brubenow

Anyone have a recommended walk to any Paris shops or boutiques that kids might enjoy, within walking distance of Notre Dame... Preferably on the left bank?

brubenow

I should add that the kids are girls, ages 9 and 11. They would be interested in art stores, music stores, patisseries, clothing, souvenirs, anything to do with animals.

We will be shopping after visiting Notre Dame. So that is our starting point.

330east

You might look into the chain of children's clothing stores in Paris called DPAM. There is definitely one in the 6th. We've spent plenty in there. I think it's near S. Germain de Pres.

330east

To continue, that whole area is loaded w/ shops you are looking for.

colonna

I'd take them on a tour of Ile St Louis' main street (accessories, jewelry, souvenirs, overpriced and adorable, buy them a raspberry tart).

Then across to Bvd St Germain and up to Boulevard St Michel, where they'll find French versions of American chains and a big Monoprix with lots of clothes, inexpensive jewelry, cosmetics, etc. Also student bookstores with lots of posters and CDs (I guess if they still use those). The stationary departments in these stores have all kinds of interesting notebooks, pens, etc.

Animals... pet stores on the Quai de la Megisserie on the Right Bank. I got saddled w four baby turtles there, be careful.

Have fun!

brubenow

Great- thank you both!

fuzzbucket

I would do everything colonna said, with the exception of those pet stores, which are often raided due to the fact that those adorable puppies and kittens come from despicable puppy mills in Eastern Europe.

Have no idea where the turtles come from, though.

If you walk along rue du Pont Louis-Philippe (starting at quai Georges Pompidou and heading towards the Marais, not far from ND), there are several great paper stores, one nice little art store (Melodies Graphiques) and just after that, a store selling antique musical instruments which are truly fascinating (Orphee), and a store that sells loads of those laser-cut cards, many make great souvenirs of Paris (you'll see them in the window).

brubenow

Thanks Fuzzbucket. Those sound great!

MaineGG

There's a branch of Pylones on the main street of the Ile St Louis. Lots of cute and somewhat quirky things. There are several more locations around the city.

http://www.pylones.com/en/

Christina

I agree with colonna also except NO PET STORES. First, that has nothing whatsoever to do with France, and secondly, they are often horrible places with animals from puppy mills in Eastern European countries or somewhere. There is no point at all in touring pet stores.

ssander

Fuzzbucket...

There used to be a store like Orphee in the northeast corner of Place des Vosges. It was jam-packed with all kinds of known and strange (too us) antique instruments. Every inch of the store was filled. It was a can't miss place for me.

Here are some pix from 2007 and 2009:

http://www.sanderhome.com/Paris0705/...c_shop_web.jpg

http://www.sanderhome.com/Paris0705/...c_shop_web.jpg

http://www.sanderhome.com/Paris0905/...G_1731_web.jpg

But it was gone when we last visited Paris in September.

Is Orphee the same store at a new location...or does anyone know what happened to the store on Place des Vosges.

ssander

brubenow

Thank you, everyone. I'll avoid the pet stores for sure. When I mentioned animal stores, I was referring to toy animal stores. Like stuffed animals.

Anyway, these are all great suggestions. As far as the area by Blvd. St. Germain and St. Michel goes, are there any side streets around there that would have more small, unique boutique clothing or jewelry? I'm not really looking for a big chain retail store. Something more original. Thanks!

fuzzbucket

The owner of the music store near Place des Vosges retired and his store was replaced by a boutique selling "quenelles" (mixture of fish or fowl, meant to be poached in sauce) that are made in Lyon and shipped to Paris. The other store I mentioned has many of the same ancient instruments, but is run by a different owner.

If you wander up and down the little streets leading off blvd Saint Germain - heading toward Place de l'Odeon and then on the other side leading towards the river, you'll finds lots of interesting little shops. There is lots of jewelry around, no problem finding that, but I don't remember any shops selling only stuffed animals in these areas. But if you cross over towards Place des Vosged in the nearby Marais, this store has some beautiful hand-made puppets and stuffed animals, as well as other neat things
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44uTj7ast2o

ssander

Fuzzbuckt...

Thanks so much for that information...and the info on Orphee. Hope I get back to Paris in the next year or so. That old store was like going to a museum, and we usually stay in Place Baudoyer, only a couple of blocks from Orphee.

(Sorry about hijacking this thread...I'll cede it back to the OP.)

ssander

Wit_Van_Brug

The store in the Marais (on rue de Turenne) has a Facebook page. Check it out

http://www.facebook.com/tumbleweedmarais/?fref=ts

brubenow

Great- if we're in the Marais, we will definitely check it out.. Thanks!

Sally30

I can't help you with shops but I have a daughter who is almost nine and we are headed to Paris as well. She has really enjoyed reading the American Girl doll books about Grace, an American living in Paris. Regardless of what you think of the dolls, the books are pretty good. The books have really gotten her interested in Paris. There is also a series by chef Giada De Laurentiis called Recipe for Adventure and the books are set in different cities (not that great in my opinion but she likes it) including one in Paris.

We have traveled with our daughters to Europe and the one souvenir we like the best is buying books in the foreign language that we read when back home for years to come. It worked better when the kids were younger as my French is not that great. Even for older kids like your girls, there are books with pictures (eye spy type) that are fun and that with basic french you can muddle through!

brubenow

Sally30...too funny- I just today bought the Americal Girl Grace DVD and book! I've also purchased some of the same books you did off Amazon.

Good idea for books as souvenirs. Thx!

brubenow

Sally30...too funny- I just today bought the Americal Girl Grace DVD and book! I've also purchased some of the same books you did off Amazon.

Good idea for books as souvenirs. Thx!

jacolis

My girls who are 9 and 11 also enjoyed shopping at DPAM. On Ile St Louis we stopped at Pylones and also Berthillon for an ice cream! The park in front of Notre Dame also had some play structures that they enjoyed. On the left bank they enjoyed stopping at Laduree for macarons. Enjoy!