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This June, I’m back on the road, returning to France, this time with my wife. Back to Paris, out to Reims, and into a few smaller towns along the way. Like any good guide, this is part of the ongoing work, getting back on the ground, staying current, and continuing to refine and improve the experience.

I am Clay Johnson, your Travel Veteran, and this is part of how I build travel worth taking.

Paris Field Trip

Paris is a delight to visit, and every time I return to the City of Light, I find something new, learn something new, and gain a deeper appreciation for a city that attracts more than 30 million visitors each year.

This trip is a continuation of years of research and hands on experience. In many ways, it becomes a Parisian classroom where I continue learning. I’ll spend time with a Rick Steves recommended guide, walking neighborhoods, talking through how to move groups comfortably through the city, and digging deeper into the stories that make Paris what it is.

One of the areas I’m continuing to develop is what I call my American Connections. This is a signature element of my tours. Throughout the trip, I intentionally highlight the surprising and often overlooked connections between Americans and the places we visit. It gives my guests a familiar reference point and adds another layer of meaning to what they’re seeing.

I’ve asked my guide to help me build this out even further, identifying new stories and perspectives I can bring into my tours.

It is not just about seeing the major sights. It is about getting the pace right, knowing where to pause, and creating those moments where things just click.

Like every trip, I’ll also continue strengthening relationships with local guides. These are the people who live and work in the city every day, and having them as part of my network makes a real difference in how my tours come together.

Seeing Paris Through the Open Top of a 2CV

On a previous trip, I rumbled through the streets of Paris in a vintage Citroën 2CV, taking in the city from the open top and having a nostalgic blast. This time, I want to experience it at night, when the city shifts a bit. Notre Dame lit up again, the Eiffel Tower sparkling on the hour, and the Latin Quarter alive with energy after dark.

Before that, my wife and I will spend time in Reims, exploring the Champagne region. We’ll visit a couple of champagne houses, learn more about the process, and bring a bottle back with us to Paris.

Reims offers more than champagne. It is home to the cathedral where the kings of France were crowned, often compared to Westminster Abbey in its significance. It is also where the German surrender in World War II was signed, a place where history moves from something you read about to something you can stand inside.

Later that week, we’ll open that bottle from Reims as we drive through Paris after dark, taking in the city from a different perspective.

This is the kind of experience I’m always working to better understand. Not just the activity itself, but how it fits into the overall flow of a trip and how it adds something memorable for my guests.

Time with Friends

One of the highlights of this trip will be attending a change of command ceremony for a close friend, a French Army officer.

We’ve known each other for several years, and it means a great deal to be there, in uniform, for this moment in his career.

Time like this adds a different dimension to the trip. It is a chance to step into everyday life, reconnect with friends, and experience the real France.

Those moments stay with you, and they shape how I see the places I return to.

Finding the Right Places to Stay

This might be my favorite part of the research, exploring hotels.

During this trip, I’ll be staying in and visiting several hotels across Paris, not just to see them, but to understand how they work for my groups. I’ll visit the rooms, spend time in the common areas, and pay attention to the details that matter after a full day out in the city.

I’ll sit down for breakfast, listen for street noise at night, and make sure the air conditioning works, especially in late June. I’m looking for the small comforts that help my guests recharge after a full day.

Location is just as important. I only choose centrally located hotels. I want my guests to be able to step outside and be in the city, not rely on a bus or taxi just to get to it. Keeping my groups small allows me to secure places in the best locations.

I am selective about the hotels I choose. If I recommend a place, it is because I have stayed there, paid attention to the details, and know it will hold up for the kind of experience I want to deliver.

A Little Something We’re Building

Not everything on this trip is about scouting routes and refining itineraries.

I’m excited to share that my wife is opening a local needlepoint shop, North Myrtle Beach Needlepoint, this summer. For those in the stitching world, it will be the only LNS serving the Grand Strand and beyond, which is a big deal. You can learn more here:
www.northmyrtlebeachneedlepoint.com

Together, we are putting the final touches on a Paris Needlepoint Retreat, and this trip will help bring that experience to life. We are blending time in Paris with time to stitch, learn, and enjoy the city in a different way.

As I continue to grow Travel Veteran Tours, I’m also beginning to expand into specialty experiences like this, working with needlepoint shops and stitching communities looking for something a little different.

The retreat is scheduled for 27 September to 3 October 2027, and booking is now open on my website.

It is a different kind of trip, and one I am especially looking forward to leading. You can book here!

What’s Coming Next

All of this work is building toward what’s ahead, and I’m excited to start sharing more of it.

In 2028, I’ll begin offering two core itineraries. A Best of Paris in 7 Days tour, built from the ground up through trips like this one. And Prost! to Palaces, my journey through Munich, Salzburg, and Vienna, combining classic highlights with experiences that make the trip stand out.

These are not off the shelf tours. They are shaped over time, tested on the ground, and refined with each return to Europe.

I’ll be sharing more from this trip along the way, so if you’d like a closer look behind the scenes, follow along on Instagram.

Stay tuned. There’s more coming.
Travel worth taking.

Clay Johnson
Your Travel Veteran