The reputation of Paris is that of one of the most sophisticated and cultured cities on the planet, but it is also remarkably cool. Let your inner hipster be your guide as you ramble the streets in search of the unusual, the elegant, the well-hidden and the downright weird stuff that can be found in the City of Light.
What Lies Beneath
- As you descend the 130 steps into the remaining public area of the mass burial grounds known as the catacombs, you will likely begin to feel a slight chill. Beginning in 1786, the city began transferring remains from its overflowing cemeteries to the abandoned quarries beneath the Paris streets. Stacked according to body part, walls of skulls and bones line the passage as you enter beneath the sign that translates to "Halt! This is the realm of Death." The catacombs may be for neither the claustrophobic nor for young children, but they provide good photo opportunities, and there's a charming gift shop when you finally climb out. If you really dig the underground scene, take a tour of the sewer system used by Nazis as air-raid shelters and by Resistance fighters as hideouts during World War II. It's a little smelly, but the history lesson and artifacts make it worthwhile.
Winter Wonderland
- Paris is even more spectacular in winter when the lights stay on all night and ice rinks pop up everywhere from the Trocadero Christmas market to the Hotel de Ville. Perhaps the coolest rink is the one on the first floor of the Eiffel Tower. Admission is included in your tower ticket, but you can also just pay to climb the steps to the rink. You're not allowed to bring your own skates, but the rink provides blades as well as skate trolleys for beginners and children. The festive atmosphere is enhanced by a light show and an ice cream stand.
Horsing Around Paris
- Carousels are a big part of Parisian life. You can ride on an extinct dodo bird or a dinosaur at the Jardin des Plantes or head for the Musée des Arts Forains to spin around on one of 14 antique carousels, including one that you activate by pedaling. The oldest merry-go-round is in the Jardin du Luxembourg, where riders can still spear metal rings like jousting knights of old. Perhaps the most elegant is the Montmartre two-story carousel, with its sleek steeds, fanciful boats and gilded trim.
Look! Up in the Sky!
- Paris is lovely in the spring, and a memorable way to see its wonders is from a slow-moving dirigible. Airship Paris provides an unforgettable journey in a 12-passenger cabin suspended beneath a modern-day blimp. Unlike an airplane, the zeppelin has panoramic windows, and passengers are encouraged to stand or walk about the cabin to get an even better view. Bring your camera to record the experience so friends back home can see just how cool you are and how cool Paris is. Reservations are taken at the first of the year, and flights take place from spring through summer.
