Small Group Trip Recap: The Paris Travel Experience (2023)
A GROUP TRIP FOR INDEPENDENT EXPLORERS
SIX DAYS IN PARIS: SEPTEMBER 24-29, 2023
A six-day travel experience to discover Paris' most beautiful and walkable neighborhoods, explore local food, culture and history, and learn how to capture their experience through their own lens.
THE PARIS TRAVEL EXPERIENCE
As an expansion of Lauren Gibson’s signature neighborhood-based travel style, travelers explored some of the city’s most incredible neighborhoods, with a blend of must-see cultural landmarks with lesser-known spots and hidden gems just around the corner.
Designed for the person who, perhaps, wanted to tick some things off the Paris top-ten list, but more importantly they want to experience and enjoy the small, beautiful moments that are found when exploring somewhere new.
2023 TRIP HIGHLIGHTS
CO-HOSTS
Lauren Gibson, artist (photographer) & slow travel guide | Charlotte to Paris
Lauren Olinger, lifestyle & portrait photographer | Red Cardinal Studio
ITINERARY HIGHLIGHTS
Travelers explored the Paris they had always dreamed of: gorgeous architecture, hidden courtyards & passageways, dynamic & vibrant neighborhoods, incredible history, delicious food, and of course some of the most “bucket list”-worthy landmarks and museums in the world.
- Neighborhood walks to explore some of Paris’ most stunning neighborhoods
- Photography “walking workshops” that provided iPhone-specific photography skills to guide travelers about how to capture the details of Paris that caught their eye
- Historic & cultural tours of two iconic Parisian neighborhoods, Montmartre & the Marais, led by professional Parisian tour guides
- Incredible local restaurants with a focus on serving delicious seasonal, fresh cuisine
- Culture & art experiences, including a private tour of the Musée d’Orsay and customized recommendations on which of Paris’ many museums and landmarks travelers could visit in their solo time
- The perfect blend of group activities and individual time
- Each traveler received their own custom Paris guidebook, designed in advance by Lauren Gibson of Charlotte to Paris, based on each guest’s personal preferences and interests.
The Photography “walking workshops” offered in this trip were designed and scaled based on experience level. Lauren & Lauren provided guidance and education for each traveller, none of whom happened to have significant experience in photography. They all brought their iPhones had an amazing time creating photographs of Paris along the way!
GUEST TESTIMONIALS
Click on the photos below to read guest testimonials from some of the guests who traveled on the 2023 Charlotte to Paris Travel Experience.
TRIP PHOTO GALLERY
TRIP ITINERARY RECAP
DAY 1 - WELCOME TO PARIS
After a group meet & greet over coffee and croissants, Lauren Olinger hosted the first iPhone Photography Workshop in the Luxembourg Gardens. By the end of the workshop, travelers learned key compositional and creative techniques that helped them capture visually stunning photographs with their iPhones while out and about in Paris. After a brief stroll through the 6th arrondissement, we enjoyed lunch at a local crêperie.
Then it was off to the Paris metro! Travelers learned all about how to navigate the metro: choosing the correct line and destination, metro etiquette, and transferring lines. We practiced together by riding over to the Marais neighborhood on the Right Bank, where we met up with art historian, professor, and tour guide: Stephanie Nadalo.
Stephanie led travelers through a stunning walking tour of the historic Marais neighborhood, filled with rich history and gorgeous little corners at every turn and steeped in centuries of richly layered Parisian history. Evening: Solo Traveler Time
DAY 2 - ÎLE DE LA CITÉ
Morning & Early Afternoon: Solo Traveler Time
After a morning and early afternoon of solo exploring in Paris, travelers met in the center of Paris' oldest bridge, Pont Neuf, before descending down to the Seine for their late afternoon river cruise. The one-hour boat tour gave us an up-close look at many of Paris' most famous monuments and landmarks.
Then Lauren Olinger & Lauren Gibson co-hosted our second iPhone Photography Walking Workshop.
Lauren Olinger took half the group on a portraiture session on the Pont Neuf, while Lauren Gibson whisked the other attendees away into hidden Place Dauphine for a little street and architecture photography.
Travelers switches groups halfway through the workshop so that everyone got to build their iPhone photography skills and take in the sights along the Île de la Cité.
Evening: Solo Traveler Time
DAY 3 - MONTMARTRE
We spent a beautiful morning in the charming neighborhood of Montmartre. Zoe Petit, a seasoned Paris tour guide (and a local who has lived in the neighborhood!) guided the group through the hills and stair steps of Montmartre. She mixed tourist highlights with local gems, and history with present-day life in this picturesque Parisian neighborhood.
Late Afternoon & Evening: Solo Traveler Time
DAY 4 - DAY TRIP TO GIVERNY, FRANCE
Travelers took the train to the region of Normandy to visit impressionist painter Claude Monet’s house & gardens in the tiny town of Giverny, France. Giverny is a small commune in the Normandy region of France, about 90 minutes north of Paris. Claude Monet lived and painted at his home in this tiny commune of Giverny for over 40 years of his life, from 1883 until his death in 1926 at 86 years old. Monet was known for painting outdoors (“en plein air”), and for painting multiple studies of the same subject. One of his subjects he painted the most was his own backyard... and we were able to walk in his footsteps for a day. After our visit, the group enjoyed a charming lunch in Vernon before boarding the train back to Paris.
Evening: Solo Traveler Time
DAY 5 - THE 7TH ARRONDISSEMENT
Morning & Early Afternoon: Solo Traveler Time
Mid-afternoon, we met at Rue Cler, a classic market street in the heart of the 7th arrondissement for our third Photography Walking Workshop. Rue Cler is a wide, cobblestoned street that is largely pedestrianized. It is lined with flower markets, grocers, tourist shops, restaurants with large terraces, and pastry shops. Travelers learned more skills and compositional techniques to create photos of what caught their eye around this dynamic market street: how to think about "layers" of a photo (foreground, midground, and background), movement, and catching the "moment." Then travelers embarked on a mini scavenger hunt, each gathering one item for a group picnic on the grassy esplanade by Les Invalides, in front of the Alexandre III bridge.
We finished our time as a group by meeting up with a familiar face: Stephanie Nadalo, art historian and tour guide, met us at the Musée d'Orsay for an incredible evening tour of one of Paris' most famous (and beautiful) museums. Set alongside the Seine on a gorgeous stretch of the Left Bank, the Orsay is completely devoted only to 19th and 20th century European art. The overall architecture of the museum is beautiful, retaining hints of its previous life as a train station.
DAY 6 - THE 6TH ARRONDISSEMENT
Morning & Afternoon: Solo Traveler Time
Early evening: the travelers met up for our final Photography Walking Workshop. Lauren & Lauren highlighted creative teaching points for the guests to practice during their final workshop, and perhaps to take home with them and continue at home.
We strolled through the Luxembourg Gardens, before Lauren Gibson guided the guests through her favorite streets in Saint-Germain-des-Prés. Travelers finished their walk with the street musicians in the eaves of the Louvre, and at the Pont des Arts footbridge, with incredible views of the sunset over the Seine.
A farewell dinner together at a beautiful and quaint neighborhood restaurant wrapped up the Paris Travel Experience - à bientôt!
TRIP CO-HOST BIOS
LAUREN GIBSON
Artist, Photographer, & Slow Travel Guide
Owner of Charlotte to Paris
Lauren Gibson is the artist behind the photographs and the creator & designer behind the travel plans at Charlotte to Paris. Lauren started Charlotte to Paris five years ago to give people another way to see Paris: in the context of the neighborhood-based travel, blending famous sites with lesser-known spots and local gems. She loves watching people find joy and meaning on the small-group, slow travel trips she leads to France each year.
In addition to her work in slow travel, Lauren spends much of her time in her art practice, creating cinematic, street-style photographs at Studio Di Sarlo. You’ll find her vibrant, cityscape and landscape artworks that explore the intersection of memory, nostalgia, and the passage of time.
Instagram: @charlotte.to.paris | @studio.di.sarlo
View Lauren Gibson’s Artist Website & Artist Portfolio
LAUREN OLINGER
Lifestyle & Portrait Photographer
Owner of Red Cardinal Studio
Lauren Olinger is the owner & lead photographer of Red Cardinal Studio in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. An artist, a business owner, and more importantly, a wife and new mom. Lauren grew up on a little wisp of islands called the Outer Banks and adores beach life and summertime. She loves travel and design, good food, and a great cup of coffee.
After graduating from Wake Forest University with a degrees in Political Science and Studio Art, Lauren moved to Washington, DC to pursue a career in photojournalism. After marrying her husband David, she opened the doors to Red Cardinal Studio in 2014. Red Cardinal Studio has celebrated over 100 couples’ wedding days, engagements, and family milestones - from newborn to senior portraiture.
Lauren’s portfolio includes editorial, family and individual portraiture, weddings, and travel - and she’s a firm believer that each image, like us, has a story to tell. Lauren uses her camera to capture and preserve the details that give meaning to our stories.
Instagram: @redcardinalstudio
View Lauren Olinger’s Website
FEATURED LOCAL PARIS GUIDES
STEPHANIE NADALO
Art Historian, Professor, & Professional Parisian Tour Guide
Stephanie Nadalo was our tour guide for the Historic Marais Walking Tour and the Private Tour of the Musée d’Orsay.
Stephanie Nadalo is an art historian, museum guide and passionate Parisienne. Originally from the United States, she completed her PhD at Northwestern University in Chicago and lived in Italy for several years before settling in France a decade ago. When she is not teaching art history classes at Parsons Paris, she adores helping visitors discover the cultural gems in and around Paris.
Instagram: @postmodernclio
ZOE PETIT
Professional Parisian Tour Guide, Owner of The Petit Guide
Zoe Petit was our tour guide on our Montmartre Neighborhood Walking Tour.
Originally from Texas, Zoe has called Paris home for over a decade - she knows the city inside and out. A maman of two, Zoe has found great experiences that are fun for both kids and parents alike. She’s also a firm believer that you don't have to spend a lot to have a great time - bargain hunting and free events are some of her favorite go-to activities to discover a new place!
After completing her studies in Art History in Austin, TX, Zoe followed a charming Frenchman to Paris and hasn’t looked back since. She threw herself into learning the language, culture and city, and quickly fell in love with the cuisine and beautiful landscapes France has to offer, and thrived with the challenges that come from living abroad.
After almost ten years working in Event Management, Zoe decided to put her organization and communication skills to use helping visitors of all kinds navigate Paris and France. With her business, The Petit Guide, Zoe specializes in family travel planning and neighborhood tours all over Paris, but has a special place in her heart for her beloved Montmartre.
Instagram: @the.petit.guide
