When I visited France as a teenager, I came home with a firm conclusion:
I wasn’t going back unless I traveled with someone who spoke French.
At the time, the language barrier felt overwhelming. (I took Spanish in school, not French!) While I enjoyed the experience, I also found it intimidating enough that I decided once was probably enough.
Life has a way of changing your perspective.
Years later, I married someone who speaks French very well.
The irony?
He had never been to France.
So in September 2023, we finally went together, combining several days in Paris with a river cruise through southern France.
What I discovered was a country that felt very different from the one I remembered.
Seeing Paris Through Different Eyes
Paris has a reputation for being one of the world’s great cities, but this trip reminded me that the city reveals itself differently depending on how you experience it.
Of course, there were some iconic moments.
An early morning photo session with the Eiffel Tower.
A climb to the summit itself.
A leisurely champagne lunch cruise along the Seine.
An evening sidecar ride through the city after dark that was equal parts fun, slightly ridiculous, and completely memorable.
But some of the experiences that stayed with me most weren’t the obvious ones.
A guided culinary experience through local markets and specialty shops offered a glimpse into everyday Parisian life. The Catacombs revealed a side of the city’s history that many visitors never see. A walking tour focused on Paris during World War II added context to streets and landmarks I might otherwise have simply passed by.
The city felt layered.
Beautiful, certainly.
But also complex, resilient, and deeply connected to its history.
And experiencing it alongside someone who understood the language made the city feel more approachable than I remembered from my first visit years ago.
Trading Paris for Provence
From Paris, we boarded a high-speed train to Arles.
Almost immediately, the pace changed.
Paris is energetic.
Provence invites you to slow down.
The crowds become smaller. The scenery opens up. Meals seem to last a little longer. Life feels less hurried.
It felt like moving from one version of France into another.
And that’s what made this combination so appealing.
Rather than choosing between Paris and southern France, we experienced both.
A Different Kind of River Cruise
In Arles, I boarded the Riverside Ravel for a sailing along the Rhône River.
I was particularly interested in this cruise because Riverside Luxury Cruises was still relatively new to the river cruise market, though the ships themselves have an interesting history. They were formerly part of the Crystal Cruises fleet, and many of the qualities that made Crystal popular remain evident today.
Having sailed several river cruise lines, I noticed the differences almost immediately.
The ship felt remarkably spacious.
Public areas never seemed crowded.
The suites were generously sized, and the overall atmosphere was calm, comfortable, and quietly refined.
Nothing felt flashy.
Everything felt intentional.
For travelers who appreciate thoughtful service and a more relaxed onboard environment, that distinction matters.
Southern France at River Level
One of the things I love most about river cruising is the perspective it provides.
Rather than rushing between destinations, you move gradually through a region, allowing each stop to build upon the last.
Along the Rhône, that meant experiencing places like Avignon, Arles, Viviers, Vienne, and Lyon.
Each had its own personality.
Avignon offered centuries of history and stunning architecture.
Arles blended Roman influence with artistic heritage.
Viviers felt almost untouched by time.
And Lyon, with its incredible food culture and rich history, quickly became one of my favorite stops along the journey.
The cruise didn’t feel like a collection of destinations.
It felt like a deeper introduction to an entire region.
The Experiences I Still Think About
Some experiences stand out long after a trip ends.
For me, this journey included wandering through vineyards in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, tasting wines in one of France’s most celebrated wine regions.
It included visiting a truffle farm and learning just how much work goes into finding one of France’s most prized ingredients.
It included exploring villages like Aix-en-Provence and Oingt, where history, art, and daily life seem to coexist effortlessly.
And perhaps most unexpectedly, it included a ghost tour through the medieval streets of Viviers after dark.
Not every memorable travel experience has to be grand.
Sometimes it’s simply seeing a place from a perspective you never expected.
An Honest Observation
One thing I appreciated about this journey was that not every experience landed exactly the same way.
The Michelin-starred dinner in Uzès was beautifully presented and thoughtfully executed, but for me, it didn’t quite match the level of some of the other experiences throughout the trip.
And that’s perfectly okay.
In fact, that’s one of the reasons I value firsthand travel so much.
Experiencing these itineraries myself allows me to understand what truly stands out, what surprises people, and what is simply good rather than exceptional.
There’s a difference.
Why This Style of Travel Works So Well
By the end of the trip, I found myself thinking about how perfectly river cruising complements a destination like southern France.
You experience cities, villages, vineyards, history, food, and culture without constantly packing and unpacking.
More importantly, you experience it at a pace that feels appropriate for the region.
Southern France isn’t a destination that rewards rushing.
It’s a place best experienced slowly.
Why This Matters
When I think about this trip now, I don’t separate Paris from Provence.
I think about how well they complemented one another.
The energy of Paris.
The slower rhythm of life along the Rhône.
The vineyards.
The villages.
The conversations.
The meals.
And perhaps most of all, the realization that returning to a destination years later can be every bit as meaningful as discovering it for the first time.
Sometimes a place changes.
Sometimes you change.
And sometimes that’s exactly what makes a return visit worthwhile.
