Museums in Paris that Aren't the Louvre

If you're looking at planning a trip to Paris and finding it pretty expensive, I encourage you to try to see the city in a different way. Yes, you probably want to visit the Eiffel Tower (I always do), but there are so many ways to save in the city that most people don't realize. I have a confession: I've been to Paris 3 times and have never visited the Louvre. I've taken photos outside it, but the lines are always crazy.

On previous trips to Paris, we attempted to visit the more mainstream museums and always found that waiting in a line for an hour or two was not a good use of our time. If you have one of them on your must-do list, by all means, prioritize that, but I think you can get a great museum experience by going to the lesser-known ones. Let me tell you about my new favorites:

This is the ceiling of a little closet room. Just all owls. Staring at you.

The Museum of Hunting and Nature (Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature)

I'm not a big fan of hunting, though for some reason, I'm fascinated by taxidermy. I had read an article on Messy Nessy Chic called A Guide to Wes Anderson's Paris years ago and immediately put it on my list of things to do in Paris for my next visit. It took 5 years to get there, but I made it and I was not disappointed in this museum. 

I don't know if this artist ever saw a dog IRL, but this painting delights me

This museum is somehow both rustic and vibrant, colorful and crammed with treasures. There is a whole cabinet full of weird soup tureens, like ones that are just boars' heads, and another with horse armor. You'll find a ton of paintings of nature on the walls. It for sure celebrates animals in all forms.

This room was my favorite with these gorgeous chairs and paintings of hunting dogs and dead pheasants on tables with other dinner essentials. It has a gorgeous wallpaper and equally gorgeous drapes (which I failed to capture in any photos, because of the way the sun came into the room) and a sweet little resident.

This is just one of the many pieces of taxidermy in this museum. In fact, there's an entire room of "trophies", including the weirdest animatronic boar you've ever seen, and several rooms of vintage hunting rifles. Somehow, you feel like you're in a very luxe manor, but it's also cozy and inviting. It's very romantic in an odd way. 

Now, if stuffed animals (some of which are extinct) bothers you in any way, this is not for you at all, but I am always in awe of the artists that can make a deceased animal look absolutely real. Admission is very affordable, at about $13 per person. I recommend buying tickets online ahead of time to ensure you are able to visit if you go during a busy time. We did, but there were still hardly any people there around 3pm.

Paris hanging signs and building decorations

Carnavalet Museum

Unlike much of the other museums in Paris, this one is free to enter. It is dedicated to the history of Paris and there are many different sections, so there's a bit of something for everyone. 

Medieval architecture with gargoyles and grotesques

Learn how the city grew, all about the changing architecture, and iconic buildings. Like many other important attractions, Carnavalet educates you through signs, textiles, and models. Upstairs is a full art museum. 

I'll forever love these gorgeous walls and fireplaces in older buildings. I'm also very into furniture through the ages.

Juliette Gréco, singer and actress, by Robert Humblot

I hope to return to see more of this museum, as we kind of got there about an hour from closing. They have an entire floor of Parisian artists, including this one above that really caught my eye. I adored the whole vibe and would immediately decorate my whole house around this piece if I owned it.

The Centre Pompidou

We returned to my favorite museum anywhere. The 6-story museum has all the things: sculptures, paintings, performance, textiles, and more. Everything from impressionist to watercolors, metal to wood, itty bitty pieces to those that take up an entire room. There was one room that was walls that were just fallen leaves contained in metal cages, which wouldn't have been that interesting, but every leaf was the same color and I thought that was pretty impressive.

You'll find famous artists and some of your new favorites. With so many things to take in, you could easily spend an entire day here.

Spend some time outside in the sculpture "garden". This is where people go and admire the Paris skyline, sketch people and art, and get some fresh air. It might be far away, but there's the Eiffel Tower back there. I watched as a bunch of pigeons flew in and drank from the water feature and then took off after they were rested and hydrated. That was great entertainment for me.

Le Monstre de Soisy, by Niki de Saint Phalle

Here's one of my favorite pieces that I saw on this visit. A monster made up of trash, like that spray paint can in the inset. There's, literally, so much here, including a special exhibit on the top floor next to their restaurant, so you can easily take a break and refuel. There's also a café on the ground floor. If you want to learn more about the Pompidou, I wrote about it after my last visit. 

Admission rates at the time of this post are $15 for the main museum and $18 if you want to include the special exhibit. The euro is almost 1 to 1 to the dollar right now, so I am quoting in dollars, as it makes it easy to not do conversions.

Paris Sewer Museum (

Musée des Égouts de Paris)

Not every museum in the city is dedicated to traditional works of art. Some show you history through an unconventional means. Paris had the first modern sewer system and they are proud of that, as they should be. I wrote a whole post on this museum that resides under the city streets. This is a good museum for engineering, city planning, and mechanical nerds, or for those that are just super curious and like learning new things.

Museum of Magic (Musée de la Magie or Musée de la Curiosité et de la Magie)

Are you a lover of all things magic? If so, this small museum in the basement of the Magic Academy might be for you. It houses a private collection of objects of illusion, magic mirrors, secret boxes, and other magic-related items. You can also see magic shows here and a large collection of automats (mechanical devices that appear to work entirely under their own power). 

The museum is small and photos aren't allowed, but if you adore magic, the $10 admission fee isn't too steep for the visit. It's also housed underneath the home of the Marquis de Sade, so if you are into history, at least go check out the building.

The entire city

If museums aren't your thing, or you're trying to save money, but you still want to see some great art, just walking around the city can satisfy your needs. As in many other cities, Paris is covered in some amazing murals and graffiti. Look down alleys, look up, look down, and keep an eye out for Space Invaders and little sketches on the sides of buildings as well.

I'm not sure if this was on the other side of an actual fencing academy, but this wall just had badass fencing ladies along the length.

Even the Metro stations are beautiful. This one is down the stairwell of the deepest station in Paris, properly called the Abysses, which translates to bottomless chasms. 

One morning we came out of brunch to this vibrant piece. At the time, I wished the tables and chairs weren't there, but now I think they add to the cool look. Imagine dining next to this.

And I leave you with this hilarious piece I found in an alley around the corner from our Paris flat: A Witch Doctor. LOL!

I hope this little visit to some of the less-crowded places in Paris to view art was fun and gives you a new way of coming up with your trip plan. Paris can be budget-friendly, if you know how to do it, but always know when to splurge to get the most out of your visit.

What are some of your favorite art cities?

How To Save Money On Your Romantic Getaway

As someone who hasn't celebrated Valentine's Day since I was a teenager, and even then didn't love it, I say make the holiday whenever you want and skip the crazy prices on the day/weekend/week itself. Take a getaway later in February or even March. Your money will go a bit further and you won't be fighting with a ton of other couples for overpriced "romance packages". 

Here are ways you can get away for less:

Use Groupon for things to do or places to eat

Groupon is an amazing site that offers deals on a wide assortment of things, not least of which is dining. I always set up notifications for my upcoming destinations and have the app on my phone, so I never have to print out a certificate if I don't have to. Dining certificates can be purchased quite often and many times you can grab a half-off gift certificate to a new local restaurant or one just trying to bring in new customers. 

We've used it for city tours, dinners, escape rooms, and even concerts. Sign up at Groupon for the destination of your next vacation (they cover many international locations as well as the United States and you can change your notifications at any time) and eat and go to attractions for less!

Scour Travelzoo's Top 20

Travelzoo has a Top 20 each week that they put out with their best deals, but you can also search for trips and portions of your trip directly on their site for cheaper activities, tours and more!

 

Invest in a city attraction card

If you have a list of must-dos on your list, check the ones offered on the city card of that destination to see how many are offered on that card. You can save up to 55% on a list of attractions and activities when you use GoCards or CityPASS. If they aren't available for either of these cards, because you're going out of the country or just because they aren't, just Google "city card [destination city]" and often you'll find something that works.

Get a vacation rental

Hotels can be expensive and don't give you great privacy or make you feel like you're that far away from others, so I usually opt for a vacation rental. You can find something for any budget and for however you like to travel. We almost always go for Airbnb when we aren't staying in a timeshare and are doing a stay of more than a couple nights. We've stayed in everything from a studio up to a three-bedroom, apartments, homes and even an Airstream trailer, from one night to one week and have been happy with our choices and always felt safe and like locals. 

Pick one splurge meal

If you're on a strict budget, pick a splurge meal and go to affordable restaurants the rest of your trip. If you have a bit more leeway in what you're spending, choose one meal to go big on. I do some research before I go and try to make reservations at restaurants I definitely want to eat at and choose the meal that won't totally break our bank. When we were in Palm Springs, I mostly chose breakfast to reserve and then filled in with more affordable options. If you're on a really tight budget, I recommend using the kitchen in your vacation rental.

Rent someone else's car

I try to use my own car when I can, but I am a big car renter. Rentals have almost always been kind of expensive, but since the pandemic and the rental companies sold off most/all their fleets they have been outrageous pretty much at all destinations now. I have been exclusively using Turo for my rental needs for 4 years now. Cars are owned by individuals and you rent from them through the app. I've had cars dropped off for me and also done contactless pick-up. Both have been great and all the cars we've had have been awesome. Think of it like Airbnb, but for cars.

Sign up for Turo for free (they will ask for your driver license info to do a quick background check on your driving record) and get a $25 credit, + refer a friend and you both get a $25 credit once they travel with Turo.

Hopefully, these tips can help you take an alternative Valentine's Day getaway, or even a regular trip another time of the year. What are your favorite romantic destinations?

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through them, I may be compensated monetarily. Thanks in advance for any purchases you make. It helps me continue to run this blog and bring you my best budget travel tips.

LGBTQ+ Friendly Palm Springs

Queer/gay couples looking for a quick getaway in a very friendly city should absolutely look to Palm Springs, especially if you want a destination that's warm, easy to navigate, and doesn't require a passport or too much time to get to. The city caters to all types of visitors, including the queer community, and I loved it.

I picked up two city brochures with 'best of' lists when I got to town. The first one was specifically for the Palm Springs gay scene and the other one was, too, though, I didn't realize it until I opened it up. It had quite a few things that would be of interest to most people, but the bars, hotels, and nightlife were targeted to the gay community. Both claimed that Palm Springs celebrated Pride everyday, and I could definitely see that while exploring the city.

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If you know me at all or follow me on Instagram, you know I love brunch. Almost every restaurant in Palm Springs that was open for breakfast served brunch, even outside of the weekend, which is rare. Not only can you find a great brunch all over town (I recommend the one at Farm), but I saw a whole list of drag brunches as well. We weren't in town long enough to get in on one of those, but I would love to go to one next time we visit.

The city has it's own Walk of Fame, with stars that had a connection to Palm Springs and I noticed many of them were gay icons, like Elizabeth Taylor, Lynda Carter, and Kathy Griffin, and then famous gays, like Rock Hudson and Ross Matthews. I loved how they celebrated their famous residents and guests this way. It made walking down the street even more interesting.

The city is so colorful and exudes cheer that you can't help but feel happy looking around at all the vibrant colors of buildings, houses, and shops. Trixie Mattel, of Drag Race fame, purchased an older hotel that needed a lot of love with their husband and turned it into the Trixie Motel. The small lodging is bright Barbie pink and welcomes guests to their one-of-a-kind rooms by way of a private entrance and cactus garden. Celebrities, gay and straight, have stayed here, and the late great Leslie Jordan even handpainted lamps in the guest rooms. Though expensive, rates are not entirely out of reach for the regular person to enjoy a secluded getaway here.

A bit down the block and around the corner, you'll find Piazza di Liberace, an old residence of Liberace's when he wasn't living in Vegas while performing. It's now privately owned, but the front of the home is opulent and gorgeous with a mailbox that's a piano. I love that the new owners didn't change this part of the home. Liberace actually owned two other homes in Palm Springs, but this is the only one that still looks as it did when he was alive. Some years, during Modernism Week, this home is opened to the public for architecture tours.

Though small, Palm Springs has it's own dedicated area for gay shopping and nightlife. Arenas Road is an entire block full of fetish-gear, gay bars and more. The title pic at the top is from one of those bars that has a whole mural in front of the many faces of Freddie Mercury from Queen.

Another photo op was this pair of colorful sparkling wings. Even on a week night this street was hopping and I can't blame them. I imagine later it would be even busier. Everyone looked to be having a great time and if you drove down there, the parking was full and we had to park down the block on the street in order to pick up food we ordered around the corner from there. They were cranking out the jams and I'll admit that I danced down the street on my way to get our dinner.

So, if you want a gay-friendly getaway that's not too overwhelming, but also has opportunity to go hiking, skiing, dancing, and more, Palm Springs may be for you. And if you're traveling solo, I believe it's just as easy to navigate, since you know where all the hottest spots are, can stay at all-gay accommodations, and might even meet someone special while you're there.

If you've been to Palm Springs, what did you love most about it?