Tamela

Am going to Paris in mid-March for my third time and have done all the tourist things. Does anyone have any ideas on things to do that are not in the guide books?

s

I will try to top some brilliant posts that can give you ideas about the non touristy interesting things to do, otherwise, try typing in Paris in the little box and look throught the old posts.

Love

Have a love affair with a French waiter. That surely isn't in the guide books. <BR><BR>

LaFemme

Oooo la la, good idea!

Surlok

Get lost, follow your instincts, instead of travel guides or books. I'm serious!<BR><BR>Regards,<BR><BR>S

CNK

Position yourself in some of the true residential neighborhoods and walk.<BR>Eat in the neighborhood bistros, shop in the local shops and just enjoy exploring the other side of the City of Lights.

Donna

Get a copy of Bistros of Paris by the Hamburgers. Select places you find appealing in neighborhoods devoid of tourist attractions. (The books also lists "places of interest" at the front of each chapter by arrondisement.) Take the bus (rather than the metro) to your destination. On the way back (on the bus), get off and explore those appealing neighborhoods you saw along the way. We did this last year. Had some amazing meals (at low prices, too) at terrific places and explored places we'd never have known about. Note that it's best to reserve a table ahead of time. Many places are very small, have only one seating, and are VERY popular in the neighborhood. At one place we visited on the outskirts of Montmartre, the host turned away a lot of people who wandered in during our visit and finally locked the door.

Jennifer

Oh, I totally agree with Surlok. Some of the absolute best places I've found have been because I was lost! And no, I wasn't even trying..... <BR><BR>I'd just get on the first bus I see, ride until you're ready to get off, and then get off! Just start walking and <BR><BR>que sera sera......<BR><BR>Jennifer

Joe

On my 4th trip to Paris a couple years ago, I decided to pick lunch spots around the city and then walk to them. I was staying at the Hotel des Grandes Ecoles in the Latin Quarter, and the lunches were good but the walks were wonderful. On the way to Les Bookinistes I detoured through St. Severin and found a Michigan youth choir singing spirituals; on the way to Ma Bougogne I went through the zoo at the Jardin des Plantes. It was the best way that I've found to discover unexpected parts of the city.<BR>

elvira

For great "walks" <BR>www.parisbalades.com<BR><BR>Keep an eye out for special exhibits at exhibition halls, art galleries, and salons. Churches have free concerts all the time; checkout their notice boards.<BR><BR>"Brocantes" pop up all over the city - look for banners over the streets.<BR><BR>Visit the Gobelins factory, the Baccarat museum, the fan museum.<BR><BR>Visit cemeteries: Passy, St Vincent, Bercy<BR><BR>Play miniature golf at Bois de Vincennes (which also has a special exhibit on urban greenspaces, and a zoo)<BR><BR>Visit the 18eme, the back side of the butte<BR><BR>Visit the le Corbusier museum<BR><BR>The 13eme has a large Asian population; the 20eme, north African<BR><BR>Visit the dog and cat cemetery in Asnieres.<BR><BR>Parc Bercy for the chais and the recreated village.<BR><BR>

Gretchen

Visit the Viaduct shops and artisans on rue Daumesnil, near the Gare de Lyon. Have a drink in the lounge of Le Train Bleu in the gare. Visit the covered pasages on rue Vivienne. Have a lunch in the Jardin des Plantes on a bench and people watch.