What happens when a mother, daughter, and best friend set out on a road trip across France to celebrate a milestone birthday? In Celebrating 75 Years with Vanessa Christman, host Annie Sargent talks to Vanessa, a librarian from California, about the trip of a lifetime: Mother-Daughter Celebrating a 75th Birthday in France.

Get the podcast ad-free

Vanessa planned this adventure around her mom’s long-time love of France. They landed at Charles de Gaulle, picked up a rental car, and hit the road. From charming Burgundy villages like Tournus, to the sparkling Mediterranean coast near Martigues, to the lavender-scented hills of Provence and the grand castles of the Loire Valley — they saw it all.

Along the way, they visited abbeys, tasted Gigondas wine, created custom perfumes in Grasse, explored markets in Carpentras, and dined at a Michelin-starred restaurant in Ardèche. Vanessa shares what went right (most things), what went wrong (French tacos!), and her top tips for traveling with someone who has reduced mobility.

This episode is full of practical travel advice and heartfelt reflections. It’s especially helpful for anyone dreaming of a multigenerational trip to France.

Subscribe to Join Us in France Travel Podcast for more stories and tips from real travelers. Whether you’re planning a special celebration or just love French culture, this one’s for you.

Table of Contents for this Episode

• Introduction and Welcome
• Today on the podcast
• Podcast supporters
• The Magazine segment
• Celebrating 75 Years with a French Road Trip
• Travel Companions and Planning
• Journey Begins: From CDG to Burgundy
• Jet lag, app for astronauts
• App to Help with Jet Lag
• Exploring Burgundy: Tournus and Beyond
• Heading South: Provence and the Mediterranean
• Provincial Markets and Wine Tasting
• Shipping Wine from the US to France
• Archaeological Adventures and Unsettled Weather
• The Experience of Maing Perfume in Grasse
• Road Trip Games and Roundabouts
• If You Have a Handicaped Placard You Can Use it in France
• Exploring the French Countryside
• Michelin Star Dining Experience
• The Loire
• Wine Tasting and French Tacos
• Charming B&B Stay
• Travel Tips for Reduced Mobility
• Personne à Mobilité Réduite – PMR Room
• Thank You Patrons
• This Week
• Paris’s Gothic Jewels: New VoiceMap Tour
• Live Guides
• Restaurant Recommendations
•  Le Petit Chatelet on 39 Rue de la Bûcherie
•  Le Bistrot des Victoires
• Bouillon Chartier Grands Boulevards
• Le Saint-Regis
•  L’Auberge des Deux Ponts
• Next week on the podcast
• Copyright

More episodes about family travel in France