The Great Outdoors… of Paris?

Written as part of Paris Outdoors Week for our Love Paris giveaway

When I think of Paris, “Adventures in the Great Outdoors” is not the first thing that springs to mind.

Fine food? Check. Culture? Check. Romance? Check. Those categories seem ready-made for Paris, a city designed in mind for savvy travellers who want to wine and dine, experience the cultural underpinnings of Western Civilization and romance the day away in the city awash with enough mood lighting to make the most hard-core romantic swoon.

So what’s in Paris for the “hikey, bikey” crowd, people who spend a significant portion of their lives playing with Mother Nature and her brood, doing activities spawned by the desire to interact with hills and paths, rivers and lakes, trees and grass?

For those of you with the jones to get on your Patagonia pants and Columbia fleece vests and experience the “outdoors” in Paris, albeit the “lite,” tamed, mostly-manicured version, here are some ideas for you…

Jogging and walking

Put on your running shoes and join not only Parisians but also visitors and expats in a daily ritual of pumping blood to the heart via a run/jog/walk. Primarily between 7:30 and 9 am, and again after working hours (6-8 pm or thereabouts) you will find fellow runners in the following parks:

Central Paris: Jardin du Luxembourg
Southern Paris: Bois de Vincennes, Parc Montsouris
Western Paris: Bois de Boulogne
Northeastern Paris: Parc des Buttes Chaumont

You can check the hours of Paris’ parks and their exact locations here at the City of Paris parks page. To locate other parks, consult the previous link or this list of woods, parks, and gardens on Wikipedia.

For path-walking and nature-observing, the above-mentioned Bois de Vincennes and Bois de Boulogne are ideal. Just at the Bois de Vincennes is the lovely botanic gardens at the Parc Floral de Paris where meandering paths and modern pavilions display lovely plants and flowers.

If you are up for getting a little bit outside of Paris (55 km/35 mi), and either have a vehicle you can drive on the A6 southeast of Paris, or the gumption to take the SCNF train on a roughly 35 minute ride from Gare de Lyon to Fontainebleau, the National Forest of Fontainebleau will really scratch that nature-loving itch, with activities including climbing and bouldering.

Cycling

While I have not braved the streets of Paris on a bicycle yet, I hear wonderful things from the converted who say that the Vélib’ cycling system is the only way to get around the city (in decent weather, that is).

New this year for tourists without a “smart chip” debit card usually needed to rent the cycles: online ordering. Check out the Vélib’ site here for more information on how to rent a Vélib’ bicycle in Paris.

Urban Trekking

Seeing the sights in Paris by foot will give you an “urban hiking” experience in addition to lots of exercise.

My personal favourite urban trek is to walk from the southern end of the Canal Saint Martin starting near Place de la République in the 10th arrondissement. I like to walk all the way up to the Place de la Bataille-de-Stalingrad with the Rotonde de la Villette in the 19th arrondissement (at M° Jaurès) and if I am in a truly energetic mood, continue all the way east where the canal changes to the l’Ourcq. Here it goes on to the Parc de la Villette, another of Paris’ truly open spaces with grass on which it is okay to walk or picnic (something that is not the case in many of Paris’ parks).

While it may not have the reputation of being an outdoor mecca, Paris does have places approximating the great outdoors if the urban cosmopolitanism of the city starts to get to you as it sometimes does this Colorado-raised girl. It may not be backpacking the wilds of the Rockies or mountain biking in Moab, but Paris has its natural charms, if you are willing to discover them.

Want to win a trip to Paris? Like us on Facebook to enter our Love Paris giveaway (to September 30th 2011). The prize includes a Paris hotel stay and activity for two, plus £150/€170 travel vouchers to make the return journey.

About the author: Karin Bates Prescott, resident of Paris for over three years, writes on her blog, An Alien Parisienne, about feeling like an “outsider” in Paris. Gluten and dairy intolerant and often ambivalent about the city everyone seems to adore, she is learning to love and appreciate Paris on her terms one day at a time.

Related posts:

1. Top Things to see Outdoors In Paris
2. Tell us your Amazing Travel Sights and Win a Paris Trip – it’s Paris Outdoors Week!
3. Interview: Anne from Paris Par Rues Méconnues
4. Paris off the Beaten Path
5. Four Favourite Parks and Gardens in Paris