23/07/2026
🇫🇷 Europe 2026 - Day 16 (Part 1)
A Dream Come True at Versailles ✨👑
Day 16 of our European adventure was an absolute whirlwind, and there is no way I can fit everything into one post, so this day is getting two parts!
Our first stop was one of the places I had been looking forward to most on this entire trip—the Palace of Versailles. 👑
Ever since watching the period drama about King Louis XIV, I've dreamed of seeing this palace in person. Pictures are beautiful, but I had a feeling they couldn't possibly capture what it would be like standing there.
Unfortunately, after the difficult day Dom and I had on Tuesday, we knew we had a decision to make.
While Nik and Teagan spent the day at Parc Astérix riding roller coasters, Dad and I had planned to take Dom on a Paris food tour. Unfortunately, our little guy had an absolutely epic meltdown on the bus before we even made it there. We ended up turning around, skipping the food tour altogether, and I spent the rest of the day back at the apartment taking care of him.
Poor little dude had simply reached his limit.
This trip wasn't originally supposed to be quite this long. We ended up adding extra days because the flights worked out much cheaper, but apparently 17 days of trains, buses, hotels, sightseeing, and life in a stroller was about five days too many for our toddler. ❤️
So, when Wednesday rolled around, we knew Versailles probably wasn't the right place for him either.
That's when Nik stepped in.
Knowing how much Versailles meant to me—and knowing how emotionally drained I was after the previous day—he offered to stay back at the apartment with Dom so my dad, Teagan, and I could still go.
I wanted him there. He wanted to be there.
But we both knew it was the right decision.
I love that man so much for making that sacrifice so I wouldn't have to miss something I'd dreamed about for years. ❤️
I knew Versailles was going to be big...
But WOW.
Nothing could have prepared me for the sheer scale of this place.
Originally built as a modest hunting lodge for King Louis XIII, Versailles was transformed by his son, King Louis XIV—the famous "Sun King"—into the largest and most extravagant royal palace in Europe. It became the seat of French power for over a century, housing not only the royal family but thousands of nobles whose lives revolved around the king.
Standing in the enormous courtyards honestly felt less like visiting a palace and more like walking into an entire city.
We decided to do the audio tour, and I'm so glad we did. Hearing the stories behind each room while standing inside them made the entire experience come alive.
We explored the magnificent Royal Chapel, wandered through the King's and Queen's State Apartments, admired room after room overflowing with marble, gold leaf, priceless paintings, and crystal chandeliers, and eventually made our way into the famous Hall of Mirrors.
It was every bit as breathtaking as I'd imagined. ✨
The only downside?
Apparently everyone else in France had the exact same idea that morning. 😂
The room was packed shoulder-to-shoulder, making it a little difficult to stop and really soak everything in, but even with the crowds it was absolutely spectacular.
And the sculptures...
They were everywhere!
Versailles contains hundreds of sculptures throughout the palace and gardens—well over 400 in the gardens alone—so every hallway, courtyard, and pathway seemed to reveal another masterpiece.
About halfway through exploring the palace, we stopped for lunch at Angelina, one of the palace's famous restaurants.
Angelina is legendary for its rich hot chocolate and elegant French pastries, so of course we couldn't pass up the opportunity.
The food looked almost too beautiful to eat.
Dad and I both ordered the Vol-au-Vent Soleil, while Teagan confidently chose the roasted salmon...along with the famous hot chocolate.
Not exactly the combination I would have expected.....but she was happy, so who am I to judge? 😂
Of course, we couldn't leave without dessert.
I ordered the Tourbillon Framboise, which was absolutely incredible—light, creamy, and bursting with raspberry flavor.
Dad tried Angelina's famous Mont-Blanc, the dessert that has made the restaurant famous for more than a century.
Lunch gets an easy A+ from me. 🍰☕
After lunch, we finally headed outside into the gardens.....and somehow they were even more impressive than the palace.
I couldn't stop thinking about my mom.
She would have absolutely been in heaven here. 🌷❤️
Perfectly manicured hedges stretched in every direction.
Massive reflecting pools.
Hidden groves.
Miles of walking paths.
Beautiful ponds.
Fountains.
More fountains.
Then even more fountains.
It honestly felt endless.
You could spend an entire day wandering the gardens and still not see everything.
Eventually, we reached two of the fountains I'd seen in countless photos over the years, including the magnificent Bassin d'Apollon, where Apollo—the Greek god of the sun—rises triumphantly from the water in his golden chariot pulled by four horses.
The fountains weren't running while we were there, but honestly, they didn't need to be.
They were stunning all on their own.
The ponds were also home to some of the biggest fish I've ever seen! 🐟
One surprise I wasn't expecting was a really fascinating VR experience exploring France's role in helping the American colonies win their independence from Britain.
Within about twenty minutes we somehow found ourselves chatting with Benjamin Franklin, helping build a sailing ship, climbing into a crow's nest, conducting an orchestra, sipping hot chocolate, and learning just how important the French alliance was during the American Revolution.
It was such a fun and unique way to experience history.
Eventually, the heat and all the walking started catching up with both Dad and Teagan.
I probably could have wandered those gardens for another three or four hours.....but they were both officially melting. 😅
So instead of tackling another train ride and more walking, we decided to call an Uber back to the apartment.
We definitely didn't get to see everything Versailles has to offer.....but what we did experience was absolutely unforgettable.
And honestly...
The day wasn't even close to over.
That evening would involve hundreds of stairs, one very terrified girl with a fear of heights, one determined husband, one adventurous seven-year-old.....and one of the most unforgettable nights of our entire trip. 🗼✨
Part 2: Back to the Eiffel Tower... coming next! 🇫🇷❤️
