O.A.T. Senior Copywriter Megan Mullin traveled on The Seine: Paris to Normandy with her daughter, Lily—a budding artist who found plenty of inspiration.
From one mother embarking on her first international trip with her daughter to two daughters returning the favor with mom, our copywriters have been sharing their love of travel by land, sea, and river. Have you taken an intergenerational O.A.T. or Grand Circle trip? Share your story in an email to [email protected].
Sharing my love of travel—and art—with my first born in France
By Megan Mullin, Senior Copywriter
“A River Cruise with your mom! How special! What’s the occasion? Eighteenth birthday? A graduation?”
My oldest child Lily and I would look at each other whenever a fellow traveler asked us this question. Lily was a month shy of 19 at the time, and about to enter sophomore year of college. We’d shrug. Finally, I would say, “No, nothing specific. We just wanted to travel together!”
A few years ago, my mother and I embarked on Christmas Markets Along the Danube. It was the first time she and I had ever traveled together, just the two of us, and it ended up being a truly memorable experience. Last summer, I realized that I was now in the unique position to flip those roles and discover what it would be like to be the mom in a mother-and-child traveling duo. Lily is an art student, so Grand Circle Cruise Line’s The Seine: Paris to Normandy River Cruise was a no-brainer for our first trip together.
Lily kept her sketchbook at the ready.
Our journey began fittingly enough in Paris—an art lover’s dream. Just exploring the various arrondissements (neighborhoods) felt like walking through a living painting. Almost everywhere we went, Lily felt inspired to pull out a fresh sketchbook and begin drawing everything we saw: A barge docked next to our ship, people lounging outside the Louvre, and a charming corner market offering an abundance of fresh fruit.
During our free time in Paris, we made sure to visit at least one of the city’s world-renowned museums, Musée d'Orsay. Lily made a beeline for the Impressionists, especially Monet’s Water Lilies and Vincent van Gogh’s Self-portrait. Lily and I frequently visit Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts together, but there was something so magical about gazing upon these magnificent works of art in the country where they were created. Not only that, but these two paintings were also a sneak preview of more experiences that awaited us along the Seine.
For an embarrassed teenager, Lily looks perfectly comfortable posing for mom at Giverny.
Before we’d even departed for France, Lily and I both knew we wanted to take the optional Path of Van Gogh tour in Arles. As we followed in the footsteps of van Gogh’s last days, we were amazed by how little the familiar landscapes that became the vibrant paintings we know today had changed, if at all. The next day, our artistic education continued with a visit to Claude Monet’s home and gardens in Giverny. Water Lilies is one of Lily’s favorite paintings (the name helps!), so I made sure to take on the mantle of Annoying Mom and insist on taking pictures from every angle of the famous pond. Lily may have been embarrassed in the moment but will thank me later. Probably.
Art was never in short supply in France, but my favorite artist of the trip by far was Lily. It is so rare that I have the chance to sit quietly at an outdoor café (a popular French pastime that become our favorite as well) and watch as this brand new adult—once my tiny baby—brought the world around us to life with just a pen, dedication, and a wealth of talent that continues to impress me every day. I cannot recommend traveling with your grown-up kids enough. It elevates the joy of travel to something much more precious: The gift of uninterrupted time to get to know the person they are becoming.
From espresso to escargot: Our first O.A.T. mother-daughter adventure
By Madilyn Amico, Copywriter
Madilyn and mom in Portoferraio, Elba, during their first O.A.T. adventure together.
When I decided the French & Italian Rivieras: Avignon, Corsica, Elba, & Rome Small Ship Adventure would be my first trip with O.A.T., the choice for my travel companion was simple. I invited my mom—a seasoned traveler, lover of all things Italian, and the keeper of our family’s culinary traditions—to experience it all with me.
Throughout our journey, we found ourselves most excited for the culinary adventure we were about to set off on. Rome welcomed us with a creamy truffle carbonara I still dream about. We spent our free time in seaside cafés double-fisting espresso and wine, observing locals. The pastel-hued villages of Cinque Terre introduced us to pillowy soft focaccia, pistachio and Nutella stuffed pastries, and delicate handmade pasta. During A Day in the Life experience at a local olive oil factory, we learned that the best pesto is made in a mortar and pestle.
The stuff dreams are made of in Rome: truffle carbonara.
The bar was set high during our 2-night stay on Elba Island. Knowing my mother and I wanted to visit a winery, our Trip Experience Leader set up a private wine tour and tasting for us at the oldest vineyard on the island, Tenuta La Chiusa. As soon as our taxi crossed the gate, an avenue of olive trees led us onto the estate.
With views of the Portoferraio gulf, the vineyard seemed to stretch right down to meet the sand. We learned this is what made the wine so special—a combination of the salty wind; red clay soil, rich in iron and minerals; and modern winemaking techniques. After our tour, we sat down to an assortment of pairings: a bianco wine paired excellently with homemade pesto served on smoked cod; a Moscato-like wine and homemade roasted-red pepper hummus on taralli (Italian crackers); and a dessert wine served with cheese and drunken cake (a bright-pink bread with candied fruit and nuts).
We ended our night at a seaside osteria, dining on a full course meal as if the wine pairing wasn’t enough. We decided we’d try frutta del mare and the catch of the day, turbot, a popular flat-fish served in the Mediterranean. Afterall, the island of Elba is shaped like a fish! Not knowing the chef would debone it and serve it to us tableside, our meal became a performance.
Meals onboard our small ship ended up being some of the most relaxed and enjoyable moments of the trip. Each meal offered a variety of options, often reflecting the French and Italian flavors of the places we were visiting. Mom and I made a point of sitting with different travelers throughout the trip, and those conversations became one of the quiet highlights of our days—hearing about where people had traveled and what brought them on this adventure.
Madilyn and her mother at an al fresco BBQ on the sun deck.
Toward the end of our journey, we celebrated with a casual BBQ dinner on the sun deck. It felt like the perfect way to toast to our days of exploring—grilled favorites, a warm breeze, and everyone swapping stories as the sun dipped behind the water. It was a moment I didn’t want to leave.
One night after dinner, the chef stepped out from the kitchen for a small demonstration, casually whisking eggs and folding them into a classic German omelet. It wasn’t a big production but watching him cook just a few feet from us—cracking jokes and sharing memories of cooking for his son—made the meal feel personal, like we were guests in someone’s home rather than passengers on a ship.
Cured pork fat on crostini in Marina di Carrara—because one should never count calories in France and Italy.
But one of the most memorable days on the itinerary was in Marina di Carrara. The morning started off with our Trip Experience Leader arranging a “not-on-the-itinerary” lardo (cured pork fat) tasting before we visited the marble quarry. I won’t lie—mom and I were very hesitant to try it, but it wasn’t too bad with the bread and tomato it was served with. And the wine.
That afternoon was spent with a local family—a mother and daughter, to be exact—during our Home-Hosted Lunch. With just six of our fellow travelers, we gathered at their patio table for a three-hour meal in the garden. A smorgasbord of tiny bites graced our plates: a slice of zucchini galette, eggplant lasagna, pâté, and more lardo, of course. We went around the table, sharing family traditions as we washed it all down with tiramisu. The best part? Their secret family tiramisu recipe was shared with me and my mom—I just have to translate it.
In Nice, a meal of escargot reminded Madilyn’s mother of her own first taste in her travels.
We ended our trip in Nice, France, where the turquoise water took our breath away and sun-soaked promenades lined with effortlessly chic locals. After a morning sightseeing, my mom pulled me into a casual spot with two must-haves on the brain: salade niçoise and escargot. It was my first time trying both, and as I hesitated over the tiny shells glistening in garlic butter, she smiled and told me about her first trip to France—when she was my age—and how she, too, had tried escargot for the first time. Sitting there together, tasting the same flavors decades apart, it felt like the simplest meal had become a quiet thread between us and the place itself.
Each day became a parade of unforgettable meals. As we discussed our plans for recreating everything we tasted, we realized the best souvenirs were the recipes, stories, and new traditions we’d bring home. But the most lasting part of the journey was spending uninterrupted time with the woman that shaped me.
Swiss Dreams Are Made of These
By Sarah West, Senior Copy Manager
Sarah and her mother amidst the pristine scenery of Switzerland.
For years, Switzerland’s rugged Alpine peaks, quaint villages, and crystal-clear lakes have been calling my mom’s name. But my dad’s disability makes it hard for her to get away. The last time we traveled internationally together was in 2016, so we were long overdue for another mother/daughter trip. This time, I was determined to make her Swiss dreams a reality—and Grand Circle Travel’s Romantic Villages of Alpine Europe trip fit the bill perfectly.
At 16 days, it was just the right length for both of us. And the itinerary, which covers five countries—Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, and Germany—offered the perfect blend of breathtaking landscapes, cultural experiences, and outright indulgence.
We explored opulent palazzos on Italy’s Borromean Islands. During a stop at a winery in Liechtenstein, our table of women travelers enjoyed our lunch so much, our hosts started calling us “the thirsty girls.” We grappled with the region’s history during a conversation with an Austrian woman about her family’s experiences in World War II. And we dined and danced to Bavarian folk tunes performed by a couple of lederhosen-clad musicians.
But Switzerland was the draw—and it absolutely delivered. The scenery was unreal: From the crooked peak of the Matterhorn jutting into the cloudless sky and waterfalls surging from cliffsides, to the impromptu picnic and frigid swim at Lake Thun, and the train ride to the Kleine Scheidegg mountain pass, our four days in Switzerland were packed with moments that wowed us both.
Clearly a passion for thrill-seeking runs in the family!We also leaned fully into Alpine life: One day we carved little wooden cows at a woodcarving museum outside Interlaken. Afterward, we took our new bovine buddies out for spritzes—joined by a solo traveler we’d befriended on the trip. Three women, their cow companions, and cocktail hour backdropped by the Jungfrau Mountain: a perfect evening.
An unexpected treat was the amount of time we had to pursue our own interests. We found herby goat cheese at an outdoor market in Stresa; ferried across Lake Maggiore to a dreamy botanical garden; and enjoyed a traditional Austrian music concert in Seefeld’s town square.
We realized the true value of our free time in Switzerland: Upon our arrival in Interlaken, our Program Director informed our group that it’s one of the best places in the world to paraglide, and if any of us wanted to give it a shot, he’d help arrange it.
Mom and I didn’t even need to discuss it—we signed up without hesitation, and two days later, we were running off a mountainside and enjoying unbeatable views of the landscapes mom had wanted so badly to see.
Whether you’re inspiring a budding artist or seeking inspiration yourself, follow in the footsteps of Monet and Van Gogh on The Seine: Paris to Normandy.
