I'll be in Paris in late July and early August. Are there small boat or canoe rentals on the Seine or other waterways in or near Paris? If outside of Paris, can you reach the location by public transportation?

I ALWAYS rent a nice canoe when in Paris! It's the height of fashion ya know......just paddling around in our canoe watching the moose on the left bank and the bald eagles flyin' above our baseball capped heads. Now my friend Marty, he prefers the kayaks to the canoes as then he can just haul 'em out at the bridges and take 'em with him everywhere in the city on the Metro. He did have some silly trouble takin' it into Nortre Dame though. But canoes is fine. Just tie 'em up at the hitchin' posts that you'll find all along the shores of the Seine. It's just so FRENCH, ya know? <BR>

There is a park on the outskirts of Paris, maybe Parc Monceau, but I am not sure. I know there is a lake or pond, and, if I am not mistaken, you can rent a boat to paddle around in. Check out a guidebook.

ha, ha -- actually, I just about died laughing reading <BR>Biker's post on this -- it is kind of funny the thought <BR>of canoeing on the Seine in Paris. I assume you mean <BR>small boats or something -- if you want sailing, <BR>go to the Mediterranean, serious canoeing can be <BR>done in the SW and Haute-Savoie (near Alps) <BR>regions of France. It is becoming popular to do long, <BR>expensive houseboat or barge trips in France on <BR>the Rhone or something, and there are plenty of <BR>agencies to sell you those kind of trips. <BR> I checked a few WEB sites on French <BR>regional nature parks (www.parcs-naturels-regionaux.tm.fr] <BR>this site will give you some lodging, addresses, etc. <BR>It appears you can rent canoes at the following parks: <BR>Vexin-Francais which is just N of Paris near Pontoise, <BR>inquire at 11, pl Rollon, St-Clair-sur-Epte (phone 01-34-67-66-67) <BR>and at park Normandie-Maine (N of Le Mans) in the <BR>chateau country (which is where I'd go if you're serious). <BR>the address is: Parc naturel regional Normandie-Maine Le Chapitre, <BR>BP 05, 61320 Carrouges (phone 02-33-81-75-75). <BR>Aside from these, the national French Federation of <BR>Canoe-Kayak is located in Joinville le Pont, a <BR>Parisian suburb, right on the Marne river--I assume <BR>they do some canoeing there. You can get there <BR>easily on the RER (suburban rail) line from Paris in <BR>less than 1/2 hr--it's line A2 from Nation station to <BR>the east (few stops past Chateau de Vincinnes). If <BR>you want to write them to see what may be there: <BR>Federation Francaise de Canoe-Kayak, <BR>87 quai de la Marne, 94340 Joinville le Pont <BR>(phone 01-45-11-08-50). <BR> I'm sure there are other places on rivers/lakes <BR>near Paris, but I don't know of them. <BR>

<BR>Thanks Christina. I'm glad you appreciated my post. <BR>You gave good (straight) advise here yourself.