There I was standing in a crowd of hundreds of anxious people waiting for the clock to strike 11:00 p.m. Those same voices began to countdown from three to one. After the last voice echoed the number “one” aloud I experienced one of the most magical experiences of my life. A moment that I had dreamed of since being a little girl. That event was the sparkling of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France. A million lights flickering from one of the world’s most famous monuments filled my spirit with a sense of gratitude, and reminded myself I was in the midst of a dream coming true.

The rest of my weekend in Paris felt just as special. Stepping into a piece of rich history when entering the Palace of Versailles was another moment I will never forget and it lived up to all of my expectations. Seeing the bedroom of Marie Antoinette, the Hall of Mirrors, and the famous portrait of King Louis XVI in person allowed me to transcend into that time in history, not just envision it. There is nowhere quite like Paris – exploring the city, smelling the freshly boomed flowers, and eating at the chic Parisian cafes is all a part of the ambiance of Paris that makes it such a magical destination.