What does it really mean to get beyond the clichés in Paris?
Paige McClanahan is a journalist and author of The New Tourist: Waking Up to the Power and Perils of Travel. She’s spent years reporting for The New York Times and has lived in France for seven years. Her work explores tourism’s power to shape communities and how we can all travel more consciously.
In this episode, Paige shares five unexpected and meaningful things to do in Paris that you’re not likely to find in a guidebook. We also talk about three offbeat places in France that are worth exploring if you want to go beyond the usual stops.
You’ll learn how small things like saying “bonjour” can shift your whole experience, and how curiosity can lead you into everything from revolutionary history to North African hammams to street art scavenger hunts. Paige brings that perfect mix of local insight and traveler perspective that makes these suggestions feel not just interesting, but personal and lived-in.
What are the most unexpected places you’ve discovered while traveling, and what made them stand out to you? I’d love to hear about them, and I hope you’ll share by sending me an audio message.
Tune In To Learn:
Why Paige’s favorite Paris park feels like a secret escape in the city
How a hammam visit near the Grand Mosque can open your eyes to Arab culture in France
Why “bonjour” and “au revoir” might be the most important words you say in Paris
How to explore the French Revolution using a free app on your phone
Advice to uncover Black history in Paris through immersive tours
Tips for engaging with France’s diversity and colonial history through travel
How to join a real-life street art scavenger hunt across Paris
Where to go in the French Alps besides Chamonix
What makes La Rochelle an underrated coastal gem
Why Lille is a culture-rich city most tourists skip
And so much more
Resources:
Sign up for our FREE newsletter
Paige McClanahan on Instagram
Paige’s website and The New Tourist book
Parc des Buttes-Chaumont
Rosa Bonheur Bar
Grande Mosquée de Paris
Parcours Révolution App
Black Paris Tours (Ricky Stevenson)
Le Paris Noir Tour (Kevi Donat)
Flash Invaders street art app
Want More?
How To Be a “New Tourist,” the Powers and Perils of Tourism, Embracing Tourist Traps, and the Impact of Travel With Paige McClanahan
3 Travel Trends You Should Know w/ Paige McClanahan
How To Explore Paris Like a Local, Working on Hospital Ships, and Becoming an Expat on a Mystery Visa With Jay Swanson
Thanks To Our Sponsors
Apple Card – Earn 3% back on the Apple products and services you love with Apple Card.
Moon Travel Guides – Use code ‘ZERO’ for 20% off your order.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
