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Paris: France's City of Light and Fantasy!

There are not enough superlatives available to give Paris, France a complete description. A city of light, a city of water, a city of fantasy, a city of art, a city of panache. All of these descriptions are accurate, but don't nearly do justice to this wonderful city. Paris is a city of over 9 million people, but the intricate, well-designed subway system gives it an extremely accessible feel. A vacation in Paris is like a feast for the eyes. Famous museums and cathedrals line the streets. Excellent restaurants occupy every nook and cranny. Street cafes, with wonderful opportunities for people watching, number in the thousands. Paris is a moving theatre piece. Find a central location and enjoy the show.

The history of Paris is told in visual splendor at the many famous museums and cathedrals that sit poised ready to share their bountiful secrets. Probably the most famous of these, and the most famous museum in the world is the Louvre (Musee de Louvre), which sits near the Tuileries Gardens. There is no way around it: The Louvre is immense. You could spend a week here and not see everything. Some of the biggies: The Mona Lisa, The Venus de Milo, Winged Victory, and assorted works by Michelangelo and Raphael. Here's a tip: Although the best way to enter the museum is through the glass pyramid in the courtyard, you can avoid long lines by purchasing a "Paris Museum" pass (available at different points throughout the city), which provides access through other entrances.

Across the Seine on the Left Bank is the neoclassical Musee de Orsay. This former rail train station has been transformed into an excellent repository of 19th century art and civilization. There are paintings and sculptures spread out over 80 galleries. The museum is a bastion of Impressionism, and has the best collection of Manet, Monet, Renoir, Degas, van Gogh, Cezanne, and Gauguin anywhere.

Another can't-miss site is the Cathedrale Notre-Dame, located on the Ile de la Cite (island of the city). This island in the River Seine separates the Left Bank and Right Bank of Paris. This is the world's most famous Gothic cathedral. Construction to the Cathedral started in 1163, but the first mass wasn't held until 200 years later. The church is truly awe-inspiring in both size and scope. Near the altar, a statue of Joan of Arc gazes up at the blue and purple rose shaped window, the only one of the three with its original medieval glass. Climb the right tower for an amazing view of central Paris.

Unless you walk around Paris wearing a blindfold, it is hard to miss The Eiffel Tower. Built for the World's Fair of 1889 by Gustave-Alexandre Eiffel, the 10,000 tons of steel is so well distributed that, at its base, it has the same amount of pressure on the ground as an average sized NFL player. There are three observation levels, each with its own elevator lift. From the highest point, on a clear day you can see over 40 miles in all directions. The tower is the most well known structure in the world and is the most recognizable symbol of Paris.

Historians and military buffs will certainly enjoy the Hotel des Invalides (Napoleon's Tomb). The cathedral and military museum are the final resting place of Napoleon Bonaparte, and house one of the world's best Army exhibits. Among the collections are Viking swords, 14th century blunderbusses, Balkan khandjars, and even American Browning machine guns.

To see the grandeur of Parisian death, visit Pere-Lachaise, Paris' largest cemetery, and "grandest address in Paris." (A rather morbid distinction given the cemetery due to the number of famous people who reside there.) Some of the residents include Oscar Wilde, Sarah Bernhardt, Balzac, Jim Morrison (lead singer of the 60's rock band The Doors), and Gertrude Stein, who's double-sided tombstone also reads "Alice B. Toklas."

Outside of Paris sits the majestic Chateau de Versailles. Work on the palace begun in 1661 and construction involved 32,000 to 45,000 workers at various times. It was the intention of Louis XIV to create a palace that would bring awe to all of Europe. The most famous room, the Hall of Mirrors, begun by Mansart in 1678, was decorated by Le Brun with 17 large arched windows matched by corresponding mirrors with simulated arches.

The spectacular beauty of Paris cannot be overstated. Rich in a history of kings and pageantry, Paris gained its moniker "city of Light" not by brightness, but because of illumination. Take a walk along the Champs-Elysees and see the Arc de Triomphe before settling into one of the sidewalk cafes for some festive people watching. Take a ride along the River Seine at night and see Paris come alive with a glowing brilliance that permeates the city. Visit the Luxembourg, Paris' most beautiful park, and have a lazy lay-about Parisian style. If indulging in beauty, art, history, great cuisine, fine wine, and an incredibly varied culture is your idea of heaven, then Paris is the best vacation destination in the universe!