Paris in the COLD and SNOW/RAIN ( non-museum suggestions)
 

Our family (two adults, son 14 and daughter 18) is so lucky to be in beautiful Paris right this very moment! For the next few days it is going to be very cold and wet here with the possibility of up to an inch of snow tonight.

I am looking for suggestions for alternative activities to the
neighborhood walks we had planned (those will be delayed until later in the week). I won't have our 4 day museum passes until Thursday, so visiting the museums (those open on a Tuesday) doesn't make much sense. Any suggestions of activities you have enjoyed when the weather wasn't cooperating? It seems a waste to spend time in Paris at a movie theater watching an English language movie (we unfortunately don't speak French). Your ideas are very much appreciated!

Don't rule out the movies. Many of the theaters play English language movies. They usually are clearly marked "Version Originale" or VO on the billboards.

You might want to take a day trip either to Normandy or the Loire Valley. You can either rent a car or take a train to your destination, then rent a car for the day to explore the area.

This is probably an ignorant question, but why do you have to wait until Thursday to get the musuem passes? What if it gets beautiful at the end of the week and you want to walk around outside? Paris in the snow would be so lovely..can't you dress warmly and continue with your activities as planned? Even if you have to buy some foul-weather gear? You can always get on one of those sightseeing buses if you can't be outside in the bad weather..

Shopping comes to mind!
Long lunches.
Wine Tasting....anywhere!
Bon Marche Grand Epicerie - really look at everything!
Bundle up and enjoy Luxembourg Gardens in the snow!
Cooking Class - check out one day classes at Le Cordon Bleu and elsewhere.

I agree that a Paris cinema -- such as the UGC CinéCité Les Halles, UGC CinéCité Bercy or the MK2 Bibliothèque -- can be an amazing experience for those who only know North American movie theatres.

You can also combine the two by taking metro line 1 to La Défense to visit one of the largest shopping malls in Europe, Les Quatre Temps, and then catching a film at the UGC CinéCité La Défense. If you are utterly recalcitrant to the movies, you can always go to the top of the Grande Arche de la Défense and watch the snow fall on Paris. (I agree that the weather is going to be miserable for the next 3 days, and I got sleeted on twice today in Paris.)

Go to the Comedie Francaise. Take a tour of the Stade de France. Take a Bateau Mouche on the river. Go to Galeries Lafayette and Samaritaine

Sheila, when were you last in Paris? La Samaritaine has been closed for more than a year and will be closed for at least five more years!

Thanks so much for all of the quick responses!

ekscrunchy: I wanted to get the 4 day museum pass and the days have to be consecutive. My daughter really wants to see Disneyland Paris and I don't want to go there on the weekend when it would be so much more crowded. If I get the 4 day pass tomorrow(Tuesday) that will leave us at Disney on the weekend. As for dreeing warmly, we did pack layers but we didn't expect it to be quite this cold. Purchasing heavy clothes for 4 people is out of the question.

4totravel: Your ideas all sound wonderful to me and my kids would love the wine tasting if I would let them :)
Though my son doesn't "do" shopping, I think the Grand Epicerie would be fun for all of us. I am putting it on the list for sure. And you are correct about the apeal of long lunches...not to mention dozens upon dozens of bakeries to try and compare.

All of your suggestions are appreciated.

Actually, there is about a 0.01% chance of the snow sticking on the ground in Paris. We get a dusting of snow maybe once every 3 years.

kerouac: Thank you for your expert, detailed advise! I am taking notes and checking out my metro map to follow your suggestions. Perhaps theater for the guys and my daughter and I will get an opportunity to shop!

The catacombs are underground and interesting. Or, dress warmly and spend your time walking around -- at least the snow and cold may cause others to remain inside. I have never seen Paris in the snow, and it must be beautiful. I would take advantage and spend as much time walking as possible, popping in to cafes and bistros to warm from time to time.

I also checked the online weather, and its meant to be in the mid-40s, which I hardly classify as very cold. You can certainly wander around comfortably in mid-40 degree weather. When I read "very cold," I was expecting teens and 20s.

thit cho: It depends on where you check the weather. We read that tomorrow morning when we have our paid for Segway tour planned, the weather will be in the low 30's. Standing still on a Segway, thats cold to me.

kerouac: If we take the metro to La Defense, is the mall and cine right there?
Where is the MK2 Biblioteque?
Do you suggest one of those theaters over the other for interest and safety of the area if we leave at night?

Thanks so much everyone. You make being flexible on vacation so much easier! This has been our jetlag day and my brain isn't working at full capacity for quick and creative trip development.

Try to find the best hot chocolate in Paris - see how many places you can get to - enjoy the rich chocolate drink! This post is making me want to go to Paris when it is very cold outside!!

Some museums are not included on the museum pass. I believe the Marmottan and Jacquemart-Andre museums, as well as the Jewish Museum in the Marais, are not included and might be visited on days not covered by your pass.

Some free museums are: Musee Carnavalet, Musee Cognacq-Jay, Musee de la Vie Romantique (permanent collections), Petit Palais, Victor Hugo's apartment- Place de Vosges.

Some museums not included on the pass:

Marmotton-Monet, Jacquemart-Andre, Orangerie - and the Tour Eiffel.

Wine Tasting.

Go to a University and look for information on a free lecture or concert.

Take a cooking class.

Do something the locals would do on a rainy day.

I'll believe snow when I see it. Traditionally Paris has had about 15 days of snow per year, but over the past decade that has mostly disappeared. Now you are lucky to see a few soggy flakes plummeting to the groud, where they instantly turn to slush and melt. An inch of snow? Not unless the temperature in the city drops by a good ten degrees in the next few hours. I'm afraid those days are largely gone.

Notre Dame, walk to the top,
River boat cruise
hmmm,
I think that's it. Any chance to get the museum tickets earlier?

Sorry Mate,

Theresa

www.nomadwannabe.com

Stop at Deyrolle, one of my favorite places, a taxidermist paradise, lots of butterflies and insects to buy and they will put into a shadowbox,

www.deyrolle.fr