Summer Bucket List – My French Riviera Inspired Summer
If you have followed me for any length of time, you know that I am a HUGE Francophile. I just love anything French: the culture, the history, the food, the music. In fact, I have been obsessed with everything French since a young age. I actually did my 5th grade History report on Marie Antoinette.
However, the weird thing is that I have actually never been to France. B and I had plans to go either this Fall or Fall of next year. But we have decided to delay our trip so we can save money for now. Ya know, adult things like paying off cars and houses. Adulting is truly a struggle.
Every season I make a bucket list; just a list of things to do to celebrate and savor each moment of the season. Which had me thinking while I was creating my summer bucket list. How can I bring a little bit of that French Riviera vibe (one of our planned destinations) to my Summer here in Central Florida? So I have created my bucket list around just that…bring the French Riviera to my summer here in Florida.
French Riviera Inspired Movies to Watch
- A Good Year
- Failed London banker Max Skinner (Russell Crowe) inherits his uncle’s (Albert Finney) vineyard in Provence, where he spent many childhood holidays. Upon his arrival, he meets a woman from California who tells Max she is his long-lost cousin and that the property is hers.
- La Piscine
- When a journalist’s (Romy Schneider) boyfriend (Alain Delon) allows her former lover (Maurice Ronet) to drown, the couple must answer questions from an inspector.
- Paris Can Wait
- Anne (Diane Lane) is at a crossroads in her life. Married to a successful but inattentive movie producer (Alec Baldwin), she unexpectedly finds herself taking a car trip from Cannes to Paris with her husband’s business associate (Arnaud Viard). What should be a seven-hour drive turns into a carefree two-day adventure replete with diversions involving picturesque sights, fine food and wine, humor, wisdom and romance, reawakening Anne’s senses and giving her a new lust for life.
- Grace de Monaco
- Despite her husband’s (Tim Roth) misgivings, Grace Kelly (Nicole Kidman) considers returning to Hollywood to star in “Marnie,” but a political dispute between Monaco and France forces her to make a difficult choice.
- Magic in the Moonlight
- In the 1920s, magician Stanley Crawford (Colin Firth) enjoys widespread acclaim as Chinese conjurer Wei Ling Soo, his stage persona. As arrogant as he is talented, Stanley despises claims by phony spiritualists that they can perform real magic. At the behest of his friend, Stanley travels to the Côte d’Azur mansion of the Catledge family to expose a young medium named Sophie (Emma Stone). However, Stanley is left surprised and shaken by evidence that Sophie’s gifts may be real.
French Riviera Inspired Books to Read
- Chocolat
- Tender is the Night
- Tender Is the Night is the fourth and final novel completed by American writer F. Scott Fitzgerald. Set in French Riviera during the twilight of the Jazz Age, the 1934 novel chronicles the rise and fall of Dick Diver, a promising young psychiatrist, and his wife, Nicole, who is one of his patients.
- A Year in Provence
- A Year in Provence is a 1989 best-selling memoir by Peter Mayle about his first year in Provence, and the local events and customs. It was adapted into a television series starring John Thaw and Lindsay Duncan. Reviewers praised the book’s honest style, wit and its refreshing humour
- Joie
- A joyful, aspirational, and approachable guide to embracing life the Parisian way, from American expat and founder of the French lifestyle brand Madame de la Maison.
French Riviera Inspired Things to Purchase
- French straw market tote – I’ve always wanted one of these and they would be perfect for Farmer’s Markets.
- Breton top – I have a knock off Breton top, but I would love to purchase an authentic one from a French brand.
- New candle in a scent reminiscent of the South of France with notes like Orange Blossom, Lavendar, and Rose perhaps.
- New tea – something similar to Nina’s Tea Marie Antoinette tea. Which is one of my favorite teas.
- New summer fragrance
- Eden ROC from Dior is at the top of the list right now
- I’m also currently obsessed with anything Orange Blossom right now, a note very popular in the South of France so another contender is Fleur D’ Oranger from Panier des Sennes. I have the shower gel and lotion already and they are fabulous.
French Riviera Inspired Activities to Do
- French Recipes to try
- Fruit galette – I’m going to see what fruit is best and in season at the Farmer’s Market
- Ratatouille – I’ve made this before and it’s such a simple dish but full of flavor.
- French 75 – one of my favorite cocktails and I haven’t had one in a very long time.
- St Germaine Spritz – I LOVE St. Germaine liqueur and use it in many cocktails, but I have never tried the St. Germaine Spritz so this is a MUST! Sounds so refreshing for Summer.
- La Salade Nicoise
- Pissadaliere- onion tart
- Visit a Farmers Market – we have an amazing one nearby. I plan on getting the ingredients for the Ratatouille and Fruit Galette at ours.
- Beach day – I mean obvious. And I plan on having MANY beach days this Summer.
- French Speaking Meetup – this is a little intimidating because my French is Beginner at best, but we don’t learn if we don’t practice. We have a local group that meets once a month for a picnic of French food and to practice conversing in French.
- Coffee and croissant at French Cafe or Rosalie’s. Rosalies is my favorite local French cafe and it is right across from the Farmer’s Market I plan on attending.
- Dinner at a nice French restaurant – I have yet to pick a restaurant because we only have like two or three in Orlando.
- Day at hotel pool that looks like you are in the French Riviera.
- Vineyard tour
- Tour French inspired gardens
- Practice speaking French – I plan on getting back on Duolingo or Babbel to brush up on my French.
- French music playlist – I already created one on Spotify and will continue to add to it as I discover greater French music.
- Celebrate Bastille Day – I have been doing this for over 20 years but this year we are going to kick the celebration up a notch.
- Picnic – make a snack basket full of French goodies, toss down a blanket under a shady tree, and read one of the books above.
- Make sun tea – really not French but this is something my mother always did when we were kids and I have been wanting to do this for years.
Hear more about my French Riviera Inspired Summer Bucket List in the video below:
Christopher Ian 