Chartres is a popular day trip from Paris. The pristine town located just an hour away from Paris has many impressive sites, including its cathedral, one of the largest in France, museums, markets, shops and well-preserved architecture of varying types. Loui Franke shares some important history with a U.S. connection and more reasons to visit Chartres.

Say "Paris park chairs" to a tourist and they'll nod; mention them to a Parisphile and you'll draw a sigh. Iconic and inviting, they're liberally scattered through 400 Paris parks. As Cathy Fiorello notes, no other chairs provide less physical comfort but more spiritual well-being than the metal chairs in Paris parks. This one's for the dreamers among us.

The French have always loved the country: Marie-Antoinette had her petit hameau at the Versailles palace and Parisians who can spend weekends at country châteaux. Lexy Delorme proposes a day at les Fermes de Gally, farms by Paris with markets, gifts, cooking and gardening classes for tots and adults, and kid-friendly animals to meet at a day on the farm.

No matter how well you know the streets of Paris, gliding under Paris bridges at night during a Seine boat tour presents dramatically illuminated bridges and monuments in an entirely different light. Arnie Greenberg narrates a bridge-by-bridge tour of Paris by night as seen from le bateau-mouche.

Paris is the place to see luxury cars, historic cars and concept cars. Norman Ball strolls along the Champs-Élysées and rue Faubourg St-Honoré, stopping to admire the views from Citroën, Renault and Jeep Motorvillage showrooms. Take his guided walking tour to the concept stores with bars and cafés and you may meet a Maserati owner or spot an elusive Maybach.

Did you know you can come to Paris and not go home bankrupt? It takes planning, but there are year-round activities to enjoy indoors and out at free museums, cultural centers, author readings, markets and fairs, parks, and more. BonjourParis publisher Karen Fawcett has tips for enjoying free and inexpensive Paris activities that won't break the bank.

Where else but Paris can one actually enjoy dining at a a sidewalk café as a trio consisting of tuba, saxophone and banjo serenades just yards away? Loui Franke, author of Parisian Postcards, guides us to this quaint corner of the Latin Quarter where locals and travelers alike eat, drink, dance and shop on rue Mouffetard.

Annabel Simms, author of An Hour From Paris, introduces us to Guinguette Auvergnate, a little corner of paradise just a few minutes from Paris on the banks of the Seine. Take a quick public transit ride to step back in time for an enjoyable afternoon of traditional delights of eating, drinking and dancing with the locals and one very welcoming patron.

Here they come: strikes in Paris, the unavoidable autumn tradition that snarls or stops public transit and services. What can a foreign traveler headed to Paris do in advance to lessen the inconveniences? Karen Fawcett has tips for planning accordingly so you can navigate the city and still enjoy visiting Paris should you encounter a strike.