Usually when the weekend rolls around I try to catch up on chores around Paris, but a couple of…read moreweeks ago the sun was so bright and the air so crisp that everything in my person was screaming for a trip out of the city. I had once been out to La Ferme de Gally on a wet, rainy day, and thought that it would be the absolute perfect spot to venture out to with the weather as wonderful as it was. As a kid, going apple picking in upstate NY with my dad, wandering around the orchard with a pole to grab the apples at the top of the tree and then picking a pumpkin to decorate for Halloween, was one of the highlights of the year. Now that I have my own kid, I want him to have the same kind of memories of Fall. Compared to the pick-your-own food places back in NY, this place is massive. Not only can you pick apples, but everything from string beans and raspberries to fresh herbs, brussel sprouts and wild flowers. The only thing is that all of the individual patches are so spread out that after one hour wandering exploring and plucking we had only a sachet of string beans and a strawberry in our wheel barrel (yes, I was pushing a wheel barrel!) The point is that you shouldn't come here if you're in a rush. Give yourself at least two-three hours to explore the farm so that you can get to the less-trafficked parts of the plots for the best quality produce. And don't forget to dress for the occasion, even though you're only a hop, skip and a jump from Paris this is a farm and you need to get down and dirty, so leave your cute shoes at home!

the atmosphere here is amazing. there is not only food but also clothes and souvenirs and other…read morestuff. the fruits here are delicious.

This place is a dream for kids of all ages. I just happened to walk by the store, and wasn't…read moreexpecting anything special: then I walked up the stairs, and was sent to an imaginary land. Looking forward to going back with my kids.

From the owner: Sous les arcades du Palais Royal Une élégante boutique qui introduit la nature dans un milieu…read moreurbain. L'univers singulier d'un jardinier pas comme les autres, passionné autant par la flore que l'art de vivre. Vous trouverez des outils pour votre potager, des tabliers et des chapeaux, des graines rares et des beaux livres. Une synthèse réussie à découvrir en toute saison.

Selection of seeds was impressive both vegetables and flowers. I was able to fumble my French to…read moreget my questions answered by a lovely woman. It helped to have my phone showing the type of garden I have and what I already produce. I'm a Master Gardener in California and am very appreciative of getting seeds new to me. Duh, not everyone has learned English so knock it off demanding that you're being oppressed. I look forward to reporting back the success stories. I'm very grateful for this lovely store.

I am a retired landscape Architect who has enjoyed browsing Vilmorin for years. This visit to Paris…read moreI picked up a few little items and gave the dark haired female cashier a 20 Euro note. As she gave me the change, my intuition flashed that she was up to something.....it was only when I had left the store that I realized she had given me lots of coins to distract me from having shorted me 5 Euros! The money is not the issue....You can be sure I will contact the Vilmorin owner about employing a thief!

The Marché aux Fleurs et aux Oiseaux is one of the oldest markets in Paris. Located at the Place…read moreLouis-Lépine, it dates back to 1808, when Napoleon Bonaparte ruled as Emperor of France and implemented a number of upgrades to the city, including several different food markets, la Colonne Vendôme, l'Eglise de la Madeleine, and rue de Rivoli. On any given Sunday, the Marché aux Oiseaux is one of the busiest spots in the city. During my last visit, three cages passed before my eyes within five minutes, as overjoyed children tugged on their parents' arms, pointing to their newfound feathered friends. Very cool flower stalls

I'm about 4 feathers away from getting myself a pet bird so I may not be the best person to judge…read morethis place, but if you want to see an odd little slice of Paris and you're not creeped out by caged birds, come here to the French Flower Market on a Sunday (8 a.m - 1 p.m.) when the flower vendors sleep in and turn the whole place over to the bird vendors. No lie. The place overflows with a ton of caged birds in every size and color and the tweeting and chirping is magnificent. On this day, they also sell bird seed, bird-care books, and bird cages. One guy, unclear on the concept, was even selling bunnies. WTF?? With their beautiful color patterns, feather designs, and graphic simplicity, birds are awesome to look at and this is a pretty sweet place to indulge. I can't imagine what size bribe I'd have to pay to what Customs official to sneak a French bird back into the country. Looking though, is free, and nobody seemed to care that I was there to look, not buy.