Terra Brown

A Magical Mother-Daughter Adventure to Remember

There's something truly special about embarking on a mother-daughter adventure, and our trip to London and Paris with the moms and daughters from our Girl Scout Troop was nothing short of amazing. In November 2019, with 8 adults and 10 girls between us, we set out on a once-in-a-lifetime trip! Our timing during Thanksgiving week turned out to be perfect, as we enjoyed better rates for flights and accommodations in Europe, where Thanksgiving isn't celebrated. During the year leading up to our trip, the girls decided to host several fund raising efforts to pay for some of the experiences they wanted to enjoy while in London and Paris. This included garage sales (many, many garages sales), bake sales, lemonade stands, and more. Let me tell you how proud they were when they were able to pay for so many incredible things with their efforts! 

First stop- London- A Winter Wonderland Our adventure began in London, where we explored all that the city had to offer, and took in the holiday spirit. A super fun highlight to kick off our visit was to the Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, where twinkling lights, carnival games, delicious hot cocoa, and festive cheer filled the air. The girls, and us moms, had an absolute blast!  We also embarked on a whirlwind 3-day city sightseeing tour of our own, introducing the girls to iconic landmarks like Big Ben, The London Eye, Buckingham Palace, a tour of Tower of London, and of course Platform 9 3/4. However, one of the most magical moments awaited them at The Chesterfield Mayfair, where the girls got dressed up and indulged in a Holiday Tea. They couldn't contain their excitement as they filled their bags with candies from the vintage candy cart – a memory that will surely last a lifetime in this mommy's mind.

Paris: Dreams Come True- After leaving pieces of our hearts in London, we hopped on the Eurostar, through the Chunnel, bound for Paris. The girls were giddy with excitement to see the city that had captured their imaginations, sparking the entire reason for this special trip- their dream to see the Eiffel Tower in person. Nothing could have prepared us moms for the expressions on their little faces as they gazed upon the Eiffel Tower illuminated at night, sparkling like a beacon and twinkling in their little eyes. I actually snapped a quick photo of my daughter’s first view of the Eiffel Tower and I have it hanging in our home as a reminder of that special moment in time. Our adventure through Paris continued with a beautiful, yet chilly, evening cruise along the Seine River, offering twinkling views of the City of Light. Several girls even had the opportunity to don aprons and take part in a private pastry baking class, which was not only fun and delicious, but also one of the educational experiences they raised money to enjoy. The “pièce de resistance” of our Parisian adventure was undoubtedly spending Thanksgiving Day at Disneyland Paris! The girls fund raised diligently for this magical day, and it was heart warming to witness their wide-eyed wonder as they enjoyed themselves in the magic of the park. We live in California, so these girls are already Disneyland experts. However, it's not every day that kids of their age can boast about celebrating Thanksgiving at Disneyland Paris! What a moment to be thankful for, right?! 

Treasured Memories- I can't stress enough how invaluable mother-daughter trips are, regardless of age. They create a special bond and a lifetime of memories. This adventure with the moms and daughters of our Girl Scout Troop was not just a trip; it was an opportunity to make magical memories together. I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone, at any age. TAKE THE TRIP! It's a reminder that some of life's most cherished moments come from shared experiences, laughter, and exploring the world with the ones we love most. As time has passed, the girls have grown older, and might not remember every detail of our incredible adventure. However, we have memory books and a passport ready for a return trip because some memories are meant to be relived!