Does the prospect of navigating a French vacation seem daunting? Have past trips failed to live up to expectations? Do you value culture, history, sumptuous food and authentic experiences? If so, this is the book for you! Part travel guide, part adventure narrative, it is a joyous romp through the flavors of Paris and the French countryside. Author and psychiatrist, Eric Kirchmann, offers his unique perspectives on the French and shares his recipe for a truly extraordinary trip. Learning from past mistakes, Eric created the crème de la crème of vacations with extensive pre-planning, an understanding of cultural norms, and "un peu de français" (a little bit of language). After sharing his hacks for a great vacation (with additional resources linked at the author’s website), he takes you along on an enchanting escapade… Forty years after meeting in junior high French class, Eric and his lovely wife Courtney finally fulfill their dream of visiting Paris. From there, they crisscross France in search of off-the-beaten-path, “hidden gem” encounters. Adventures like cycling with the Sun King, meeting the 16,000-year-old woman, and sipping Armagnac directly from the barrel with French royalty only begin to scratch the surface of this enthralling trip. Challenging widely held stereotypes of the French, the book concludes that the real joy of travel, especially in France, comes not in tourist attractions but in the people you meet along the journey.