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Last summer, my friend Cheryl and I jumped (literally- we both almost missed it) onto a train headed for Avignon to spend a few days exploring Provence. There’s not much in Oppède-le-Vieux, a 12th century village perched on a mountain, besides charming terrasses and cobblestone streets, but it’s definitely worth a stop. After arriving at Simiane-la-Rotonde for photos in the nearby lavender fields and discovering a fire in the village that was releasing huge plumes of white smoke, we decided to drive towards Sault for a little while to wait for the fire to be put out and for the sun to lower a bit. One of the biggest surprises of our trip was how much we loved the gorgeous little village of Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, where we stopped before heading to the nearby Gorges de Verdon.

It’s only a 2h45 TGV ride from Paris Gare de Lyon to Avignon TGV, and 3h09 to Aix-en-Provence TGV (be aware, if you’re looking to base yourself in either Avignon or Aix, these two stations are located a ways out of the center of town- From the train station, take a TER (regional train) up to Avignon (18.30€) or Aix-en-Provence (11.90€). No summer road trip in Provence is complete these days without a stop at the lavender fields in Valensole, easily the most famous and popular in the region. Known for its stunning, naturally turquoise water, the Gorges de Verdon and Lac de Sainte-Croix have become an increasingly popular summer destination for French and visitors alike.

Take a trip through Paris’s rapidly evolving food, drink and design scenes and meet the entrepreneurs behind this movement. If you follow Lindsey on Instagram, many of these places will be familiar, but in the book she really dives into the journeys that have changed the landscape of Paris food culture during the 21st century. You can also pre-order her new book The New Parisienne HERE (it comes out in July)!

A Chapel Hill fixture since 1923, Sutton’s is probably better known for its diner-style fare and family-like atmosphere than it is for ever being a pharmacy (CVS took over the pharmacy portion in 2014). Gary Crunkleton’s namesake venture has earned its reputation, serving up arguably the best craft cocktails in Chapel Hill (and you know I love a good cocktail) in an atmosphere that’s refined yet laid-back. Top of the Hill/Back Bar: Boasting the best view over downtown Chapel Hill, this restaurant-brewery hybrid began brewing beer back in 1996 and serves delicious bar food all night. Top of the Hill (or TOPO as it’s fondly known) is the main restaurant, while Back Bar is its pub-style little sister in the same building, with a pool table, foosball, darts, and arcade games available to punch up your nights out.