The Michelin Red Guide and More Great Paris Reads

Michelin has published its 100th guide on France. This hefty tome, full of the best hotels and restaurants in France, is a necessary reference if you're headed on a dream trip any time soon. For our trip to Paris last fall, we borrowed stacks of books from the library beforehand. Planning a big trip is almost as much fun as being there. Whether you're a Lonely Planet kind of traveler or a Frommer/Fodor's girl, it's helpful to scan through a bunch of books to find all a city has to offer.

Looking for some fun inspiration? We've read a couple of great Paris centered historical fiction books lately: A Paris Wife by Paula McLain tells the story of Hadley Richardson, Hemingway's first wife and their years in Paris, and Madame Tussaud by Michelle Moran which gives an insider's look into the French Revolution. It does a great job of bringing to life historical figures like Marie Antoinette, Thomas Jefferson, and Robespierre. Happy travels!