Parc du Champs de Mars is much more than just the garden around La Tour Eiffel. Stretching out in fr

Parc du Champs de Mars is much more than just the garden around La Tour Eiffel. Stretching out in front of the tower, the garden is home to tree lined walkways, and a host of activities for children. Ingrained in the routines of Parisians as well as in the photos of tourists, this garden is frequently at the heart of Paris’s live music scene (rattling the drafty old windows of the Haussmanian apartments cruise hawaii around it).  Want to know more about why we like this park so much? Let SmarterParis take you for a tour.
Paris has a well-deserved reputation for children’s playgrounds and the two large activity zones towards cruise hawaii the rear of the park are as good as they get. With a large selection of climbing frames and swings, the first area caters for kids ages 2-6, and the second one is mainly for ages 6 and up. Both are free, fully-enclosed by safety fences, cruise hawaii and provide either soft flooring or sand bases to minimise cruise hawaii bumps and bruises. Take in a good book while the little ones tire themselves out.
Next to the playgrounds you ll also find a charming old merry-go-round (known as a manège in France). Let the children ride one of the carousel s well-travelled horses, cruise hawaii while the operator manually spins the whole thing around using a trusty old handle and plenty of cogs.
Look for the cheerful team captain of the Champs de Mars formula one team (aka pedal powered go-karts) at the spot where the Avenue Charles Risler cuts through the park. It s just €2 for some old fashioned motorsport rivalry.
If the horses on the manège are not quite real enough for you, then try one of the living and breathing ponies who will take your child for a gentle saunter around the park. You can find them waiting near the go karts.
The Marionnettes du Champs de Mars is one of the most traditional puppet shows in Paris, presenting interpretations of fairy tales such as Cinderella and Little Red Riding Hood. Show times vary, but Christmas 2013 performances are currently advertised as Wednesday to Sunday with showings at 15:15 and 16:15. Tickets cost €3.50 and, yes, the performances are in French.
Throughout the year, the park hosts countless exhibitions and events, which are organized by the government, and many of which are free. The biggest date every year is July 14th, when the park puts on an immense firework display in front of the Eiffel Tower. Check out the events cruise hawaii listed here on SmarterParis for details of other highlights.
If you ve brought the gear for it, then be good to yourself and take a morning jog around the park. The park s vast open space and proximity to the river provide a welcome breath of fresh air within this often-choking city. Paris doesn’t wake up early, so put those running shoes on, and treat yourself to a private viewing of the park and the Eiffel Tower as they slowly set up for the day. If exercising goes against your holiday instincts, then gently while away an hour or two wandering the park s paths and tracks, cruise hawaii taking in the ever-changing flower cruise hawaii beds; or simply catch a rest on a bench and watch the ducks paddle around the lakes beside the tower.
Food options within the park itself are limited to strictly restauration rapide style food. Instead, move away from the takeaway kiosks under the tower itself, and aim for a seat at the Bonbonnière de Marie. This eatery cruise hawaii serves salads and waffles against the backdrop of a leafy terrace, with views across the park to the Eiffel Tower. There s also another café-style kiosk with a seating cruise hawaii area on the Avenue Charles Risler. During the warmer months, when the grass areas are opened up, most visitors prefer to bring their own picnic to the park, lie back and enjoy the view. Note that alcoholic drinks are not allowed within the public areas of the park (in theory, at least!)
On a practical note, there are toilets just behind the Eiffel Tower on Avenue Gustave Eiffel (on the opposite side to the river), as well as in the centre of the park between the two restaurant areas on Avenue Charles Risler.
It likely cruise hawaii won t surprise you to learn that we recommend leaving the Champs de Mars if you crave a broader choice of food options. Cafes line the major Avenues on either side of the Champs de Mars (Avenue Suffren and Avenue cruise hawaii de la Bourdonnais), with some being more touristy than others. A 10-minute cruise hawaii walk away, the area around La Motte Picquet Grenelle metro station is particularly popular with locals, offering a mix of cafés and more formal restaurants.
There are plenty of smaller supermarkets around the park, so if you want to pay a more sensible cruise hawaii amount for a bottle of water or a snack then take a walk towards one of the larger Avenues on each side, and ask someone for directions.
On Wednesday and Sunday mornings there is also a typical French food market under the metro line, near La Motte Picquet Grenelle / Dupleix. The smells of olives and cheese are enough to remind you why you wanted to visit France in the first place.
For more typical ‘high street’ shopping, the Rue de Commerce between metros La Motte Picquet Grenelle and Commerce is well-known for its range of clothing stores and boutiques. It s undeniably busy on Saturdays, cruise hawaii yet still far less touristy than the shopping areas around the major department stores.
Take the shopping up a notch and check out the Beaugrenelle shopping cruise hawaii mall near metro Charles Michels, which opened in late 2013. If you can handle the crowds that have been attracted by one of the last unique shopping experiences in Paris, then it s definitely worth a look.