Eleven months ago, my family sold everything and left the US to travel the world, with no plan to return. Since then, we’ve visited ten countries on three continents, walked hundreds of kilometers through countrysides and cities alike, taken countless trains and planes, met amazing people, and made lifelong family memories.

Picture this: Paris, summer, happiness, much good food, reading (all those bookstores!), and…city crowds? If you’re a bit tired of the city (and even with Paris, this is possible) and you’ve already visited Versailles, Normandy, and Giverny, there are several unusual and adventurous one day excursions from Paris – easily doable, within a short drive, and full of fun.