tarte Tropézienne​ (cherished the canelé and fougasse) and ​Boulangerie Lion​ (we obtained superb beignets and muffins).

Market

• There may be an incredible farmers’ market open on Wednesdays and Fridays in Cassis, and it’s filled with unimaginable vegetables and fruit and big shows of olives, spreads, cheeses, and meats. It’s positively value a go to.
• Most days we’d go to the market or grocery and get meals for the night’s dinner after which grill on our terrace or make a giant cheese board with meats, spreads, olives, and veggies.

Wineries

• The world is thought for its rosé wine, so we needed to verify to hit up not less than one vineyard. We went to ​THIS​ vineyard and had a beautiful wine tasting (we suggest making reservations).
• We introduced again a white and a rosé bottle in our suitcase and by chance each of them made it!

There are many different nice locations which are nice day journeys from Cassis (it’s a few 1 hour drive from Marseille — to get there we took the prepare down from Paris and rented a automobile). Since we have been with children, we didn’t enterprise out an excessive amount of since we needed to maintain issues laid again. Subsequent time!

Recipe inspiration

Alex and I created this fougasse bread recipe impressed by the bread we obtained within the bakeries in Cassis!

What To Do in Paris

Paris is one unimaginable metropolis. Additionally it is large, a lot of what you find yourself doing is neighborhood-based. Right here’s a bit about the place we stayed and what we did! For this leg of the journey it was the 4 of us and my sister.

The place we stayed

We stayed at ​this Airbnb​ within the third arrondissement, so most of what we did was inside strolling distance. We did take the subway fairly a bit as effectively, for instance to the Eiffel Tower and a few dinners. Our trusty journey stroller that was good for lengthy walks with a 1 12 months previous (extra on that under). We favored the Airbnb fairly effectively: the neighborhood was residential and never glamorous, however it was near a whole lot of issues and had a pleasant Parisian appeal on the inside.

Bakeries in Paris

Our favourite factor to do was go to bakeries day by day to pattern treats! The most effective we got here throughout have been:

• ​Boulangerie du Sentier​: In all probability our favourite bakery, and every part was vegetarian! A must-try was the kouign aman, a conventional ultra-rich buttery pastry from Brittany (all of us agreed this was the perfect factor we ate whereas there). Additionally they have superb vegetarian sandwiches.
• ​The French Bastards​: Every part we obtained right here was incredible. Our favourite was the rose praline roule.
• ​Maison Bergeron:​ This bakery is close to the Eiffel Tower. The almond croissant is unimaginable and considered one of our prime pastries of the journey (behind the kouign aman).

Extra pastries & espresso

• Our different favourite pastries and breads to order: Canelé (a rum and vanilla soaked custard cake), Fougasse (a conventional bread), Ache au chocolate (normal chocolate pastry), any Parmesan bread or olive bread, Beignets, Roule (roll pastries), and Cruffins (croissant muffins).
• We cherished going to random cafes: our favourite espresso to order was a noisette, or espresso with a little bit little bit of frothed milk, which is identical as a ​basic macchiato​.

Lunch in Paris

• For lunch, usually we ended up getting one thing from a bakery or cafe, or going again to our Airbnb to eat.
• ​Breizh Café:​ Once we requested folks for Paris recs, this place got here up probably the most. They serve scrumptious savory and candy crepes and there are a number of areas across the metropolis. They even do supply, which we did one night time and was good with the youngsters.

Dinner in Paris

• For dinner, it’s customary to make reservations so be sure to get them nailed down earlier than you go!
• We had an ideal romantic meal on the tiny however basic bistro ​Le Comptoir des Petits Champs​ (ask for the desk by the window in the event you can). Then we walked to see the Eiffel Tower lights sparkle. The lights activate for 5 minutes firstly of each hour, ranging from dusk, till 11:00 PM.

Issues to do

• Eiffel Tower: The most effective place to view it shut up is Trocadero. However our favourite place ended up being at this little flower store, ​L’Howea​.
• Photograph shoot: We booked a ​skilled photoshoot​ close to the Eiffel Tower and it was completely value it!
• Notre Dame: It’s nonetheless below development because of the hearth in 2019, however it’s nonetheless nice to go to. Larson watched The Hunchback of Notre Dame earlier than we left to organize, and it was considered one of his favourite spots!
• The Louvre: Since we have been with children, we determined to do the Louvre however just for just a few hours. We made 3 locations: the Mona Lisa, the interval flats, and the Egyptian artifacts. It was simply sufficient! Be sure that to e book timed tickets forward of time to skip the road.
• Climbing wall with Eiffel Tower view: For youths, there’s a small climbing course on the Seine financial institution close to Notre Dame with pretty views. Larson cherished it! It’s the ​Mur d’escalade pour enfants​.
• Jardin du Palais Royal: The Tuileries was extraordinarily crowded, so we cherished the ​Jardin du Palais Royal​ for a little bit extra relaxed really feel.
• Place des Vosges: The ​Place des Vosges​ is our favourite plaza the place we love to absorb the gorgeous fountains and gardens.
• French Open: We obtained to go to the French Open whereas we have been there, which was the expertise of a lifetime! (We not too long ago turned tennis followers after watching the Netflix documentary Break Level!) For those who ever have an opportunity to go, we extremely suggest it.

Recipe inspiration

Alex and I created this tomato confit recipe impressed by the starter at our dinner at ​Le Comptoir des Petits Champs​.

Nice Fosters in London

Including this only for enjoyable: we truly stayed simply exterior London for two nights in a magical Bridgerton-esque manor home referred to as Nice Fosters. Alex one way or the other discovered a less expensive ticket out of Marseille again to Indianapolis through London, so we made a fast 2 day cease as a substitute of flying straight again.

We stayed at this unimaginable manor home and gardens and nonetheless ended up forward on ticket costs, so it felt like we have been getting cash (ha!). We obtained deal on staying right here as a result of our dates gave the impression to be low season.

What we did: ​Nice Fosters​ seems like Bridgerton meets Downton Abbey meets Hogwarts. It’s a historic manor with intensive gardens and it felt like one thing out of a fairy story. Right here’s what we did:

• Gardens: We ran round within the gardens for hours, enjoying tag within the hedges, strolling close to the moat, watching the geese and herons and enjoying within the rose gardens. It was completely magical.
• Eating places and bar: We had an ideal informal meal of completely crisp fish and chips and a Bramble cocktail (right here’s my Bramble recipe​) within the bar space. We additionally had an ideal sit-down dinner with the youngsters within the restaurant. If we weren’t with children, we’d have tried to hit up the Michelin-starred restaurant (subsequent time).
• Tennis, pool and sizzling tub: There was a tennis court docket onsite, so we performed some tennis with the youngsters. Larson and I hit up the pool and sizzling tub, and ended up being the one folks there (once more, it was the off season!).
• Tea: One in every of my favourite components was doing a excessive tea with Larson, full with a 3 tiered-tray of tea sandwiches, scones with clotted cream, and pastries.

We skipped making an attempt to get anyplace in London, although we hope to get again to town sometime. This nation escape was simply what we would have liked on the finish of the journey!

Journey Necessities

Lots of you readers have requested about journey ideas, each with and with out children! Listed here are a few of our must-have objects and a few ideas for touring with children and jet lag:

• ​Journey stroller​: This journey stroller was the champion of the journey! It was tremendous mild weight and simple to break down.
• ​Digicam​: We’re completely obsessive about this digital camera for taking next-level journey photographs. We primarily used our 18mm and 27mm pancake lenses.
• ​Journey cubes​: These journey cubes have been good for becoming all our stuff for two weeks into 3 suitcases.
• ​Strolling sandals​: Lots of you requested about my strolling sandals from the photographs — these are probably the most comfy sandals I’ve ever worn and I’ve taken them on each of our final two Europe journeys. They’re Naot model and designed for intensive strolling (I desire them to tennis footwear).
• ​Journey steamer:​ This steamer labored nice for getting out all of the wrinkles in our garments over the two weeks! It’s prime quality and we’re now simply going to make use of it as our common steamer, too.
• ​Outlet adapters​: These adapters have been a godsend for European journey.
• ​Journey crib​: We packed this journey crib which inserts in half of a suitcase. Nonetheless two of the three locations we stayed already had cribs, so in case you are touring with children you could not even want this!

Journey With Youngsters Ideas

• Our prime recommendation for touring with children is to ask alongside an additional grownup or two, like aunties, uncles, buddies, or grandparents. We introduced my sister and met up with pricey household buddies and their 4 12 months previous, and it was essential for having assist with the youngsters.
• We additionally took turns babysitting on completely different nights after bedtime to permit the opposite folks to exit. For those who can, that is clutch for touring with children!

Learn how to handle the time zone adjustment

• We have been a little bit nervous concerning the time zone adjustment, however our youngsters did nice! We have been touring from EST, so it was a 6 hour time distinction to Paris.
• For the flight there, we left within the night EST, so we tried to all sleep as a lot as potential on the flight there because it was our “night time”. (We used melatonin for our 7 12 months previous.) The flight arrived in Paris at 9 am, so we stayed up all day after which went to mattress at a traditional time Paris time, which had us effectively adjusted by Day 2.
• For the way in which again, we left round 2 pm London time and arrived at 9 pm EST, so we tried to remain awake for your complete 8 hour flight. Larson (our 7 12 months previous) did nice and simply watched films; Britta was very squirmy however did keep awake your complete time.
• Then we crashed onerous after we obtained house and so they each slept by your complete night time, making us proper again on EST the primary day we have been again. We additionally used melatonin for Larson to regulate for the primary 2 days again.

Ideas for the airplane journey

• Truthfully, the airplane journey house was a little bit difficult with a 1 12 months previous! She slept a lot of the way in which on the way in which there, however the way in which again was more durable. We introduced a small handful of toys and a sticker e book (which held a little bit extra consideration since she might put stickers on herself and different folks). General, she actually didn’t need to sit nonetheless that lengthy, however we powered by it!
• Larson had a good time watching the airplane films and snacking: he was an entire breeze! There was a whole lot of preparation concerned for explaining to him all of the traces at passport management, customs, and so on and transporting our suitcases between the locations: he did rather well however on the finish of the journey we have been all fairly exhausted!

Managing strolling

• We did a whole lot of strolling on this journey, and our 7 12 months previous dealt with it nice! He couldn’t have executed as effectively at 5 or 6, so we’re glad we waited till this age. We carted 1 12 months previous Britta round within the journey stroller your complete time and she or he additionally did nice: it was good for when she needed to zone out for a bit too.

Planning actions:

• General, when travelling with children it’s important to make some sacrifices: you’re not going to have the ability to see or do all of the belongings you’d do with an adults-only journey! It was good as a result of we had been to Paris earlier than, so we didn’t really feel like we have been lacking out.
• In Cassis, we tried to maintain issues fairly laid again with pool, seashore, mountain climbing and cooking at house, which was a pleasant rhythm. We made certain to do a quiet / relaxation time every day throughout Britta’s nap (round 1:00-3:00 pm), which was a pleasant tempo.

General ideas on journey with children

• After experiencing this journey with children, we’d completely suggest it however take note: journey with younger kids is completely continuous!
• There was a lot of managing bodily features, altering diapers in bizarre locations, getting ready children for many ready throughout journey, adjusting expectations and day by day rhythms, and so on.
• We’re 1000% glad we did it! Nonetheless, it does requires a lot of group and power. Subsequent time I believe we can be able to strive an extended journey away from them and go simply the 2 of us! 🙂

What are we lacking?! Tell us what different questions you’ve by replying to this e mail. Additionally, inform us the place you’re considering of touring!