I just started working on my itinerary for my Easter trip to Paris with the clan. We plan to take a daytrip from Paris to Normandy to view the D-Day landing sites. We plan to start at Pointe du Hoc, which is where Colonel James Rudder and the U.S. Rangers had to climb the imposing cliffs at Normandy. We plan to drive along Omaha Beach and walk on the beach, checking out both the American and the German perspective, and then we wrap up the trip with a moving visit to the American cemetary in Colleville-sur-Mer. It should be an incredible and educational experience.

We also plan to visit Versailles, drive through the park to view the gardens “a la francaise,” Marie Antoinette’s hamlet, the Petit Trianon and the Grand Trianon.

Afterward, we will go inside the Royal Castle in Versailles and tour the residence built for the Sun King, Louis XIV: the magnificent apartments of the king, the Hall of Mirrors, the Queen’s apartments and the gardens.

Back in Paris, we plan to see all the sights in a very short time, and the great thing is that all the museums are open through the holidays, and the shops as well. Even on Easter Sunday, the shops of the Champs Elysees will be open.

I am also looking forward to flying OpenSkies and staying at one of the Small Luxury Hotels properties, the Hotel de Vendome.

This Easter trip was a toss-up between so many different destinations, from beach venues to Portugal (which we have postponed until June). There are so many options . . . where and what will you be doing over the break?

— Francis X. Gallagher, publisher and CEO