I’m a girl of simple tastes. I’ll always choose a burger over filet mignon. Comfy sneakers over high heels. A cabin in the hills, not Beverly Hills.

That being said, I must admit that I do love gold. Or at least I thought I did until I decided to spend an afternoon at Château de Versailles, on the outskirts of Paris. Walking up the cobblestoned street leading the way to the Palace, my eyes were immediately drawn to the aureate gates, much like a magpie would be attracted to anything sparkling in the sun. Nearly every room in King Louis XVI’s one-time residence is adorned with leafs of this precious metal and, after the eleventh room or so, I found myself needing to get outside to give my senses a break.

Perhaps temporarily blinded by all the gold, I’d forgotten how much there is to see beyond the walls of the palais. Its grounds span 2,014 acres and have some of the most beautifully manicured gardens around. Thankfully, I discovered this and my love of walking took me the rest of the way. Strolling from one garden to another, from a small farm (animals included) to Marie Antoinette’s storybook hameau, everything stood in stark contrast to the gilded opulence of the Palace. In just a few hours of wandering the gorgeous grounds I realized I’m way more of a green machine than a golden girl.