The best pastries in Paris -- for free.

Five years ago, patissier extraordinaire Pierre Herme started le Jour du Macarons, a charitable celebration that takes place on March 20.  Several of the best patisseries in Paris offer their most appealing pastries free of charge. And patrons are encouraged to make a charitable contribution in return.

If you’re not familiar with macarons, they are an irresistible sandwich cookie made with almond-flour meringue and filled with everything from blackcurrent-violet pastry crème to caramel and fleur de sel.

Where to eat, drink and shop in Healdsburg.

Healdsburg is one of the most appealing towns in the Sonoma Valley. Just ten miles north of Santa Rosa, it's a nice blend of sophisticated and sleepy.

The historic plaza, which provides a shady respite on warm days, is lined with stylish shops and restaurants. There's even plenty of free parking off Healdsburg Avenue between Matheson and Mill Streets.

If you don't have time to visit a lot of wineries, Selby Winery, Hauck Cellars, Rosenblum Cellars, Topel Winery, Souverain, Gallo, Lake Sonoma Winery, Artiste Winery, Todd Hollow Vineyards, Kendall-Jackson, and La Crema all have tasting rooms within a block or two of the town plaza.

Off the beaten path in Paris on Ile St-Louis.

The Seine runs through Paris, dividing the city into the Left and Right Banks.  The larger of the two islands in the river, the Ile de la Cité packs a lot of sightseeing bang, -- including Sainte-Chapelle and Notre Dame -- into a few blocks.

But it’s the other island, the Ile St-Louis, that we always return to.  When the square in front of Notre Dame is packed with tourists, Ile St-Louis offers a comparatively peaceful respite about five minutes away.  To reach it, walk to the back side of Notre Dame, where you’ll have great views of the magnificent buttresses.  Then walk through the lime tress in the park and cross the Pont St-Louis bridge.