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

An episode of the Zero To Travel Podcast podcast, hosted by Jason Moore, titled "5 Unexpected Things to Do in Paris and 3 Hidden Gems in France with Paige McClanahan" was published on July 29, 2025 and runs 59 minutes.

July 29, 2025 ·59m · Zero To Travel Podcast

Summary

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

Episode Description