Although we've been to Paris many times, we've never been to the Bois de Boulogne and I'm hoping to have nice enough weather to make it possible this time--mid-May. However, I need help determining how to tackle it. What are the "must see" areas within the Bois? Can we walk from one sight to the other without killing ourselves or is there some mode of transport to assist with long distances--horse carriages, etc? Are there some reasonably good places to eat that don't have Pre Catalan prices? Which is the best place to enter from, Porte Dauphin? Thanks for your responses.

Jm, that is one of my favorite places. The Grande Cascade is less expensive but just as beautiful. You can stop there for just a drink or ice cream.
I love "The Chalet des Lyles", this is a restaurant with a waterside terrace in the Bois. You are taken across by a small boat 16th district
metro: Rue de la Pomp. There is so much to see in the bois thai I spent the whole of a day once. There's a rose garden, zoo, two race tracks, rowing,marionette theater, merry go round and there is a good restaurant in the jardin dycclimation.Have a wonderful time. Wish I were there.
You can also pack a picnic, there are groves where they do this.

I haven't been there in ages so can't really help with personal experience, but if you can deal with French, here's a site that should help.

http://www.alegria.fr/fr/jardin/boulogne.html

There are links to La Grande Cascade and a reasonably priced restaurant called Le Relais. It also talks about renting bicycles, which might be fun.
(Off subject, but I must share another Google translation that cracked me up: Porte Maillot metro station came out as "Carries Shirt"!)

Thanks to both of you for the suggestions and help. Betty, love the translation.

As a horse racing fan, I will say that you must see the racing at Longchamps. It is one of the greatest racetracks in the world.

yes, I should have said it is the ÄSCOT"of France. The grand prixe of France. The other is Autiel, a steeplechase track.

One of my fondest memories of Paris was renting bicycles on a beautiful Sunday afternoon in the Bois de Boulogne.
Joy

One of my favorite places! Don't miss the rose garden. I always look for gardens wherever I go, and Bagatelle is one of the finest. There is a fantastice iris garden within the rose garden, and it has some of the largest clematis I have seen. There are arbors, gazebos, etc. The rose garden is a bit hard to find but worth every effort. We have walked our legs off several times, but every place we saw within the Bois was wonderful. We rode the metro there and then took a bus part of the way, but if you are not adventurous and/or don't want a long walk, you might take a taxi to get to the park itself. PJK

Bicycles sound like a nice option--but then, there was that nasty fall into the mud puddle when I biked about Versailles. Thanks to all of you for the helpful information. Now if the weather will only cooperate.

We had lunch last year at the Chalet des Iles on the island [you take a free boat] in one of the two lakes in the Bois. It was very good and ran about $24. You can walk from the Pompe metro exit. There is also a restaurant at the Bagatelle. It looks pretty at this site but I can't get any menu or hours there. www.restaurantbagatelle.com/

The Pre Catalan can be done at a reasonable price if you go for lunch during the week. They have a prix fixe special. I do not remember what the price is, but, for what you get, it is a good deal.

Been there once for lunch on a Saturday, but I don't know what it cost. An elderly man at the next table started talking to my daughter and I. When I asked for the bill--Can you believe this?--he had paid. The odds of that ever happening again in my lifetime are infinitesimal.

It did make me feel very kindly toward gracious elderly Frenchmen. The elderly gentleman turned out to be a famous retired French politician (I had NO idea who he was at the time). I sent him a nice package of American gourmet food products upon my return to the US--and he loved the gift.

By the way, I orginally made the reservation as a thank you to an elderly couple who have periodically put up my daughter in Paris (she sort of majored in European trains in college). At the last minute, they canceled due to a family emergency. So the entire day was sort of an accidental experience. I normally stick to restaurants that cost a good deal less than my airfare.

Next time I want to try The Grande Cascade.

Is the rose garden in the Parc de Bagatelle? Will it be open in late May? One of the websites says from June to some month (can't remember). We will be in Paris May 20 - 24. I am wondering if we will be able to get in to the rose gardens mentioned above. I suppose even if we can get in it won't be ideal (too early). Any help?