Leaving for Paris this week.

Ha yeah, Champagne is out. Which was a big one for us. We booked this back in November and then found out she was pregnant after a day of tequila shots at the Mexican restaurant at Christmas Eve lunch.

We might do a day trip to the palace of versailles. We’re going to buy a 6 day Paris museum pass that includes there. But we’re wondering if we should consider something else or do two day trips.

Monet’s gardens at Giverny are closed for the winter.
Regarding museums:
The museum pass is nice because you get to skip the line most places, but you really have to be a hardcore museum-goer (I am) to get your money’s worth. To me, much of the joy of Paris is walking, looking, hanging out in cafes, etc. So don’t OD on museums just to feel you got your money’s worth. It does cover highlights like the Louvre, Arc de Triomphe, etc. On the other hand, if the weather turns crappy, it can be nice to museum hop and stay mostly out of the rain. Of those covered by the pass, I’d put these at the top of your list:
—Louvre, but decide which highlights you really want to see. It is vast, confusing to navigate, and is in the European tradition of little/no descriptive text or explanations. Still, well worth the long security line (get a coffee and go to the bathroom before you get in line, as their are long bathroom lines inside) to see Winged Victory, the Venus de Milo, the monumental paintings of David, Ingres, etc, the Mona Lisa (through a thick crowd, behind glass), and a zillion other precious objects. It connects to an underground mall with an exit to the Tuileries garden; it can be nice to spend a morning in the museum, then have a simple sandwich at one of the cafes in the garden.
—the Orangerie, for Monet’s late period water lily paintings. You’ve seen so many bad reproductions on shirts, umbrellas, prints, etc. To see the real thing, in the round, is a singular experience.
—Arc de Triomphe at dusk. Time it right, and you can walk down the Champs Elysees, arrive to climb all those steps, see the last of the sun and hang around on top until the Eiffel Tower puts on its light show.
—Musee de Cluny: medieval art; stained glass, tapestries, statuary, etc. Cool building on the site of the ancient abbey de Cluny.
—Saints-Chapelle; amazing, unbelievable stained glass...you have to go through security since it’s in the middle of police/judicial buildings, but so worth the line & effort. Go early and on a sunny day if possible.
—archaeology crypt beneath Notre Dame; cool exhibits in multi languages and a glimpse at the Roman foundations of Paris.
—Musee de Rodin; indoor exhibits (Thinker, the Kiss) plus a nice outdoor sculpture garden full of roses & trees.
—Musee D’Orsay, for the Impressionists. Has a nice cafe on the top floor with views of Montmartre.
—Tomb of Napoleon/Museum of the Arny; if you like knights, armor, weaponry, warfare, it’s overflowing with that stuff. Knowing a little French helps, plenty of text/explanations, but none in English. Napoelon’s tomb is ornate, polychrome marble in a temple-like church.

Versailles is a worthwhile excursion, easy train ride. Chartes is known for its Cathedral, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site with impressive stain glass. About an hour southwest of Paris by train.

Thanks for all the info so far guys. Loving the input and it is much needed and appreciated. We are staying at an Airbnb near Norte Dame in the Le Marias neighborhood. When we first booked everything, it looked like a good area to be at.

For those that have been, was there any off beaten place you went to or ate at that was just very memorable? With a kid on the way, who knows if I’ll ever get to do a trip like this again. Would love to make the most out of it (and probably should have done more research than just now).

You are looking for a small, out of the way, restaurant in the Marais District? I have one for you. Le Temps des Cerises. It is on rue de la Creises which is a side street just off Blvd Henry V between the Bastille and the back of Ile St. Louis, which should be an easy walk from where you are staying. We discovered this place while staying at an apartment on rue Castex a block away. We ate there twice. The people were nice, the food was delicious and the vibe is just what you are looking for in an atmospheric back street Parisian bistro.

awesome list man...we are leaving valentines day and have been trying to plan it out, but that just helped a lot with my museum questions.

What Arrondissement are you staying in? Not that it matters much because the Metro is excellent. A lot of the time, you don't need to venture far in Paris to have a great trip.

fantastic itinerary recommendations. rue cler is a must see. walk st germain from the river. walk the jewish and latin quarters. montmartre. st sulspice church. river cruise. invalides. have a jabon and baguette sandwich while sitting at the gardens by the louvre.

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We might do a day trip to the palace of versailles.

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I don't know what it's like in January but in more crowded times of the year get there really early or it's way too crowded to enjoy.

Already said but I loved the Montmartre area.

Versailles doesn't take a whole day. For a true day trip I'd do Normandy if you have any interest whatsoever in history.

Paris is amazing.