Whenever I visit a new city, I make sure to arrive early in the day, when it's often quieter and much easier to navigate. In Strasbourg, this made all the difference.

I started my day trip in the historic city center of Grande Île. Every corner had a little festive magic, from bakeries with elaborate gingerbread displays to shops decorated like they were competing for "most Christmassy storefront."

I've always been drawn to Gothic architecture, and I'm really glad I visited the cathedral before the busy tourist rush.

Constructed between 1015 and 1439, Strasbourg Cathedral is 466 feet tall and absolutely spectacular up close. I'd suggest going inside as well because the interior is free to explore and just as breathtaking.

The cathedral square, Place de la Cathédrale, also hosts one of the liveliest Christmas markets in the city. With this stunning landmark in the background and a little carousel spinning nearby, the whole scene looked like a postcard brought to life.

The Petit Train wasn't something I'd planned on taking, but when it began to rain, it became the perfect alternative to walking.

The aptly-named little train loops through the old town and passes major landmarks while an audio guide walks you through Strasbourg's history.

Since the tour I took started and ended near the cathedral, it was easy to fit into my tight schedule. This 45-minute ride was a fun way to get a quick overview of the city and take a short break from walking.

One of Strasbourg's best holiday attractions is the massive Grand Sapin, a decorated tree that's around 98 feet tall and just a quick walk from the cathedral. Throughout the evening, it lights up in sync with music and draws large crowds.

Even with all the bustle, I'm glad I stayed to watch the light show. It was one of the moments that, in my opinion, captured the city's festive charm best.

This was the one place I'd been looking forward to the most because I'd seen so many videos of it online. On the iconic street, you can stroll by half-timbered houses covered in oversize teddy bears and twinkling lights.

I first passed by Rue du Maroquin in the afternoon, and it already looked adorable. I was determined to see it fully lit up, though, so I went back at night.

Though the decorations were as charming as expected, it was also the most crowded area I visited all day. After seeing it during both times of day, I'd recommend the afternoon for the same magic with less chaos.

Strasbourg has many different Christmas markets, and although it's tempting to try to cover as many as possible, I discovered that it isn't the best use of time.

I visited six markets, and though they were genuinely fun to explore, the smaller ones started to look the same. The walking time added up, too, and I ended up feeling rushed at the places I'd actually planned to enjoy, especially the market at Place Broglie.

For a one-day visit, I'd suggest focusing on the cathedral market, Place Broglie, and Place Kléber. You'll likely enjoy plenty of holiday magic without feeling rushed.

Strasbourg's markets are known for their Alsatian crafts, like hand-painted ornaments, straw stars, wooden toys, and embroidered pieces.

Mixed in with those, I noticed a few stalls selling identical printed ornaments, generic keychains, and the same snowman figurines I later saw in smaller European markets for much less.

I'd recommend saving your money for the food instead — the pretzels at the Place Broglie market were the best food I had on my trip.

Does it look like I'm wearing pajamas? That's because I pretty much am. These are the most pajama-like trousers I own that I'd wear in public, although my mother would argue that they should only be for sleeping. 

But who cares? Once you get on the train, you'll be happy you're comfortable, no matter what you look like. 

After years of overpacking, I have a new rule: one pair of shoes per week of travel. That meant I could only bring the shoes on my feet for my six-day trip to Miami, so I picked the comfiest ones I had. 

I picked up these memory foam babies at T.J. Maxx for only $20, and they slip on and off very easily. This was great for being able to leave my room quickly with shoes on.

This is an old trick my mom taught me when I would get train sick during day trips from our home in Stamford, Connecticut, to NYC.

Going against the motion of the train made me feel sicker, so I stuck to one chair for the whole trip.

A decade ago, I may have had a bigger problem with the toilet situation next to my bed in the roomette. But thankfully, I had packed some Poo Pourri to eliminate any odors.

Adjusting the lighting throughout the trip helped me feel like I was changing environments even though I wasn't.

Trail mix and granola bars kept me full in between meals, which were included with my ticket purchase.

There were about five options for meals. I went with short ribs and mashed potatoes for dinner, and it was decent. The next day, however, I tried the salmon and rice for lunch and found the salmon tough and dry. The rice also tasted like the salmon, which threw me off.

Even though eating in my room was an option, I didn't want my bunk to smell like food all night. It was also nice to sit in a different environment for parts of the ride.

The train took a short break every few stops, and passengers could walk around the platform for about 10 minutes.

Getting up to stretch my legs and take in some fresh air made the next few hours crammed in a room with a window that didn't open a little more bearable.

I tried to make the train feel like home, and at home, I dance periodically to release energy throughout the day.

Shutting the curtains gave me a moment of privacy to be my goofy self, which also helped me keep moving.

I brought my own devices and didn't rely on the spotty internet connection to watch movies and listen to music and podcasts. Downloading these beforehand helped, and made the time go by a little faster. 

Looking out of the window was a constant reminder that I was on my way to somewhere new, and it helped me stay excited about my trip.

She was 10 years old at the time and wore a simple gray dress with jewel-encrusted ballet flats.

She looked glamorous in a gold-and-white dress that she paired with sequin-covered Converse.

She wore a black Valentino gown decorated with hummingbird appliqués and carried a square clutch with her name printed on it.

Her gray Jenny Packham dress had an illusion neckline with mesh sleeves and chunky silver sequins. She also wore embellished sandals with short heels.

She wore a long-sleeved minidress from Calvin Klein for the event.

It was covered in sequins, and its stark white color matched that of her cowboy boots.

At the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards, she sported a black Rodarte dress with a tulle overlay and lace-up boots.

Just look at her 2017 Emmys look. She donned a strapless white ball gown by Calvin Klein and pointed pumps in silver.

Brown paired the Calvin Klein piece with white kitten heels and a long bob hairstyle.

At the SAG Awards in January 2018, she wore a pink, sequined minidress from Calvin Klein. It featured a halter-top bodice, an above-the-knee skirt, and a cape across her back.

She wore it with a classic pair of white Converse sneakers.

Oscar de la Renta designed the high-low piece. She wore it while debuting a curled hairstyle for the first time on a red carpet.

Brown looked elegant that night when she wore a white Dolce & Gabbana gown with flowers attached to its sleeves, bodice, and skirt.

She wore black trousers with an asymmetrical waistline and a crop top with bows attached to its straps.

Rosie Assoulin designed the set.

She wore a blush-colored Dior gown with a strapless neckline and lace embroidery. Brown also carried a small, crystal-encrusted purse shaped like a heart.

Her pink Rodarte dress had a ruffled, off-the-shoulder neckline, a layered miniskirt, and a floor-length cape.

For the 2020 SAG Awards, Brown wore a white Louis Vuitton ensemble. It consisted of trousers worn underneath a high-low skirt, along with a long-sleeved top featuring puffed shoulders and a deep V-neckline.

She wore a custom Louis Vuitton dress in black. The sleeveless piece featured a velvet bodice with a peplum waist, a lace lining, and a floor-length skirt.

She also wore elbow-length gloves and a dramatic silver dagger necklace.

Wearing Louis Vuitton, Brown walked the red carpet in a strapless white dress with a layer of black tulle across one shoulder.

Brown walked the "Enola Holmes 2" red carpet in October 2022 while wearing a custom gown from Louis Vuitton.

The pink halter dress was vibrant and adorned with metallic flowers, giving it a fashionable edge.

She was photographed in London wearing a monochrome leather set and an athletic headband — the latter of which became a major trend among Gen Z.

At the "Damsel" premiere, for example, she arrived wearing a metallic gown that looked like it was covered in dragon scales. Louis Vuitton custom-made the piece.

She wore her new hair color styled in an updo, which highlighted her diamond earrings and peach-colored gown.

The sleeveless, silk piece was designed by Louis Vuitton.

At the show's recent UK premiere, Brown arrived wearing a bold Ashi Studio design.

The black and gray piece had a corset top with a sweetheart neckline, a tulle skirt wrapped around her waist, and a fluffy train.

Brown wore it with sheer tights and pointed pumps.

Nicknamed "Sacred Cow," the aircraft operated from 1944 to 1961, flying Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry Truman.

It featured an elevator shaft for Roosevelt's wheelchair, an executive conference room with a bulletproof window, and an electric refrigerator, which was a rare luxury for planes built in the 1940s.

Eisenhower's Boeing 707 Stratoliner, nicknamed "Queenie," featured a section for telecommunications, room for 40 passengers, a conference area, and a stateroom.

SAM 26000, a customized and modified version of a civilian 707-320B airliner, was known as a Boeing VC-137C. It included a living room, bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen.

The plane's design featured an American flag on the tail and presidential seals on the nose.

It marked the first and only time a presidential swearing-in ceremony took place on an airplane.

The small alcove was decorated with a globe decal on the wall and curtains lining the windows.

Nixon stood behind the plane's bar while meeting with military and civilian leaders en route to Vietnam.

Presidents would occasionally make their way back to the rear cabin to chat with reporters.

Ford is pictured with Candice Bergen, the first female photographer to shoot a behind-the-scenes story on an American president.

Carter talked to reporters on his way back from a trip to Europe in 1978.

In 1983, Reagan met with Secretary of State George P. Shultz and the national-security advisor designate Robert McFarlane in a meeting space that featured a magazine rack, teal chair, wood-grain table, and photos of him and the first lady, Nancy Reagan.

The photos showed Reagan toasting with a champagne glass and waving while boarding Air Force One.

The meeting room also included a television set.

The presidential office was updated with a stately desk, gray carpeting, and leather chairs.

The staff area featured plenty of phones for official business. Air Force One is also known as the "flying Oval Office."

The annex is pictured in executive configuration, with seating for meetings.

Clinton met with a delegation from North and South Dakota in 1997 to address flooding in the area.

Clinton met with members of Congress to discuss nuclear-waste management in 1999.

The plane flew 444 missions and logged over 1 million miles, according to the Bush White House.

Bush insisted on returning to Washington, but the Secret Service refused since they were unsure if more attacks were coming.

In a 2016 interview with Politico, Bush's assistant White House press secretary Gordon Johndroe described Air Force One that day as "the safest and most dangerous place in the world at the exact same time."

The president's suite included a small bed, a couch and carpeting in light pink, and a desk with a brown leather chair.

The hallway was lined with a beige couch with side tables and lamps on either side.

The plane has 85 phone lines as well as encryption and scrambling devices to ensure secure communication, CNBC reported.

Food and drinks are provided by the plane's galley kitchen.

Obama met with his chief of staff, Jack Lew, his senior advisors David Axelrod and David Plouffe, and former President Bill Clinton in the senior staff room in 2012.

The carpeting was updated to a subtle star pattern, which also appeared in the conference room.

The chairs featured a subtle polka-dot pattern, and the tables folded down to make more space.

Journalists can wander the rear cabin freely, but they aren't allowed to walk forward to speak to the president — the president has to come back to them.

As part of the Air Force's Presidential Aircraft Recapitalization program to update Air Force One planes, Trump proposed a red, white, and navy-blue color scheme for the new models.

Instead, President Joe Biden selected a baby-blue color scheme similar to the current model.

The new VC-25B Air Force One planes are expected to be ready by 2027, according to the Air Force. The long-delayed project has already cost Boeing over $2 billion due to various manufacturing and supply-chain issues.

Plain beige carpeting continued down the hallway.

Biden took his first overseas trip as president in June 2021, visiting Europe for the G7 summit.

Trump signed a proclamation establishing the name change in his Air Force One office in February.

The luxurious plane previously functioned as a Qatari private business jet. It features a large primary bedroom with loveseats and an en-suite bathroom, guest bedrooms, office space, a dining room, and a salon lounge with plush couches.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters at a May briefing that the Qatari royal family donated the jumbo jet to the US Air Force and that it was being "retrofitted to the highest standards" to serve as Air Force One. Some estimates have put the cost of upgrading the jet for the office of the president at $1 billion, but the US Air Force secretary said in June it will cost less than $400 million to retrofit.

Trump, who has pressured Boeing to deliver its new Air Force One planes sooner and criticized the project's "failure" to complete them on time, said he'd be "stupid" to turn down the Qatari plane, worth an estimated $400 million. In July, he said the plane could be ready as soon as February 2026.