Going to the capital

I remember my host mom in France say once that she has only been to Paris a few times in her life and I didn't get it. Then my host mom in Moldova said the same thing. Now that I'm in Paris again I get it. Why come to the capital when it is full of tourists (myself included) and you can get everything you want at home or close to home? I do, however, believe there is something magical about Paris but maybe that's because I'm a foreigner.