Paris with teenage girl...

I will be watching the responses with great interest. In the spring we are planning to take our 2 teenage daughters to Paris. We've been before and they have seen the sights. Right now the plan is simply to find the best shopping boulevard in Paris (Blvd Hausmann? Blvd des Capucines? any suggestions?) and let them go, agreeing to rendezvous at a cafe' for lunch. They have cell phones and are "old hands" when it comes to European cities and communicating with limited language, etc. In short: Eat, shop & people watch!

We took our then-10yo daughter to Paris for the first time two years ago, and she loved it. We'll be returning next Spring. Our daughter is not a real "girlie," and doesn't like shopping, but she is calm, quiet and an athlete. Our daughter loves art, so in addition to the "biggies," we went to Musee Andre-Jacquemart, which she loved, and the Orangerie, which she liked. Next time, probably we'll include Musee Marmatton. Possibly the Cluny, but that period is of less interest to our family. Each morning, we would stop at the local patisserie and get one small-ish item to try and share. A bag of choquettes, already my fav, were a hit, as was the cannele. We also taste-tested macarons at any patisserie we passed that had them. Laduree is still our favorite. Next Spring, our 17yo son will also be with us, and he's a big film buff. I got him a book that lists Paris movie filming locations, and I've already plotted them on our google map for the trip. We did this in NYC last Spring, and I've got to admit that even for us non-film buffs, it was fun. (I.e., where Serpico lived, where the final scene of Taxi Driver took place). Talk to your granddaughter about what special interests she may have that you can include in your trip.

For shopping: The Rue de Rivoli from the Marais to the Place de Concorde has many shops that appeal to young people. The Marais has wonderful specialty shops, as does the St. Germain area. Le Bon Marche is a great department store there. Printemps and Galleries Lafayette are great department stores also. I would avoid Les Halles. Other must dos that your daughter may like: Angelina's tea room on rue de Rivoli the Orangerie museum The Sephora store on the Champs Elysee
View from top of Montparnasse tower La Defense (there is a huge underground shopping mall out there too) I thought the boat tour of the Canal St. Martin was fun and very interesting.

Obviously find out some of the things she'd like to do and prod her to help plan. The shopping ideas are good, even if it's mostly just window shopping. The boat tours and hanging out front of Sacre Cour with all the street performers might be interesting. If she isn't much into art or museums, a good "taste" is the Orangerie. It is small but filled with excellent Impressionist art that would appeal to most teens. I always recommend a picnic in the gardens at Versailles and then rent bikes to ride the grounds and/or the paddle boats on the grand canal.

Don If you ride a bike, the FatTime Bike Tours from the Eiffel Tower can be really fun and also gives an overview of the city. Both day or night options. She might also like to do this by herself especially the evening one. If she is into the macabre or WWII history, she will love the Catacombs, an undergroud tour with tunnels made of bones and skulls. The bones were moved from Paris cemetaries and WWII France Underground used some of these miles and miles of tunnels to live and plan their actions. As you know, there will be no sales in June but there is discount shopping on Rue de St Placide just near the Bon Marche Department store. Lots of bargains for slim size girls. Bon Marche also has their wonderful fresh and packaged food floor. A great place for picking up typical packaged food for souvenirs and gifts. Climb the tower in Notre Dame. Consider getting there very early to miss the crowds. Take a market/cooking class. If she is a runner, check out some of the running routes on-line or find a running club for her to go with. Some hotels may be able to find a paid runner to go with her. Hope these ideas help! Bobbie

Totally second the idea of taking her on a Fat Tire Bike Tour, they are great fun, VERY easy(meaning yes you can do it,, I did and I had not even been on a bike for about 30 years,, so do that math) .. Fat Tire has a great website ,, I have done all of their tours ( over at least five visits,, not all at once, lol) and loved them all , but the Night Bike Tour and the one to Monet Gardens were my faves( and not because of Monet,, but because the ride was through lovely countryside ) . Anyone from 8 or so could do these tours,, right into your 70s if even remotely fit,, seriously,, don't write this off as too hard for you, it won't be,, and your granddaughter will enjoy the high energy guides.. all Americans in their twenties and thirties,, they make the tour fun,, but more importantly, they make the history fun.

Teenage girls love their pop music. You can check out who is playing at L'Olympia on the dates you have in mind. It's a smallish theater right on Boulevard des Cappucines. American performers often play there too. We saw one of our old favorites perform there 2 years ago. http://www.olympiahall.com/programmation/ If it is a French pop star who you never heard of, maybe check them out on Youtube and see if they are an act that your granddaughter might like.

Many and sincere thanks to all who have helped with this. You have suggested some adventures we had never considered. Thanks again.

The Doll Museum - Musee de la Poupee. It is about a block or two from the Pompidou Center and next to the fairly new Anne Frank Gardens - also charming.