Get a Taste of the Arizona Fresh Foodie Trail®
Ready to embark on a culinary adventure? The Arizona Fresh Foodie Trail® makes every bite something to savor. Discover the hidden gems and culinary hotspots that make this trail a must-visit for foodies visiting the area. Don't miss out on this gastronomic delight - read the full article now!
The Mesa area is vast, sprawling area that's developing with every passing second, even as you read this article. While I was there it was a unique experience to see the development and land and the area's ability to spread out and have space. Step out on the Fresh Foodie Trail and take a bite at a new adventure!
Driving into Mesa
Drive to Mesa with your own car from wherever you are or you can opt to fly. Mesa visitors flying into Phoenix can easily rent a car from Hertz or Enterprise at the Phoenix Mesa Gateway Airport. Then you can explore Mesa, Queen Creek, and Gilbert as desired. You can pick up and drop off at the airport so you don't have to drive willy-nilly around town.
San Diegans looking for a close trip can find a foodie haven in Mesa, Arizona. The flight from San Diego to Phoenix takes under 90 minutes, then it's a modest drive from Phoenix into Mesa. Mesa is similar to San Diego County in that it's spread out and covers a large area. You might go from Scottsdale, Mesa, Gilbert, or Queen Creek at any given point, just like you might have brunch at your favorite spot in Downtown San Diego, hike in Torrey Pines, and then drive up north to walk the pier in Oceanside.
Exploring the Arizona Fresh Foodie Trail
Visit Mesa has a full brochure and information you can check out on their website.
Queen Creek Olive Mill
Address: 25062 S Meridian Rd, Queen Creek, AZ 85142
If you enjoy high-quality extra virgin olive oil, then you have to pay a visit to Queen Creek Olive Mill, a blossom-to-bottle agritourism destination in Queen Creek, Arizona. Queen Creek Olive Mill has a radiant rainbow of extra virgin olive oils and balsamic vinegars that you can both sample and purchase. Take the Olive Oil 101 class while you're there to learn how the special process they use to make extra virgin olive oil and they'll also teach you how to correctly taste olive oil, which I found really interesting!
Schnepf Farms
Take the family for peach picking at the Schnepf Farms peach orchards while in season during May. Visit in autumn for The Pumpkin & Chili Party, an epic fall festival.
The Cozy Peach at Schnepf Farms
Address: 22601 E Cloud Rd, Queen Creek, Arizona 85142
Schnepf Farms has been growing peaches for over 50 years, offering a 8 varieties of peaches to the Queen Creek area. Now Schnepf Farms added glamping in restored vintage trailers to its repertoire. Guests can camp in style in one of the trailers, each has its own theme and designated decor.
Agritopia
Agritopia is huge, it's quite impressive. The idea of Agritopia started back in the 1960s when the Johnston family purchased the land and built their home. They nurtured the farm into what it is today, a thriving hub that brings the community together. Agritopia has a residential portion, a farm, Joe's Farm Grill, a coffee shop aptly named The Coffee Shop, and Barnone, which houses a dozen local artisans.
Barnone
Address: 3000 E Ray Rd, Gilbert, Arizona 85296
Barnone has a range of makers selling their work, from woodfire pizzas at Fire & Brimstone to ice cream at Cream of the Crop. I visited Garage-East for a wine tasting and their meat and cheese board. Sit around the table to chat at this bright wine bar. The wine tasting at Garage East has six wine tasters of your choice; they come in cool little test tubes. Take a moment to savor the art on the walls as you sip your wine.
Hayden Flour Mills at Sossaman Farms
Address: 19101 E Ocotillo Rd, Queen Creek, AZ 85142
Hayden Flour Mills is on a mission to bring the art of stone milling to the foreground. Tour the mill and learn more about the ancient and heritage grains. They have a pretty epic shop with items like purple barley berries, gazelle rye flour, pancake mix, emmer farro crackers, and more, so you can get a taste of ancient grains yourself.
Cider Corps
Address: 31 S Robson Suite 103, Mesa, Arizona 85210
Cider Corps, a veteran-owned and family-operated business, has two taprooms in Mesa and Gilbert, Arizona where they sell craft cider and canned cider. Thirsty patrons can come to Cider Corps and order a taster flight to sample a few of their options like the Mango Foxtrot with mango and rosehip or the 40 Myke-Myke, a collab with Myke's Pizza made with honey, as well as ancho and arbol chiles for a spicy kick.
Jalapeño Bucks
Address: 3434 N Val Vista Dr, Mesa, Arizona 85213
People come to Jalapeño Bucks for the bbq and burritos. They have a bunch of burritos to pick from, whether you're into the Green Chili Shredded Beef, Red Chili Shredded Pork, or the Brisket, Bean, and Cheese.
True Garden Urban Farm
Address: 5949 E University Dr, Mesa, AZ 85205
True Garden Urban Farm is the first and only facility of its kind in Phoenix where they grow living produce vertically without soil or rainfall. Only solar power and water are used. You can buy commercial or residential aeroponic tower farms, seedlings, or take a class to learn how it all works.
Proof Bread
Address: 125 W Main St, Mesa, Arizona 85201
Spare yourself the 11-hour flight to Paris. Instead, you can enjoy a delightful array of pastries from Proof Bread in Mesa, Arizona. So flaky and flavorful! Take a look at their website to learn more. 🥐
Other spots to check out:
The Orange Patch
Address: 3565 N Gilbert Rd, Mesa, AZ 85213
Steadfast Farm at Eastmark
Address: 5111 Inspirian Pkwy, Mesa, AZ 85212
Superstition Dairy Farms
Address: 3440 S Hawes Rd, Mesa, AZ 85212
Vertuccio Farms
Address: 4011 S Power Rd, Mesa, AZ 85212
The Windmill Winery
Address: 1140 W Butte Ave #48, Florence, AZ 85132
Arizona's Fresh Foodie Trail allows travelers to try fresh food from local farms, locally grown produce, wine tasting, live music, agritourism attractions, and everything you need to have an enjoyable time in the Mesa area. Visit Mesa has loads of information on different eateries on the Fresh Foodie Trail so you don't have to spend hours researching destinations, what's there, and why it's good.
If you're already based near Mesa and Scottsdale, then you might have time to pursue, taste, and get to know the nooks and crannies and morsels of the area. If you're a tourist or out-of-towner like myself, then save room because there are a lot of great places to check out. There's a lot to experience.
Encinitas Coffee Shops: Searching for the Best Coffee Shop in Town
North County San Diego offers plenty of friendly coffee shops to explore. Whether you're searching for the perfect breakfast menu for a family gathering or local restaurants to grab a fresh cup of coffee, there are so many amazing options near Encinitas.
Best Coffee Shops Near Me in Encinitas!
This town is really the perfect location to find a cool cafe especially if you love beach vibes, cool breezes, and the smell of salt in the air. Want to eat in or get takeout? You can always enjoy a cup of coffee in this fun beach town.
This list covers some of the best coffee shops in Encinitas, with locations in Downtown Encinitas, Leucadia, and Cardiff-by-the-Sea.
I’ll be adding more great locations to this list in the future.
*Updated as of September 2022
Better Buzz |
Better Buzz Coffee Encinitas
Better Buzz offers quick single-origin drinks like macchiato, latte, cortado, to name a couple. Their handcrafted beverages, served hot or cold, include options such as Best Drink Ever® (classic americano with their signature creamy vanilla), Honey Latte (espresso, creamy vanilla, honey, steamed milk), and more things to sip on. This cute shop also has teas, smoothies, sandwiches, fancy toasts, and cold brew on tap. Free Wi-Fi, open for takeout, dogs are allowed, vegan options too.
Address: 578 S Coast Hwy 101
Phone: (760) 487-5562
Website: Better Buzz Encinitas
Coffee Coffee
In this space, you'll find organic coffee roasted on-site by Revolution Roasters. Gotta love a quality coffee roast! The aroma smells delicious. Get a quick bite to eat from Coffee Coffee's breakfast menu with food such as the Jose Especial made with scrambled egg, spinach, tomato, red onion topped with avocado and feta. Pick between the housemade salsa fresca or choice of bread. lox bagel, acai bowl, avocado toast, breakfast wrap, and a lot more. They serve lunch too if you want to come for an afternoon meal.
Address: 970 N Coast Hwy 101
Phone: (760) 436-2233
Website: Coffee Coffee
Related reading: Things to Do in Encinitas: North County San Diego Gem
Encinitas Cafe
This cafe has a long history in town, originating in the 1930s as Fred's Cafe, then known as Zim's cafe into the 1950s. By 1960, the name was The Coffee Mill. The Encinitas Cafe name has stuck since 1989. If you're on the hunt for food, as in a full-on breakfast brunch, lunch menu scenario, this is the perfect spot to check out. Encinitas Cafe has an extensive four-page menu filled with breakfast classics such as delicious eggs benedict, mimosa, scrambles and lunch items like burgers, soup, salads, and hot open-faced sandwiches.
Address: 531 S Coast Hwy 101
Phone: (760) 632-0919
Website: Encinitas Cafe
GOODONYA® Organic Eatery
Find organic coffee and tea, such as a classic coffee to the Repair latte with collagen, lucuma, raw honey. From breakfast scrambles to organic sandwiches and salads, GOODONYA® offers a variety of organic, non-GMO goodies. This is one of those restaurants that has a little bit of everything. Open for delivery, takeout, curbside pickup, sit-down dining, indoor and outdoor seating, you name it. Great place to eat outside or grab a quick coffee by the coast.
Address: 1051 S Coast Hwy 101, Encinitas, CA 92024
Phone: (858) 264-8550
Website: GOODONYA® Organic Eatery
Lil Jungle Java
On a mission to support small businesses? Then this Encinitas coffee shop is worth your time. Available in the drive-through/takeout only, you can pick up a quickie drink before heading to work or on your next errand. Located in Encinitas Village Square II, Lil Jungle Java is a local favorite and hidden gem because it's a coffee stand versus a larger shop.
Address: 1500 Encinitas Blvd
Phone: (760) 917-5589
Related reading: Carlsbad Coffee Shops: Best Coffee in Carlsbad, California
Lofty Coffee |
Lofty Coffee Company
Lofty is a popular spot with multiple locations in San Diego County. I also included Lofty Coffee in my Carlsbad Coffee Shops guide: Searching for the Best Coffee in Carlsbad, California. This coffee shop has indoor and outdoor seating too. They serve fresh coffee, tea, pastries, hand-rolled croissants, muffins, and cookies. Who doesn't love a quality cookie?! They have yummy things such as their house coffee, Kyoto-style cold brew, Iced Hibiscus Lemon Grass and Blood Orange Tea, baked from scratch pastry and dessert such as almond croissant. Eat outside and enjoy the great scenery.
Address: 90 N Coast Hwy 101 #214
Phone: (760) 230-6747
Lofty Coffee Encinitas Roasting Works
Address: 97 N Coast Hwy 101
Phone: (760) 230-6747
Website: Lofty Coffee Encinitas
Related reading: Things to do in Oceanside, California - visit here to read!
Ironsmith Coffee Roasters |
Ironsmith Coffee Roasters
Order ahead to takeout and pick up at the counter or stay around to enjoy your beverage at this locally-owned Encinitas coffee shop. Ironsmith Coffee Roasters is a fresh, independent coffee shop and roastery that sells espresso beverages, specialty drinks, tea, chai tea, hot chocolate, and retail bag coffee to purchase to make at home. Roasts on pour might range so be sure to ask what they have or check their current menu.
Address: 458 S Coast Hwy 101
Phone: (626) 429-6397
Website: Ironsmith Coffee Roasters
Bump Coffee
This little coffee shop is located in Cardiff by the Sea park; it has a hole-in-the-wall vibe that you might just walk by on accident. Bump Coffee selects ingredients from geographically diverse regions in South America. Come for the coffee but stay for the empanadas.
Address: 126 Aberdeen Dr, Cardiff, CA 92007
Website: Bump Coffee
Pannikin Coffee & Tea
Pannikin has been serving the local community with coffee, tea, and other baked treats since 1968. This family-owned and operated business based in the heart of Leucadia, California roasts coffee and bakes daily for all four Pannikin locations in San Diego County. The Encinitas CA Pannikin is located in a historic Santa Fe Railroad Station built in 1888.
Address: 510 N Coast Hwy 101
Phone: (760) 436-5824
Website: Pannikin Coffee & Tea
Peet's Coffee
You might have heard of this coffee shop chain that sells handcrafted espresso beverages, freshly made coffee, Mighty Leaf teas, as well as warm breakfast. Peet's Coffee in Encinitas Village Shopping Center has the Peet's standard range of menu including hot coffee, seasonal drings, hot tea, iced drinks, and more.
Address: 1486 Encinitas Blvd
Phone: (760) 274-1280
Website: Peet's Coffee
Philz Coffee
Philz Coffee has quite a few locations throughout California as well as Chicago and the D.C Metro area. They serve some pretty interesting drinks in their featured creations, from Iced Coffee Rosé smooth and sweet iced coffee, topped with subtle rose cream to the Tesora, original coffee blend, which they recommend with cream and honey.
Address: 1060 S Coast Hwy 101
Phone: (760) 230-6880
Website: Philz Coffee
Queenstage Coffee House
Coffee, pastries, breakfast, lunch
Address: 190 N Coast Hwy 101, Encinitas, CA 92024
Website: Queenstage Coffee
Surfdog's Java Hut - Temporarily Closed
Address: 1126 S Coast Hwy 101
Woodsy Coffee
This cute spot features menu items such as the beet hummus toast or the buttermilk biscuit served with maple butter and local jam. They have specialty lattes like honey lavender and salted maple, coffee drinks, tea, and smoothies too!
Address: 875 Santa Fe Dr
Phone: (760) 452-6380
Website: Woodsy Coffee
Zumbar Coffee & Tea
Established in 2003, this San Diego boutique coffee roaster has locations in Sorrento Valley and Cardiff. Zumbar Coffee & Tea sells, you guessed it, coffee and tea: espressos to 16 oz. cold brew coffee to pastries such as locally baked almond croissants. People tend to love the friendly service and good prices.
Address: 111 Chesterfield Dr #115, Cardiff, CA 92007
Website: Zumbar Coffee & Tea
Coffee, Tea, and More in North County San Diego
Experience coffee with a view! Grab a cup of coffee then head near Moonlight Beach to watch the waves ebb and flow. Encinitas CA is close to Carlsbad/Carlsbad Village. You can also find a range of cafes in the area as well. These are more than what you'd consider an average coffee shop. L’Atelier de Paris is popular for its drool-worthy desserts. Visit a couple of the best coffee shops in Encinitas and savor the gift of caffeine. Click here to visit Encinitas Visitors Center website.
What are your favorite Encinitas coffee shops? Do you have a go-to order?
San Diego Influencer: What is Influencer Marketing? What Do Social Media Influencers Do?
I'm a blogger.
I'm an influencer.
I'm a social media manager.
I'm a blogging coach.
I'm a freelance writer.
I'm all of the above!
There are so many buzzwords these days - blogger, influencer, influencer marketing, engagement - but what does it all mean? Well, some have different meanings, some are similar, & some are industry words much like you'd view on a resume. I don't go around introducing myself as a San Diego influencer in all instances.
I've written over 500 blog posts & hundreds of posts on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, over the years. I've had a blog since 2011, long before I ever had an Instagram page. I majored in journalism & decided I didn't want to spend my life at a newspaper, the next best thing was a lifestyle blog. In 2011, it wasn't about followers, it was about finding a place on the internet where you felt at home. What a different time! In 2017, I quit my corporate job to find the next step for me: freelancing, remote work, writing, social media management.
Read my yearly freelancing anniversary updates from Years 1, 2, & 3!
Hanging out & hiking in Julian, California. |
When I do social media management for small local businesses & other clients, I'm a social media manager. What does a social media manager do in a day? Read here. When I'm completing contracted writing for magazines, I'm a freelance writer. If I'm invited to a restaurant opening in San Diego, it's probably because of my blog or social media accounts, so in that case, I'd call myself a San Diego influencer.
I remember attending a press trip for Visit El Paso in 2018 & talking to a man in his 50s. He was on the press trip too, but more on the event planning side, I was on the blogger side. He asked me about the term "influencer" & asked if that's what young people refer to themselves as these days. It was a good question.
Click here to contact me. I'd love to learn more about you & your top business needs.
Related reading: Life in Quarantine as a San Diego Blogger + Social Media Manager from April 2020
What Are Influencers vs. Bloggers?
Influencer marketing isn't just in San Diego or the United States, it's all across the world. There are influencers everywhere, from San Francisco & Los Angeles to New York & Paris & Warsaw, Poland. Overall, being a top blogger, influencer, etc. really depends on the person & what they want to be called. Generally, a blogger has a literal blog. Whether on WordPress, Wix, BlogSpot, SquareSpace, what have you, a blogger is a blogger because of a blog.
Someone who blogs is a blogger; someone who knits is a knitter; someone who plays basketball is a basketball player. It's more about the action, not about semantics.
Read this post for a whole exercise on how to find blogging inspiration & blog ideas.
An influencer might not have a blog but instead has a social media presence, such as Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, the list goes on. PS, read this blog post for tips to increase your Facebook reach. So because an influencer could be on any/all social channels, the term influencer is a general description of what we do. Social media influencers have influence because of the followers & online presence they've created, similar to a blog, but in a different capacity.
For example, at one point in May 2020, I had up to 2.2 million monthly viewers on my Pinterest profile. Is Pinterest social media?
A blogger might also have an active social media presence, & an influencer could have a blog. Because there isn't a magical exact preciseness to it all, each person might refer to themselves as something different! You can view examples of what a person calls themselves on their blog or social media channels, sometimes in their email signature.
Have questions about influencer marketing in the city of San Diego? Click here to contact me.
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What is Influencer Marketing?
Both the top influencers & bloggers create content, write (whether it's captions or blog posts), take photos, negotiate, & so much more. Whether you are a therapist, beauty brand, or a beach towel company, there are ways to improve engagement, get a follow or two, increase visits, increase page views to your contact page, & more.
Influencer marketing is basically like user-generated marketing for the brand; they essentially hire the influencer to do work, ie. content or photos & then share it with their family, friends, audience that they personally developed.
Sometimes I'm a lifestyle blogger, travel influencer, travel writer, social media consultant, the names change because I'm all of them. It depends on who I'm speaking to or what I'm doing! When I went on that press trip in Texas, it makes sense that I'm a California blogger/San Diego influencer since I'm coming in with a California perspective & California viewers make up one of my biggest percentage of followers.
Want to contact me? Click here.
What Do Social Media Influencers Do?
Lifestyle influencer marketing revolves around things people use, eat, or experience on a regular basis, such as tea or a toothbrush or a short trip with family. After the Texas press trip, I created content on my blog. I found a particular aspect about El Paso that I loved & felt my followers & Google searchers would be interested in or would search for later. I wrote a blog post about Franklin Mountains State Park & then shared that content on my social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TripAdvisor).
Going on the press trip gave me content to write about; it gave me experiences, memories, & furthered my own blogging/influencing career by being part of a full-on fly me out, pay for my hotel room type of press trip! In return, the influencers/bloggers create content, take photos, or tag the brand, link to the website, generate interest, views, website clicks, or bookings, etc.
A lot of times a top influencer becomes an influencer by being themselves. For example, I wrote a post about rainbow eucalyptus trees in Balboa Park, San Diego (which you can read here) & it started getting organic search traffic from people Googling fun things in San Diego or where to see rainbow eucalyptus in San Diego.
As an influencer or blogger, you don't work for someone else, it's your platform to use as you wish. As an influencer, it becomes a business that the person chooses what's best. They can choose if they want to work with fashion & style, news, beauty, travel, food.
And remember: it's not always about the number of followers, how much reach do they get? How much engagement?
For example, I had a campaign with Del Taco to promote the Beyond Meat range of burritos & tacos. As someone who has been meat-free for 15 years, I was already buying this product. It made sense to me when the email popped in my inbox about doing a sponsored post on Instagram to talk about it. Make money talking about something I already used, ate, tried? Yes, please. Take a look at my Instagram post!
If you'd like to contact me, click here.
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Examples of San Diego Influencer Marketing Events I've Attended
- I went to an event at Home & Away Encinitas for Thorn Beer. They invited foodie influencers to attend. These are regular people. Most of them have a day job, a life other than influencing. These are people who love food & probably post about it frequently, perhaps they use certain hashtags to find new followers. Take a look at my Instagram post about the event & experience here.
Related reading: Encinitas Coffee Shops: Searching for the Best Coffee in Town
- I was invited to the opening of the Scripps Ranch location of Juneshine. View my Instagram post from that event. This event was a bit younger, more modern, & fresh. Most influencers were young, under 40. It's all about the brand, Juneshine is a hard kombucha, which might have a fun, fresh young audience compared to a craft beer brand. The influencers you invite to your event should reflect your brand!
- I attended a mindfulness app launch party in San Diego a few years back at the start of influencer marketing. There was a range of professionals - not just bloggers. Each professional might have a different niche & audience, whether influencer or other local business representatives.
Is Influencer Marketing Free? What Does it Cost?
I've been invited to events across San Diego County. Sometimes a public relations company contacts me via email or sometimes you get a quick Instagram message about something from a brand itself. Each company or event is different. Sometimes there are no requirements for a particular event, they just invite you to feel free to post or not post. Sometimes they want you to post a couple Instagram Stories & other times it's more involved. This is where certain influencers have the leverage to have sponsored posts, posting fees, or other requirements, especially if a lifestyle influencer has a large following/reach. And yes, sometimes there is payment, depending on the campaign or type of sponsored collaboration.
Contact me or see about Coaching, Consulting, & Management for your small business.
On a press trip in Lompoc, California with Explore Lompoc. I wrote Fun Things to Do in the City of Lompoc, California on my blog. |
Finding an Influencer for Your Business
From La Jolla, Balboa Park, Del Mar, all the way up to Julian, there are events, restaurant openings, local businesses all around San Diego that could use lifestyle influencer marketing. It's all about finding the correct person for your brand. One influencer might offer daily posting on Instagram about local eateries to try in San Diego County while another might share home decor tips. Follow a few to get a feel for who's out there.
Related reading: How to Set Effective Personal & Business Goals So You Actually Get Things Done
You made it all the way to the bottom so what's the next step? Sometimes you have to take a leap & see what happens. If you need some help, I work with businesses on their engagement, blog writing, social media content, & more.
Whether you live in the city of San Diego or somewhere else, your business might benefit from influencer marketing. Have a question about social media influencers or small business influencer marketing? Contact me. Interested in social media management, help, or consulting? Fill out my Discovery Questionnaire & I'll get in touch with you within 48 hours.
Testimonials
“Very good job going above and beyond my request for stats. Appreciate you putting your critical thinking hat on when looking at the data and extrapolating actionable insights. This is excellent as we continue to test and tweak.” - R.W.
"Carmen helped me prioritize my goals for my brand as a whole. She provided me with skills to improve my decision-making in everything from blog topics, gauging my audience, and making my personality really shine through in my work." -K.S.
"I have so much more clarity about the direction we are headed in--and we are already seeing results! I implemented her SEO strategy a few weeks ago and in the past week we have started to see more referrals through Google. Most importantly, these are quality referrals that have booked with us right away and been eager to pay our full fee. Carmen keeps me accountable to my goals and also provides feedback on my marketing. I send her 90% of our content before it goes out, and she always thinks of ways to make it better." - C.A.
Want to hire me for social media management, consulting, or something else? Fill out my Discovery Questionnaire & I'll get in touch with you within 48 hours.
3 Years as a Remote Worker: Blogging Coach, Social Media Manager, & Travel Writer
Read my updates from Year 1 & Year 2!
Blogging + Influencer Events
Interested in social media management, help, or consulting? Fill out my Discovery Questionnaire & I'll get in touch with you within 48 hours.
Freelance Writing & Remote Work
Travel Influencer
What is a Blog Coach & Consultant? What is a Blogging Coach?
Interested in social media management, help, or consulting? Fill out my Discovery Questionnaire & I'll get in touch with you within 48 hours.
Press + Media
Read my updates from Year 1 & Year 2!
Traveling to France: Paris Travel Tips
Paris Tips
Three facts about the writer, Carmen: I always have fresh eucalyptus hanging in the shower. One time I spent the night at London Gatwick Airport. Out of all the cities in the world, I've explored Paris the most.
Paris Travel Tips
How to Not Look Like a Tourist in Paris, France: Do’s & Don’ts of Paris. Consider these France travel tips. |
1. Don’t Speak Extremely Loud, Do Be Aware of Your Volume
One of the first France travel tips is to mind your voice volume. This is applicable wherever you travel. I’ll never forget the American male tourist practically yelling in the metro station that he couldn’t understand the map. His booming voice echoed through the metro, implying his tourist stats to the two hundred or more people through the station. While I completely understand the frustration, the metro can be overwhelming for even a Paris novice, but he created an easy target on his back to get pickpocketed. Travel tips for France: Not only is it courteous to be aware of your volume, but you might blend in more or be less noticeable to pickpockets, scammers, etc.2. Don’t Dress Like a Tourist, Do Dress More Parisian
Traveling to Paris doesn't have to be scary. You can tell when someone is a tourist because French people are dressed nicely, probably commuting to work or heading to dinner with friends, but as a tourist, we’re dressed for comfort, you don’t have your entire wardrobe to choose from. Travel tips for France & anywhere: I’m a tourist, a traveler myself, but I try to blend in when I can. While this isn’t 100% here are some things to keep in mind: Parisians often wear neutrals. Parisians wear sneakers over the standard tennis shoe or running shoe. Think Stan Smith Adidas - here's a real photo from Paris of three types of white shoes. Look French, that's one of the easier France travel tips.3. Don’t Walk Around Naked, Do Wear Headphones
When you visit Paris, look around & you’ll see loads of people wearing their little white iPhone headphones or the occasional person with a wireless Bluetooth headphone, either way, many Parisians, especially the younger generation wear headphones while walking around town, commuting via metro or bus. Visiting Paris? Travel tips for France: You’ll blend right in if you listen to a downloaded podcast on Spotify or look at your phone's map to figure out the best places to visit in Paris, just do it with your headphones in. Sometimes I write notes on my phone, it helps me remember details & it looks like I’m a cool Parisian texting all my Parisian friends. Travel tips for France on how to not look like a tourist in Paris? Headphones or earbuds!4. Don’t Always Speak English, Do Learn Some French words - Even a Word or Two
Traveling to Paris? Learn some French words if you're visiting Paris! I took three years of French in high school since my family lives in France. It was always my goal to communicate with my cousins, but alas, I’ve forgotten most of the verb conjugations & all the accents: accent ague? Sometimes Fred & I can have an entire interaction in our butchered French. Let go of any language shame - just try. I literally pointed to a baguette & said “un croissant, s'il vous plais.” twice while the cashier was like…. “uh…c’est un baguette.” Like I know what it is, my brain messed up. Don’t worry, you’re going to feel silly, but you can’t improve if you don’t try. If anything, you'll learn travel tips for France from this post.5. Don’t Forget to Greet People, Do Say Your “Bonjours” and “Bon Soirees”
French culture means never not saying goodbye. In the USA, we often have “ghosting” culture where you leave without saying goodbye, you just kind of evaporate, disappear. Not when you're visiting Paris, honey. That’s seen as extremely rude. You’ll almost always be greeted when you enter and establishment & you’ll be wished a good day when you leave. For example, when you enter a boulangerie (a French bakery), the cashier will often say, “Bonjour Madame, Bonjour Monsieur.” You should always respond back. My travel tips for France: I usually just say exactly the same thing back to the person. After you order and are about to leave, they usually say “Bonne journée” if it’s day time - which means "Have a nice day." In the late afternoon & evening, many people will send you off with a “Bonne soirée” - basically "Have a good evening." Again, I simply say my pleases & thank you (si’l vous plait & merci) & then regurgitate what they say to me. At our flat in Paris, every time anyone walked passed you, you’d say “bonjour” or at least some acknowledgment or their presence. At my apartment in the USA, you can walk past your neighbor of 3 years without a hello, without even knowing their name. While walking the halls, this While I’m pretty introverted, it’s just different here & you have to push yourself out of the comfort zone. Traveling to Paris is an experience like no other.6. Don’t Go Without Internet, Do Get a SIM Card
You can't go traveling to Paris without a SIM card. I've done the bulk of my travels without the internet, simply relying on public Wi-Fi whenever possible. Some cities are easier, but in Paris, unless you hop inside a McDonald’s or Starbucks, you’ll be hard-pressed to find free internet. Plus you risk someone stealing your information, passwords, and potentially hacking you. I know, I had no clue about any of this either. I was blissfully logging into every free Wi-Fi. You can easily find SIM cards in Paris at the little phone, gadget, internet kiosks throughout the city. We purchased a 20 gig SIM card for 25 Euro. It allowed us to view maps on our phone without busting out a huge I’m-a-tourist paper map.7. Consider Getting the Paris Pass
Top Things to Do in Paris for First Timers
Are you traveling to Paris soon? What are your France travel tips? Are you visiting Paris? Do you have travel tips for France?