TRAVEL TIPS FOR EUROPE

We've all been there before, you have a big trip coming up and you want to make sure all of your bases are covered before you leave. There's nothing like setting off on vacation just to realize part way through that you've forgotten something important or even just something small - suddenly that feeling of bliss and excitement for your to come adventures dissipate and panic begins to take over. Sometimes everything is going smooth and we have an amazing trip and then we come home a realize we missed out on something awesome that was taking place at our destination that we had no idea about and would've liked to have known about ahead of time so we could've had another incredible experience. While I can't guarantee these things will never happen to you or I again, I've decided to assemble a list of Travel Tips to help prevent it from happening. 

IMPORTANT TIPS

These are crucial MUST DO tips that will make your European adventure smooth, easy and painless. 

1) Go to your bank and exchange dollars for the currency of your destination. Make sure you know the current rate exchanges so you ensure you receive an accurate amount. 

2)  Make sure you call your credit card companies and banks before you go. Let them know the dates and locations you will be traveling to so you don't experience any problems using your cards while there. 

3) A week before you go call to verify airfare, hotel, rental cars etc. and make copies of your reservations to carry with you. (I take an entire folder on the plane in my purse carrying all of our information just in case our luggage gets lost we still had documentation of everything.)

4) Go to the government website and check any travel warnings or alerts that may be issued.http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/alertswarnings.html 

5) If you have recently applied for a passport, make sure you track it and pay any extra fees to get it before you leave. If you currently hold a passport, make sure it's good for at least 6 months as most countries will not allow you to travel to them if it expires within 6 months.

6) Carry the number for your destination's local US Embassy in your phone and in your wallet. You can contact them should you have any problems while there (such as losing your passport).

7) If you are renting a car make sure you obtain your International Driver's license...it's quick, painless and cheap! The only place I know of to get one at is your local AAA office. You do not have to be a AAA member to get one. http://www.aaa.com/Vacation/idpf.html

8) Make copies of your itinerary and travel documents and leave them at home with a trusted family member or friend.

9) Call your cell phone provider to check international plans they offer. Nobody wants to have a perfect vacation and come home to a HUGE bill filled with roaming charges. Make sure you clearly understand what you're paying for and what is covered under their international plan. I spent 2 hours on the phone with my cell phone provider before I totally understood it all (however, that's not saying much as I'm not by any means tech savvy).

10) If you have any prescription medications make sure you have enough to last the duration of your trip and for a few extra days should something go wrong and your flight home is delayed. I also bought over the counter medications (for fever and pain) and put it in our checked luggage as it is much cheaper in the states.

11) Make sure all your bills are either paid or scheduled to be paid while you're gone.

ADDITIONAL TIPS:
1) Browse the web to find out what the weather it typically like for the season you're traveling. How can you know what to pack if you don't know what to expect? Set your weather app on your phone for your destination, this way when you wake up you can check the forecast for the day and know what to wear and if you'll need an umbrella.

2) Download the open table app on your phone so you can make dinner reservations while you're out and about during the day sight seeing and know you won't have to wait for a table when dinner time rolls around. 

3) Make sure you're carrying some of the local currency in various amounts with you when you land so you can tip your taxi driver, private car hire, concierge etc.

4) Check to see if your destination has a Groupon page for even more great local deals while you're there!!! You can find a ton of new experiences and save a lot of money by doing so. It will give you the opportunity to discover new restaurants or spoil yourself a little while there and not feel guilty about it.

5) Get any voltage converters/adapters before you leave the states. You can find these at stores like Best Buy and they cost about $20-$30. You won't be able to charge your phone or use your flat iron (GASP!!) without one. 

6) For 2 weeks prior to leaving, keep a note pad around the house and write down the things you use everyday that you'll need to pack. Most of us remember the obvious shirts, pants and socks but you'd be surprised how many of us overlook other things like toothbrushes, hairbrushes, body wash etc. Make a list for everything you need to pack so there are no surprises! 

7) We flew to Europe with British Airways, so before I booked the tickets I made sure to sign up with their mileage club and now we have a bunch of points towards another flight or to redeem other rewards with! Check the hotel you're booking with too to see if there are any reward cards worth signing up for.

8) I make a list of all the places that I want to see while at a destination then break it up into 3 group: "must go", "would like to go", "only if I have time to go". I get address and print out maps for each place going from my hotel to the tourist destination just in case my GPS doesn't work or the locals don't understand me enough to help get me to where I'm going. On each printed google map I put the name of the place, the times they open and close and the cost for each so I am well prepared.     

9) One thing I like to do while taking long vacations is to plan a day of sight seeing and acting like a tourist and then one day of rest or doing easy things (like shopping!!) to recharge my batteries and keep the trip enjoyable instead of stressful and go go go!      

I hope these are helpful to you in planning your journey! If you have any other tips you'd like to share or have experienced something that you think others would find beneficial please leave comments below!

Happy Travels!
Elisa        

7 Off-Strip things to do in Vegas this September!

So you're traveling to Vegas but don't want to stay on the Strip the whole time, lets face it...there's more to Sin City than just what the Strip has to offer. Let me introduce you to 7 exciting things going on in Las Vegas this September that may be worth your while to leave the Strip and check out!

1) Super Run Classic Car Show - Henderson - September 24-27, 2015

http://superrun.com/index.html 

     

     This classic car experience is held once a year in downtown Henderson (about 25 minutes off the Vegas Strip). You will see vehicles from hot rods to motorcycles and everything in between (for past event pics click http://public.fotki.com/SRCruzzin/2009/super-run-09/). A day full of gorgeous cars, awards, food vendors, shopping and live entertainment is totally worth the drive over. Just remember to slap on that sunscreen as it is all outside.
Click here for the full 4 day schedule of events http://superrun.com/schedule.html

  

2) Life is Beautiful Festival - Downtown Vegas - September 25-27, 2015

http://lifeisbeautiful.com/ 

     This multi-day, multi-city block wide motivational festival is all about a good time and enjoying life with music, food and art galore! There are 4 stages with over 70 musical acts (this years festival include: Imagine Dragons, Death Cab for Cutie, Snoop Dog and more - for a full list of music acts please click here: http://lineup.lifeisbeautiful.com/). Be sure to check the schedule for the dates of performers you would like to see. There are endless amounts of food vendors, food trucks and mixologists for you to indulge in and motivational speakers and art displays throughout the weekend. For pricing and ticket info click here: http://lifeisbeautiful.com/tickets/

How do I get the chance to get in there?!

Some of the street art

3) Las Vegas Harvest Annual Arts & Crafts Show - September 11-13, 2015

http://harvestfestival.com/lasvegas/

     Held at the Cashman Center in downtown Las Vegas this Arts & Crafts show will never leave the crafty type feeling bored! With hundreds of artisan booths featuring everything you can think of (jewelry, food, art and more - all of which is homemade) this is definitely an all day event. You will be in awe as you wander up and down what seems like endless aisles of items all of which you can purchase usually at bargain prices!
For a coupon click here http://harvestfestival.com/hf-ads/
For hours and ticket purchase click here https://events.admitoneproducts.com/tkt_sales.php?test=true&event_id=954815&sales=

This is not Cashman, but the set up is the same

4) The Biggest Tattoo Show on Earth - LV Convention Center - September 18-20, 2015

http://www.lasvegastattooshow.com/

     Wanting some fresh ink? The Biggest Tattoo Show on Earth is the place for you! Whether you're wanting to add some new art to your body or just want to walk around and enjoy all the creativity and shopping this convention has to offer it will definitely be a unique experience you won't soon forget. Over a thousand of some of the best tattoo artists in the world are gathered under one roof to show off their talents and give you the opportunity of getting a tattoo from them. For the first time ever this year you will be able to take hands on classes from some amazing artists. Check the website as there are fees for the courses.
For dates, times and pricing click here: https://www.lasvegastattooshow.com/home/the-event/  
There will also be nightly events (after parties, etc.) to go to but you have to sign up on their website with your e-mail to get the information you will need to attend.

5) Las Vegas Culture Fest Food & Music Festival - September 19-20, 2015    

     There's no official website for this festival so I had to dig deep and research to get the info but it was worth it. This festival celebrates equality & unity through diversity and as far as I'm concerned is one of the best things Vegas has to offer in September. It is held in downtown Vegas on 3rd @ Ogden and is FREE to the public! It runs 11 a.m. to midnight both days. You will find a range of food including Asian, Mexican, Indian, Soul Food, BBQ and more! And while your stuffing your face until you can't anymore you can enjoy guest speakers, amazing culture exposure (it's like traveling all over the world in one night!) and live music featuring different tunes from Bollywood to R&B and everything in between. It's a great way to spend time with the family or friends on a budget!

6) Las Vegas 51s Baseball Game - Cashman Field - September 01-07, 2015 
http://www.milb.com/index.jsp?sid=t400

     An awesome way to spend the evening in Vegas. The Las Vegas 51s offer a family friendly atmosphere and a good time! Tickets range from $10-$30 a seat.

Click here for schedule and ticket purchase: http://www.milb.com/schedule/index.jsp?sid=t400&m=9&y=2015.

They often run specials and here are the remaining for the season:
09/03 - $1 Beer Night
09/04 - Fireworks
09/07 - Season Finale! $1 food items

7) Barrett-Jackson Car Show - Mandalay Bay - September 24-26, 2015
http://www.barrett-jackson.com/

     Okay, so technically this is on the Strip but it was too cool to keep it off the list! Barrett-Jackson is a massive car auction displaying hundreds, if not thousands, of some of the coolest and rarest cars you'll ever see. It's frequently seen on the Velocity channel and Discovery channel. This is easily an all day event to walk around and view all of the vehicles on display and maybe even cry a little when you consider the fact you'll probably never be able to afford most of them. We've gone a couple years and have loved it every time.
For a schedule of events click here: http://www.barrett-jackson.com/Events/Event/Schedule/LasVegas-2015/bd7867a2-9e43-40bb-9eca-1b95915c5ce1
For ticket prices and purchase click here: http://www.barrett-jackson.com/Events/Event/Tickets/LasVegas-2015/bd7867a2-9e43-40bb-9eca-1b95915c5ce1

 

Know of something else going on this September off the Vegas Strip? Leave a comment below with the info! 

Happy Travels!

-Elise

Elisa's #1 place to eat in San Diego:

THE MISSION

My family and I are frequently in San Diego since it's only a few hours away. Sadly I must admit to everyone out there reading this that, yes...we have made a special trip out there occasionally just to eat at some of our favorites restaurants. We literally decide Saturday morning to head out to California and then drive back home Saturday night...for food. I know what you're thinking, but we aren't ready to admit our culinary disorders just yet so we will continue to live in food addiction. Anyways, one of the places we are most guilty of doing this for would be The Mission. Before you judge my previous statements, let me explain why The Mission Restaurant is worth a 3-1/2 hour drive one way just for breakfast or lunch...

This is the J street location in downtown SD, it's our favorite one

The Mission's food is simple: Healthy, fresh food made with love and care that is plated so stunningly the only reason you don't dive in right away is so you can take a pic of it to upload to your social media page (just to make everyone else jealous). The Mission, as a restaurant, does a great honor not only to the customer but to the food they serve. Their menu items are creative (Banana blackberry pancakes? Yes, please!) and yet give you a sense of hominess that you begin to crave. My favorite menu item you ask? PAPAS LOCO - this dish consists of Rosemary potatoes, grilled jalapeños, black beans, cheese, avocado slices, sour cream, salsa and I add 2 scrambled eggs with some green onions! They make their salsas, breads and salad dressings fresh....no canned goods here and your palette will taste the difference. Their eggs are locally sourced from free range, non GMO chickens and all the chicken served at The Mission is a type known as Jidori.  Just a brief explanation of Jidori so you can understand the passion the owners have to deliver quality food to their guests: Jidori literally translates to "chicken of the Earth" it is the freshest form of chicken one can buy. All chickens considered Jidori are free range and vegetarian fed. The chicken is usually described as having a fresher taste, a more pleasant texture than store bought chicken and a more natural chicken flavor. Overall, I've never had anything here that even comes close to tasting processed or low quality. It's one of the few restaurants I can honestly say provide a healthier and better meal than I can make at home. 

Papas Loco <3

Mission French Toast

The satisfaction and feelings of just plain goodness doesn't stop at the food but continues even beyond your meal - The Mission supports many local charities and donates time, money and effort to give back to the San Deigo community. They also support local artists in a big way...one exciting thing about this restaurant is the atmosphere is constantly changing! All of the artwork displayed on the walls are made by local artists and are for sale if you're interested in buying a piece. The Mission doesn't take any commission on these pieces...that's right 100% of the purchase price goes to the artist. So as art is sold, new art is brought in and displayed creating an ambiance that is ever changing.

There's no way to ever explain how much our family loves this place and why...it must be experienced! I would strongly encourage anyone visiting the San Diego area to make it a point to eat at The Mission and relish in all the goodness that this restaurant has to offer. I've provided links below to their 3 locations and a link to the menu (they also offer a gluten free menu). When you do go, come back to this page and leave your comments below to tell of your experience!

They are open everyday for breakfast & lunch from 7 a.m.-3p.m.
Menu: http://www.themissionsd.com/menus.html
Locations: http://www.themissionsd.com/locations.html

FAMILY FUN IN SAN DIEGO

The Perry's Top 5 family experiences: San Diego Edition

San Diego is definitely one of my ultimate favorite places for family fun! There are so many amazing adventures and experiences to be had, not to mention the amazing weather year round, unlimited places to eat and a culture of their own. Today, I'm going to give you our family's Top 5 things to do while in San Diego. I'll list some honorable mentions at the end of this entry that you and your family may also enjoy but didn't quite make our list. Lets go!! 

1) THE USS MIDWAY MUSEUM 

http://www.midway.org/

    

     If you're a history buff, interested in American military or wanting a family educational experience that offers up great memories and a great time this is a must go for you! You and the kids will have a wonderful time learning about American and Naval history, walking through the different levels of the ship and interacting with some of the displays and on board experiences this museum has to offer. The USS Midway was an aircraft carrier for the US Navy that was officially launched in 1945. It was the largest ship in the world until 1955 and has seen numerous battles including some action in Vietnam and Operation Desert Storm. The Midway was decommissioned in 1992 and officially opened as a museum in San Diego in June of 2004.

Museum info:

The Midway offers a self guided audio tour that is included in the price of your ticket, should you stop at each location the tour could take about 3 hours. There are 60 exhibits to see and 29 restored aircrafts (for a list of displayed aircraft click here: http://www.midway.org/exhibits-and-activities?q=Aircraft-Museum) on board....and my favorite part: THERE IS A FLIGHT SIMULATOR AVAILABLE ($6-$8 per person - http://www.midway.org/exhibits-and-activities?q=Flight-Simulators). 

Hours and Pricing: http://www.midway.org/hours-tickets TIP if you pre-order your tickets online there is a discount. Also, kids 5 and under as well as active military are FREE.

Location: 910 North Harbor Drive, San Diego, CA 92101

                  https://www.google.com/maps/place/910+N+Harbor+Dr,+San+Diego,+CA+92101/@32.7137622,-117.175658,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x80d954aad1699223:0xeb897c76027324bc

**FYI INFO:

Parking is $10 per car and is good for up to 12 hours.

There is a wonderful little cafe on board the ship if you get hungry for lunch or just need a little snack. (http://www.fantailcafe.com/index.html)

The ship is excellent with catering to people who have disabilities, for more info please click here: http://www.midway.org/access

They will often have fun events & activities scheduled (such as movie nights during the summer) for a calender of events click here: http://www.midway.org/calendar

One of the many displays

You can even get your picture taken in one :)

The Fantail Cafe

2) SAN DIEGO ZOO & SAFARI PARK

http://zoo.sandiegozoo.org/

     If spending the day with a bunch of wild animals (other than your family members...) is your idea of a good time then take a day or two and hang out at the San Diego Zoo! This zoo is so large it's hard to fit it all in one day, but possible if you must. They offer single day passes and multi-day passes (TIP the zoo is included in the GO San Diego Card - http://www.sandiego.com/go-san-diego-card). The San Diego Zoo is located in Balboa Park and is home to 3,700 animals! It opened in 1916 and is known for pioneering the open-aired cageless exhibits that you see today. They are one of the few zoos in the world to have a giant panda - right now there are only 4 zoos in the U.S. who house giant pandas, talk about once in a lifetime chance.

Zoo Info:

Other than the chance to get close and see countless animals the zoo goes above and beyond to offer you a wonderful experience while there. For a list of all the experiences click here: http://zoo.sandiegozoo.org/experiences you will find everything from backstage passes to get up close and personal with the animals and trainers to activities and special experiences. (Our favorite at the zoo being the Skyfari http://zoo.sandiegozoo.org/content/skyfari%C2%AE-aerial-tram which offers an aerial view of the park).

Hours & Pricing: http://zoo.sandiegozoo.org/content/hours-directions there are no discounts I'm aware of, but if you happen to find any please use the comment box below to share! 

Location: 2920 Zoo Drive San Diego, CA 92101

                https://www.google.com/maps/place/2920+Zoo+Dr,+San+Diego,+CA+92101/@32.7337409,-117.1482836,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x80d95495de9d76ab:0x18f46ca924404ab1

**FYI INFO:

Parking for the zoo is FREE

There are plenty of dining options within the zoo but I would pack some snacks and drinks anyway, it's a lot of walking in between. For dining options click here: http://zoo.sandiegozoo.org/content/dining   

For guests with disabilities info click here: http://zoo.sandiegozoo.org/content/guests-disabilities

Want to get your kids excited for the zoo?! Check out videos and live cameras here http://zoo.sandiegozoo.org/video-more

3) SEAFORTH BOAT RENTALS
http://www.seaforthboatrental.com/

     For a great time out on the water check out Seaforth! They have multiple locations, each location offers different equipment for rent so be sure to check the website to make sure you go to the right one. They offer everything from boats to jetskis to paddle boards to sail boats! They have some very interesting boats...such as the BBQ Donut all listed on their website. You can even take a tour on a sailboat or yacht with a Skipper around the San Diego area so you can sit back, sightsee and enjoy! For most rentals, you do not need a sailing license.   

We went to the Mission Bay location to rent a Bayliner for an hour (I would recommend a 2 hour rental as that hour goes by fast). It was a little over $100 but was totally worth it. We were able to putt around in the water and really let loose with the boat in the designated areas. My only advice (other than to have a good time!) would be to bring a jacket because even in the middle of the summer it can get cold out on the water and you risk the spontaneous overcast moments throughout the day. Life jackets are also available for no extra charge on the dock.

The Bayliner

4) BELMONT PARK @ MISSION BEACH
http://www.belmontpark.com/

     Belmont is one of my favorite budget friendly family things to do in San Diego! Originally opened in 1925 and located right on the beach this amusement park still offers some of the original rides. There is an old wooden roller coaster (talk about a thrill!), rides, carnival games, laser tag, a wave machine, food and shopping! The parking & admission are FREE (always a nice perk in big cities!). It's a great way to take the kids and spend a few hours having fun in the park, grabbing some dinner and walking to the beach a few feet away to watch the sunset over the ocean.

Hours & Pricing: For hours click here http://www.belmontpark.com/amusementpark/rides/calendar/ Pricing: You can pay per ride or game but the best deal is an unlimited wristband that costs $18 for people under 48" and $29 for people above 48". TIP Sign up here http://www.belmontpark.com/coupons/ ahead of time for coupons and special offers!  

Location:  3146 Mission Blvd. San Diego, CA 92109 https://www.google.com/maps/place/3146+Mission+Blvd,+San+Diego,+CA+92109/@32.770863,-117.2521057,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x80deaa0ebe751ce7:0x226b30d222e3476d

5) SAN DIEGO AIR & SPACE MUSEUM

http://www.sandiegoairandspace.org/

     We love the Air & Space Museum so much that I had to put it on my Top 5 list. Located in Balboa Park (just a few minutes away from the zoo) it houses some of the most amazing aircraft, space craft and interactive features all under one roof. Their exhibits change regularly (for a current list click here: http://www.sandiegoairandspace.org/exhibits/ ) and offer not only fun but a great educational experience. There is an entire room dedicated to younger children with games and interactive stations to teach them about flight. This museum covers everything from the beginning of flight, to the first women of flight to the Thunderbirds. It'll take you a few hours to walk the museum so be sure to eat before hand as there is no food or drinks allowed.  

Hours & Pricing: The museum is open everyday (with the exception of Thanksgiving and Christmas) from 10:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.

Prices are as follows: $18 - 12 & up
$15 - seniors
$9 - ages 3-11
FREE - SDASM members, Active duty military and children 2 & under

Location: 2001 Pan American Plz. San Diego, CA 92101
https://www.google.com/maps/place/2001+Pan+American+Plaza,+San+Diego,+CA+92101/@32.7268185,-117.1537806,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x80d954a33225ff03:0xc5bacca5d528dd62 

One of the many interactive displays - you can fly your own mini plane!

You are allowed in some of the aircraft

As you can see San Diego has so much to offer for the families! Some honorable mentions that didn't quite make my list are Sea World (I didn't put it on our top 5 for San Diego as there are other locations across the U.S.), Legoland, Seaport Village and Old Town San Diego (This one barely missed my top 5, I will do an entry about it on the blog sometime as I do feel it is a must go ESPECIALLY if you like history). A HUGE TIP I have for you before planning your San Diego adventure is to check Groupon or Living Social before you go because you can find amazing family attractions at discounted rates. 

If you have any questions or comments leave them below! Good luck planning your San Diego vacation! 

XO,
Gypsy

NORMANDY - D-DAY BEACHES

"I have full confidence in your courage and devotion to duty and skill in
battle. We will accept nothing less than full Victory!" 

- Dwight D. Eisenhower

...and full victory is what was ultimately achieved along the 6 mile stretch that is Omaha Beach. On June 6, 1944 a total of 160,000 allied troops, 5,000 ships and 13,000 aircraft bombarded a 50 mile stretch of beaches along the Atlantic coast of France in an effort to get a foothold of what had become a massive amount of Europe under Nazi control during World War II.  When we traveled from Paris to Normandy we had no idea how vast the amount of land was that was all part of D-day and poorly planned our entire trip there - I'm going to give you as much information as possible so you can properly plan your time in Normandy and really get the most out of it. One day we hope to go back to really soak it up for what it is and have a fuller understanding of what actually happened on the very ground we walked. So I will not have a lot of information about all the beaches and different monuments - mainly only for Omaha Beach, which is the most popular for visitors. I would highly recommend doing your research before you go (I did some but didn't spend a lot of time on it and I really regret it). For a list of books about D-day click here http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/29955.Best_D_day_books and if you're not really into reading, the History Channel has some videos and other media posted (http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/d-day/videos) and there are also scripted movies (such as Saving Private Ryan or The Longest Day - just remember these aren't entirely accurate) for you to view and really grow a connection with everything that is D-day before you go. I guess a major TIP I would pass along to you is to stay for at least one night and two days as we did not get much done in a couple hours. Now, to give you all I got from our time in Omaha Beach...

I have to say it was the most humbling, awe-inspiring and "proud to be an American" moment I've ever felt. The feelings of just standing in solitude on a rainy day on a dock that went at least 100 feet out into the Atlantic Ocean over looking endless water as far as my eyes could see and being in the presence of where true heroes once existed fighting for everything they believed in and loved. Most of them knew they weren't going home as they rushed the beaches with gun in hand against an enemy they'd never met before and there I was paying homage to those men who are very likely the reason why I was able to stand there at almost exactly 70 years later and remember them. I can't explain this spiritual journey or emotions that came along with it...it was almost as if while I was watching the waves crash on the beach I was somehow seeing these men still crawling up that beach and fighting. It was almost as if I could see bombs going off, hear shots being fired and see the blood stained sand although none of it was there anymore...just the remnants of what once was. I still get teary eyed with gratitude, love and conviction just thinking about what these men endured to protect what they loved. I wish the same for you, take the time to stand there and just experience what once was going on on the very ground beneath your feet and I promise, very few things will ever match that moment. 

It's crazy for me to think that these men and this scene is what happened so long ago at the same peaceful place I stood.

Getting there from Paris is surprisingly easy by a rental car (if you don't feel comfortable driving across the countryside there are trains that go out to Normandy you can take). We entered a tunnel in the middle of Paris setting out to start off on our adventure to Omaha beach...we were under ground for about 20-30 minutes (I began to worry we would never get out!) we finally saw some gleaming sunlight and as we came to the exit of the tunnel we were suddenly in the middle of the countryside. It was incredible. That coolness aside, we were able to go from Paris to Omaha Beach in about 3 hours (spending a few hours there) and made a stop in Honfleur (for about an hour to an hour and a half) and still made it back to Paris just as the sun was going down. You must remember, sunset doesn't come until almost 10 p.m. in Paris so the day is nice and long to get things done. Make sure you bring various Euro with you as there are tolls along the way, none of them too expensive and almost no wait time as they have many bays for the cars. There are enough places to stop along the way to get gas and food and WATCH OUT this road is loaded with cameras that enforce speed limits. We actually received 2 traffic tickets mailed to our house about a month after we got home, insert sad face here.

This is what we saw when we came out of the tunnel

 Now onto what Omaha has to offer...     

1) Omaha Beach Museum

http://www.musee-memorial-omaha.com/en/ 
For a list of hours: http://www.musee-memorial-omaha.com/en/practical-information/hours-and-opening-times/ 
Cost: Adult 6.50 Euro, Child (7-15) 3.90 Euro, Children 7 & under are FREE

I would recommend visiting the Omaha Beach Museum located just at the shore of Omaha (Avenue de la Libération 14710 SAINT-LAURENT-SUR-MER – NORMANDIE FRANCE) before you go to the beaches and the other sites. It is thoroughly educational and helps you get a personal connection and understanding of the men who fought and the depth of what they had to go through. It is an amazing museum with original equipment through out. They use mannequins dressed in original uniforms on display in various scenes of what it would've looked like in 1944. They have original letters, dog tags, guns and more that were either found at the beaches or donated. I must put a warning on it though as some of the pictures are graphic and depending upon the age of your children you might want to monitor exactly where they go in the museum. There is a wonderful movie area by the restrooms that plays the original footage of the invasion and has some of the nurses, soldiers and rangers being interview about their life experience on the beach that day. On the way out of the museum there is a great little museum to get memorabilia for all ages. This museum is a MUST GO if you are around the D-day beaches. It will give you an entirely new understanding of the reality that happened that dark, but liberating day in 1944.

There are several displays like this through out the museum each in a different scene

This is original from D-day

2) Normandy American Cemetery & Memorial
http://www.abmc.gov/cemeteries-memorials/europe/normandy-american-cemetery
Address: 14710 Colleville-sur-Mer, France

Located on a cliff over looking Omaha Beach and out into the Atlantic Ocean this cemetery contains the remains of 9,387 American soldiers. Upon entry, the rows of crosses and large monuments seem overwhelming, you almost don't know where to begin. To your left is a massive semi-circular colonnade made of French limestone, ceramic tiles and a floor made of pebbles taken from Omaha beach itself. Within it is a 22 foot bronze statue ("The Spirit of American Youth Rising from the Waves") stretching up towards the sky and overlooking the Garden of the Missing. The garden is wrapped with semi-circular walls with the names of the 1,557 missing men who were never found or whose remains have never been identified. These men are so worthy of a silent moment and prayer as you walk by the flowers. They gave their lives fighting for freedom and made the ultimate sacrifice for so many, it's heartbreaking (especially for someone like me who is super emotional) and makes you really appreciate the acts of someone you have never met. As you continue on through the Garden of the Missing you will discover there are 5 paths that divide the garden - we only walked one and it took us a while to go down. You almost feel this desire and need to read every name and pay respects to each cross or star you walk by. Among the crosses you will see father & son together, brothers side by side and even twin brothers, who all died together fighting for their country. There is a chapel that marks they half way point of the cemetery (for an amazing aerial view click here: http://www.specialcamp11.co.uk/Normandy/Aerial%20View%20Of%20Omaha%20Cemetery.jpg. ).
Make sure you stop at the visitor's center before you walk through the cemetery as they have movies, brochures to take with you with a lot of great detailed information, pictures and more so that you can really soak in everything you see and understand the meanings of it all from the script written on the monuments to the time capsule on site that is not to be opened until 2044. Overall, I believe this was one of my top favorite things out of all of our European vacation. I think it's something everybody should see once in their lifetime.

This picture says more than my words every could

My husband took this amazing picture and I just thought I'd share it as a bonus

There are several other monuments through out Omaha, I'll post pics and small descriptions of what each one is. Stop at the visitor center to pick up maps of where you can find all the monuments and their meanings. It would be a shame to be in Paris and miss out on this incredible experience...my advice to you is to make every effort possible to go to Normandy to experience something that very few things in life can match. It's so educational for children and will help them understand how massive this day was for America and our allies. It will teach them to honor, respect & appreciate veterans and their sacrifices.

This is one of many German Bunkers around Omaha. You can walk up to it and go inside.

This is on the way up to the Second Infantry Division Memorial...To me, this is a MUST STOP as the original gun is still there from when it was under German control.

This is the interior...you can see the massive hole on the upper right, my husband imagines is from fire from the US Army.

This is where you enter, at first it was so eerie for me just to know what happened there but once I got in it as hard to leave as I felt a strong connection to the past. 

The Ranger monument at Point Du Hoc is to honor the American Second Ranger Battalion who scaled 100 foot cliffs and took over German artillery that otherwise would've been firing on American troops on Omaha.

World War II Memorial on Omaha

People still leave sentiments around the memorials to honor all of these brave men. It's very touching to see some even from children.

This will wrap up our Omaha visit. I hope you find it helpful and honorable to all the allied forces who fought that day.

If you have any further questions about something above or would like to know if I have more info on something not listed just message me or comment and I'll help out the best I can. Happy Travels my fellow Gypsies.