Personally, I am a supermarket junkie wherever I am and I LOVE the supermarkets in France/Paris!!

Hi mk,

>I/we have never been, budget is a concern but not a deal breaker. I really want to go to out of the way places, including out of the city.<

You are making your first visit to Paris and you are looking for "out of the way" places and you want to go elsewhere?

There are reasons that everyone goes to the touristy places. After you've seen the highlights of Paris you can decide where to go next.

Again, what is your budget?

((I))

PS :)

Hi mk,

Sorry, I didn't see your further responses.

There is more than enough to keep you busy for a week.

Do some further study.

Since you will be on Boul Hausmann, here is an off-the-beaten-path thing for you to do on a Sunday:

Walk through the Parc Monceau in the morning. Then go to http://www.musee-jacquemart-andre.com/en for brunch. After brunch visit the museum.

Enjoy your visit.

((I))

<with 7 days 7 nights, should we try for a day trip to London>

Personally, no I wouldn't do it. Because one week is a very very short time to even begin to scratch the surface of a city as huge and diverse as Paris.

Get a good street map of Paris. I like to use a regular paper/folding one, so I can write on it. Check out parks, monuments, buildings of interest and just plan your days from that, heading into a different Arrondissement each day.

Good Morning,

I had to share an adorable story from 2 of my students, who just returned from Paris. They are 6 y/o twin girls...
When I asked them what there favorite part of Paris was, in unison they replied, "The Eiffel Tower, because it sparkles at night". Gotta love life, through the eyes of a child!

Ummm, how about through the eyes of an adult who has been to Paris numerous times. ;o) We never tire of Paris sites/sights.

You might find something intriguing here, though for a first-time visit some of these are a bit obscure:

http://parisisinvisible.blogspot.co.uk/

This is not a unique idea to Paris, but has worked for me many times. Just look for one thing that interests you, that's in a neighborhood away from the center of tourist sights and use that as a goal.

For example in Amsterdam, I walked from the Leidseplein area out to the Tropenmuseum (weirdly wonderful place btw) which took me thru various residential areas of the city I would never have seen otherwise.

I love the sparkling lights on the Eiffel Tower and I go every year.

I second the advice to click on Kerouc's name and find his tips and photos. He does out of the way very well.

If you want to actually leave Paris and see another part of France for a day, consider Giverny (Monet's house - 1 hour by train), Tours and the Loire Valley (2 hours by TGV), or of course Versailles, which really isn't leaving Paris but gives you an out of town feeling.

To investigate restaurants ahead of your trip, check out www.thefork.com. You can even get discounts and make reservations.

Have a GREAT trip!

Thank you all, I have been to Kerouac's page. What great photos, especially liked the covered passages.

I am weaving all this advice into a wonderful plan for the week. I will post as time allows...although I'm sure I will have a few more questions before next week!

Enjoy your trip. If you haven't already, group the tourist destinations by geographic location so you can save a little time. Rick Steves' book will help a first timer with how much time to allocate. Note when the museums/sites are closed and plan accordingly.

You can also focus on restaurants in the area you'll be visiting BUT I have had limited luck really doing that. We usually end up making an audible when walking around a neighborhood.

After all that is done, see what gaps in time you have and back fill with some of the more obscure attractions. Among those I would add is Chateau Vincennes.

I hope you got something from this, mkd.... Cause I sure did. The pet cemetery looks fantastic. For those compelled to say, ' I can not possible help you without knowing what you like' , lighten up.

I would have never thought to say, I like pet cemeteries.

What a perfect answer to a completely reasonable question. Many thx Kerouac...

It isn't possible to not like a pet cemetery. ;-)

Last minute questions:

I am thinking of a bike tour (group is fine) to Chartres or Versailles. I welcome other suggestions. I am a very capable cyclist, but in this case am looking for relaxation and sight seeing.

It has been suggested that a river cruise on the day of arrival, is a nice way to recover from jet lag, as well as become acclimated to the area.

Thoughts on either?

We are staying at Marriott Opera Ambassador; has anyone been there? We are traveling on business, so we had no choice as to accommodations.

2 days and counting.....I simply can not focus on work!!!

MK

My brother and sister in law were totally in favour of a Seine cruise on the day they arrived. Oh, they struggled so hard to stay awake! Did not always succeed.

A river cruise on the day of arrival is an invitation to succumb to jet lag, IME. You can always tell the folks who just arrived that morning from overseas - they're sound asleep.

For each visit we've decided to follow a bit of a theme. Parks & Gardens was one ...Music & Chocolates another. We bought a lot of books and looked at maps and from there we were able to build a simple and fun itinerary. There's so much to see and do in Paris that we found it helpful to concentrate on things we enjoy doing generally. You can always fit other things into your day.
On our next trip to Europe we will be retired so able to stay for 4 or 5 weeks...our theme: Tennis in Paris!
Have a wonderful trip!

I have a book <i>History & Mystery, Paris</i> which has 24 walks spread out all over the city. Many of them are off the beaten tourist path. We've used it for several trips with success.

Our version, published by the British Automobile Association (2009), is getting a little old, so sometimes things aren't exactly as described, but there is an American version with the same walks published in 2011 by Frommer's that it is readily available online:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_no...aris+frommers#

This book, IMHO, should provide you with a nice mix of touristy and not-so-touristy neighborhoods to see.

Also: I don't really recommend a day-trip to London on your first Paris trip of one-week duration...but if you REALLY must get a tiny taste of London, go for it. In one day you can see my suggestions for a one-day visit (in order): Tube from St Pancras station to Trafalgar Sq...Self-guided walk from Trafalgar Sq to Westminster...Westminster Abbey...Thames cruise from Westminster to the Tower...Tower of London...tube back to St. Pancras Station.

Have a great time!

SS

One more thing...we may well pass each other in CDG, because my wife and I arrive in Paris May 20 for an 8-day visit -- our fifth to Paris -- and there are still lots of great things we've never seen or done that we have planned.

SS