5 Unexpected Things to Do in Paris and 3 Hidden Gems in France with Paige McClanahan

5 Unexpected Things to Do in Paris and 3 Hidden Gems in France with Paige McClanahan

Author: Jason Moore July 29, 2025 Duration: 59:15
What does it really mean to get beyond the clichés in Paris?  Paige McClanahan is a journalist and author of The New Tourist: Waking Up to the Power and Perils of Travel. She’s spent years reporting for The New York Times and has lived in France for seven years. Her work explores tourism’s power to shape communities and how we can all travel more consciously.  In this episode, Paige shares five unexpected and meaningful things to do in Paris that you’re not likely to find in a guidebook. We also talk about three offbeat places in France that are worth exploring if you want to go beyond the usual stops.  You’ll learn how small things like saying “bonjour” can shift your whole experience, and how curiosity can lead you into everything from revolutionary history to North African hammams to street art scavenger hunts. Paige brings that perfect mix of local insight and traveler perspective that makes these suggestions feel not just interesting, but personal and lived-in.  What are the most unexpected places you’ve discovered while traveling, and what made them stand out to you? I’d love to hear about them, and I hope you’ll share by sending me an audio message.  Tune In To Learn:  Why Paige’s favorite Paris park feels like a secret escape in the city  How a hammam visit near the Grand Mosque can open your eyes to Arab culture in France  Why “bonjour” and “au revoir” might be the most important words you say in Paris  How to explore the French Revolution using a free app on your phone  Advice to uncover Black history in Paris through immersive tours  Tips for engaging with France’s diversity and colonial history through travel  How to join a real-life street art scavenger hunt across Paris  Where to go in the French Alps besides Chamonix  What makes La Rochelle an underrated coastal gem  Why Lille is a culture-rich city most tourists skip  And so much more  Resources:  Sign up for our FREE newsletter   Paige McClanahan on Instagram  Paige’s website and The New Tourist book  Parc des Buttes-Chaumont  Rosa Bonheur Bar  Grande Mosquée de Paris  Parcours Révolution App  Black Paris Tours (Ricky Stevenson)  Le Paris Noir Tour (Kevi Donat)   Flash Invaders street art app  Want More?  How To Be a “New Tourist,” the Powers and Perils of Tourism, Embracing Tourist Traps, and the Impact of Travel With Paige McClanahan  3 Travel Trends You Should Know w/ Paige McClanahan  How To Explore Paris Like a Local, Working on Hospital Ships, and Becoming an Expat on a Mystery Visa With Jay Swanson  Thanks To Our Sponsors  Apple Card – Earn 3% back on the Apple products and services you love with Apple Card.  Moon Travel Guides – Use code ‘ZERO’ for 20% off your order.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jason Moore hosts the Zero To Travel Podcast, a long-running conversation that goes far beyond simple destination guides. It’s a deep dive into the intersection of travel, life, and work, exploring how movement shapes our understanding of society, culture, and business. Each episode feels like a candid talk with a fascinating friend, whether that’s a seasoned nomad, an entrepreneur building a location-independent life, or an expert sharing unconventional wisdom. You’ll hear tangible strategies for making travel a sustainable part of your reality, no matter your budget or starting point. The show has earned its reputation, recognized by major publications and downloaded millions of times, precisely because it focuses on the transformative mindset shifts as much as the practical logistics. Tuning in, you get the sense that this podcast is really about designing freedom. The stories and advice collectively build a toolkit for seeing the world-and your place in it-differently, encouraging you to move from dreaming to doing on your own terms.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Zero To Travel Podcast
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