My family have all been to Paris, France. My wife and I early on made a commitment to take our kids to places where they could learn things that can't be taught from books. I clearly remember as a youth riding on the bullet train in Japan and looking out and seeing kids my age working in the rice paddies. I had an epiphany right then and there that you could never have taught me otherwise...."shut up and be grateful for what you have, and quit your spoiled little snotty kid whining." 35 years later I still think about that.

Standing in front of THE Mona Lisa at the Louvre, or walking through Rodin's gardens, or climbing to the top of the Notre Dame, watching the painters and booksellers along the Seine, seeing Van Gogh's brush strokes at the Musee d'Orsay....these are amazing things that stay with you.