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5 February, 2025
Top tips for a gorgeous Galentine's trip to Paris
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Writer, photographer, folk herbalist, and mother, Alyson Morgan runs a beautiful blog and Instagram account dedicated to exploring the intersections of home, ecology, and collective care. Through storytelling, design, and daily practice, she seeks to reimagine what it means to live in a deep relationship with the earth and each other.
We've been fans of Alyson's work for a long time, and when she reached out to say she was travelling to Paris with her family, we knew the perfect home for the trip. Rue Sacre Coeur is light-filled and luminous, boasting incredible views of the iconic basilica after which it is named.
Here Alyson tells us about her trip, shares her favourite spots in the home and a few exclusive tips for a family trip to the City of Light.
Who were you travelling with, and what was the inspiration behind the visit?
Who were you travelling with, and what was the inspiration behind the visit?
I traveled with my mother and my two children to Paris to visit my uncle, his partner, and their new baby. The trip was inspired by a desire to reconnect with family and spend meaningful time together across generations in a city that has my heart. It was a chance to slow down and be present with loved ones in a city full of beauty and history.
While Paris is often celebrated as the City of Love, it’s also an incredible place for families. The city is filled with parks, museums, cafés, and charming streets to explore together. It’s a city that invites wandering. When you base yourself in a residential neighborhood, you get to live like a local, walking to the market in the morning, finding your favorite boulangerie, and creating your own rhythm. Paris offers a sense of both adventure and familiarity, making it perfect for family travel.
What made you choose to stay with onefinestay for your trip to Paris?
What made you choose to stay with onefinestay for your trip to Paris?
We chose onefinestay because it gave us the best of both worlds: the comfort and ease of a home with the service and attention of a boutique hotel. Being able to cook meals, host family, and unwind in a private, beautifully designed space made our trip more personal and relaxed. It was an invitation to travel more slowly and intentionally, which is so important when traveling with children.
Hotels can feel cramped and limiting, especially with young children. At Rue Sacré Coeur, the kids had room to play, rest, and just be themselves. We weren’t all confined to a single room: we had space to spread out, reset, and feel grounded between city adventures. Having a kitchen meant we could prepare meals at home, which added ease and comfort to our days.
Describe the home you stayed in, Rue Sacré Coeur, in three words:
Describe the home you stayed in, Rue Sacré Coeur, in three words:
Light, spacious, refined. My ten-year-old daughter wanted to include "comfortable" too.
What were your favourite things about the home?
What were your favourite things about the home?
There was so much to love about the home we stayed in. The view was absolutely unforgettable, waking up to soft shades of pink and gold over the Sacré Coeur felt like a dream. I loved the elegant moulding, the expansive living areas, and the way the light moved through the apartment throughout the day. The main bedroom’s balconies gave us a private sanctuary where we could listen to the gentle hum of the city - a quintessentially Parisian experience.
The living and dining rooms were the heart of the home for us. We gathered there each morning and evening, sharing meals, reflecting on the day, and enjoying the view. It was where we felt most connected, held by both the space and one another. The main bathroom was a close second.
Tell us more about the neighbourhood you stayed in - did you find any great local spots?
Tell us more about the neighbourhood you stayed in - did you find any great local spots?
We absolutely loved our neighborhood. It felt vibrant yet intimate. We visited charming florists, stocked up at organic marchés, and discovered some incredible local spots, like Chamboule for a perfect citron croissant and a cozy Italian restaurant named Bobby (fittingly, my uncle’s name!). The food was fresh and delicious, and it quickly became a favorite. The nearby Jules Joffrin metro made it easy to get around, and evenings often ended with a stroll and a bottle of wine by the Seine.
What family activities would you recommend in Paris?
What family activities would you recommend in Paris?
We enjoyed a wonderful cooking class in the comfort of our home, organised by onefinestay. This was a great way for us to learn a bit about the local culture and to spend wonderful moments together as a family. My nine-year-old son adores cooking and I learnt to cook from my mother, so this was really the perfect multi-generational activity to enjoy together.
And finally… where are you off to next?
And finally… where are you off to next?
We’re dreaming of a few special trips that feel both purposeful and soul-nourishing. This summer, we’re planning to visit Italy for a children’s camp, a chance for our kids to learn, play, and immerse themselves in a new culture. We’re also hoping to spend time in Ireland to connect with our roots, walking the landscapes our ancestors once called home and visit the village where my grandmother was born. And the South of France is calling, a trip I’ve long wanted to take with my mother, to show her how France slows down in the summer, how it breathes differently. It’s about savoring time together, across generations and across continents.
