Sion is one of the most picturesque places I have ever been. This sweet little mountain town is nestled in a valley in the heart of the Swiss Alps. On all sides it is surrounded by majestic, snow-capped mountains, but within its boundaries are two smaller mountains atop which sit an 800-year-old abbey and castle. In Switzerland, the village is known for its raclette cheese, which is warmed over a portable oven and eaten like fondue, and its world-class soccer team. It is also where our friend Matt was born and raised. 

Being able to experience a European mountain village through the eyes of a friend who grew up here was an incredible experience. The entire time we were in Sion, Matt was beaming as he showed us his favorite hangouts, took us to his favorite restaurants, and watched as we explored the nooks and crannies of his village. I was struck not only by Sion's charm, but by the mystery and history this town holds. Around every corner there seemed to be a new passage way, wooden door, or alley that left me with curiosity and wonder.

​One of the most enjoyable experiences here was climbing to the top of the mountain near the center of town and exploring the Valere Basilica. I chose to do this on my own, and I couldn't have asked for a more prefect mini mountain retreat. 

Later we ventured to one of my most favorite places on Earth: The Matterhorn. Say what you will about Zurmatt. I know it's touristy and can feel kitschy at times, but I love it to pieces. I was grinning from ear to ear the entire time we were here! It's really not that surprising that my most favorite image from the trip came from here :)

After visiting Paris, Cliff and I rented a car and drove to Tours, France, to see our friend Matt. Matt lived in this town for a year while he was studying for the French Bar. Before coming, he kept telling us how excited he was for us to see Tours because its authentically French. We got the experience some of that "Frenchiness" (Matt's word) our first night here when we sat outside at a cafe chatting, dining, sipping on wine, and enjoying the beautiful weather. It was pure magic, and it didn't take me long at all to fall in love with the town of Tours.

At 130,000 people, Tours is the largest village in the Loire Valley, and is one of the most quaint, charming places I've ever visited. The people of Tours have so eloquently mixed old (the buildings in the first photo below this text are from the Middle Ages) with the new, and the community's history is fascinating. It predates the Middle Ages, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Joan of Arc came here, and more recently, the town pioneered methods for preserving community history. I could see myself living here, and have pitched the idea to Cliff that we retire here!

The rest of the Loire Valley is known for its lush greenery and scenic river lands. For centuries Kings, Queens, and other noblepeople chose this area of France to build castles and chateaus, dozens of which still exist. This is truly the land of fairy tales!

It was also in the Loire Valley where my favorite part of our entire vacation happened. Scroll down to learn more about the surprise and see photos of something truly magnificent! Don't forget to follow me on Instagram, where I'll take a behind-the-scenes look at some of our favorite vacation photos!

The next set of photos are so special to me. On a whim, our friend Matt told us to get in the car. He wanted to show us something -- but he wouldn't say what. We had previously discussed visiting a French winery, so I assumed that's where we were going. We drove for about an hour before Matt had us pull over by a tree in the middle of a farm field. He told us to turn around and I was struck dumb with astonishment and awe. Behind us, in what felt like the middle of nowhere, were the ruins of a Roman Aqueduct. Being able to walk up to this, see it, touch it, feel it, and just be with it was one of the most incredible experiences of my life, and something I will not forget anytime soon. We stayed here for about an hour basking in the beauty of the moment.

Last summer Cliff and I traveled to France and Switzerland to visit our friend Matt who was studying for the French Bar. (Spoiler: He passed!) I just got done editing images from our trip and wanted to share a few favorites with you here. Follow me on Instagram where I'll be taking a behind-the-scenes look at some of my favorite photos from our vacation.

This was one of those vacations where each day was a little better than the last.  We started out in Paris before spending a few days in the Loire Valley in the town of Tours. We ended our vacation in Switzerland in the tiny village of Sion where our friend Matt was born and raised. 

Before we left for this trip, I was most excited about Switzerland. I'd been there before and just couldn't wait to go back. France was less familiar to me, but I quickly fell in love with French culture, cuisine, and its people. Life there just feels easy, and I think a lot of Americans (myself included) could benefit from that relaxed way of living. In France, it seems less emphasis is focused on doing and more emphasis is focused on just being. I love it!

I have to give a huge shout out to the podcast Join Us In France, which helped get me excited for both Paris and other places in France. If you have plans to travel to Paris soon or just enjoy learning about new places, I highly recommend it. Hosts Annie and Elyse break down culture, tourists spots, language and so much more in a down-to-earth way that is both enlightening and fun!

Be sure to scroll all the way to the bottom of this post to see photos of Notre Dame. We visited less than six months before the fire. Au revoir!

Be on the lookout for more soon! Up next are photos from the Loire Valley!