Michelle Obama is taking a lot of flack these days about the cost of her European vacation to the American taxpayers but the trip itself was an educational experience for young Sasha (8) and Malia (11) that any parent would gladly take the heat for. For those of you planning a European tour soon here are some of the highlights of the Obama’s visit to both France and England.

The Obama family arrived in France on June 5 and the next day attended an event at Colleville-Sur-Mer, Normandy in Northern France to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the Normandy invasion by Allied troops during World War II. Their two young daughters had the opportunity to see the famous Omaha Beach and get an up close and personal history lesson about the struggle against Hitler’s Axis powers, a war which would have surely changed their lives if the outcome had been different.

After the ceremony, the family spent a few days in Paris as guests of President and Mrs. Sarkozy. Michelle, Carla  and the kids got to tour the Elysee Palace, the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the Pompidou Center modern art museum and Notre Dame cathedral, all popular stops on any European tour. In case you’re wondering, you can book the same trip with an online tour agency for under $1000 per person, including hotel stay. Travel agencies also have a number of packages that include the historic landmarks of Paris.

After France, Barack flew back to the States and Michelle and the children took some time to visit Alsace, where they spent some time at the Palais Rohan in Strasbourg. Then they flew across the Channel to London, where they met Queen Elizabeth II and toured Buckingham Palace. Also on the itinerary was a trip to the Royal Opera House to see the musical rendition of “The Lion King”.

Eliminate the time spent with European royalty and every stop on the Obama European vacation is affordable and accessible to pretty much any American family. If you book through an online tour agency you can usually put your own package of sites together and then request a price for the trip. Traditional travel agencies are a little more limited but can still offer great travel deals, particularly in this economy where hotels and airlines are slashing prices to stay in business.