{"id":97200425,"date":"2018-11-06T00:40:37","date_gmt":"2018-11-06T00:40:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cheapoair.com\/miles-away\/?p=97200425"},"modified":"2020-04-15T14:26:43","modified_gmt":"2020-04-15T14:26:43","slug":"offbeat-things-to-do-in-paris-france","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cheapoair.com\/miles-away\/offbeat-things-to-do-in-paris-france\/","title":{"rendered":"Some Offbeat Ways Paris Has of Sweeping You Off Your Feet – Literally!"},"content":{"rendered":"

You may have enjoyed, or at least heard of, some of the classic ways Paris, France romances the millions of tourists who visit it yearly. How easily we\u2019re hooked, for instance, by its lovely parks and lively late-night caf\u00e9s electric with possibilities. To say little of the spell that\u00a0the city\u2019s moonlit rooftops casts upon us with their chimney pots arrayed like the pipes of some elaborate, phantom pipe organ serenading the stars with a secret music. In addition to such perennial romantic charms, Paris has some offbeat activities that can literally, or virtually, carry you away. So, for a break from the traditional side of Paris, consider hovering over the city in a balloon, \u201cbodyflying\u201d about in it, or even piloting a Boeing 737 over it.\u00a0 Read on for all of the delightful details of these activities, which will sweep you off your feet just as easily as the incredibly cheap flights to Paris that are now available.<\/p>\n

Float in the Ballon de Paris<\/h2>\n
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The Ballon de Paris above fountains in\u00a0Parc Andr\u00e9-Citro\u00ebn. \/ Courtesy of Ballon de Paris.<\/p><\/div>\n

Instead of seeing panoramic views of the city by climbing hundreds of spiraling stairs to the top of popular monuments or riding a crowded elevator up La Tour Eiffel, see them by serenely rising above Paris in a giant, captive helium balloon.<\/p>\n

In good weather, you\u2019ll find the Ballon de Paris waiting to waft you into the sky on the western outskirts of the city in Parc Andr\u00e9-Citro\u00ebn, a large, modern park nearby the Seine in the 15th<\/sup> arrondissement.<\/p>\n

[perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]The balloon is an air monitoring device, a gondola for sightseeing, and a sight to see.[\/perfectpullquote]<\/p>\n

At 115 feet tall with a 74-foot diameter, it\u2019s one of largest tethered helium balloons in the world. It\u2019s cabled to an electric winch that controls its movement, ensuring your ride is steady, nearly vertical, and limited to an altitude of 500 feet. From this height, you\u2019ll effortlessly enjoy a 360-degree, unobstructed view of one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Each ride lasts for about 10-15 blissful minutes.<\/p>\n

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Eye to eye with La Tour Eiffel up in the Ballon de Paris. \/ Courtesy of Ballon de Paris.<\/p><\/div>\n

Hours of Operation<\/h3>\n

Weather permitting, the Ballon de Paris operates seven days a week, starting at around 9:00 a.m. until around 30 minutes prior to when the park closes in the evening.<\/p>\n

Cost<\/h3>\n

Adults pay about 11 euros for a ride; while children pay about 5 euros. Be sure to check the website for all the details related to pricing before you go.<\/p>\n

How to Get There<\/h3>\n

Probably the fastest way is to take the RER Line C to the Javel stop from which it’s a five-minute walk to the park. But a nicer approach from central Paris is to take a Batobus on the Seine to the La Tour Eiffel stop and then walk west along the river to the park. It\u2019s about a 30-minute hike, but a lovely one indeed.<\/p>\n

Tips for the Trip<\/h3>\n

\u25baBuild a rain date into your itinerary since the balloon ride is weather dependent.<\/p>\n

\u25baCheck the\u00a0Ballon de Paris website<\/a>\u00a0frequently on the day you plan to take the ride to make sure that the balloon is flying and to see what the projected wait time is.<\/p>\n

\u25baPurchase your tickets at the office at the base of the balloon on the day you want to ride. Although you can purchase tickets in advance online, no refunds will be made if flights must be canceled due to unfavorable weather.<\/p>\n

\u25baPlan other activities in the area like picnicking<\/a> in Parc Andr\u00e9-Citro\u00ebn, or renting a bike to explore the interesting neighborhoods in the 15th\u00a0<\/sup>arrondissement.<\/p>\n

\u25baIncidentally, flights to Paris have never been cheaper, giving you a great opportunity to get in on all of the fun this city has to offer.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u2018Bodyfly\u2019 at iFLY<\/h2>\n
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The joy of bodyflying. \/ Courtesy of iFly.<\/p><\/div>\n

What is \u201cbodyflying?\u201d \u201cWhen you combine blood-pumping adrenaline with pristine technical ability and athleticism, you get bodyflight, one of the most exciting sports in the world,\u201d says iFLY. They’re describing \u201cindoor skydiving,” which is \u201cthe simulation of true free-fall conditions in a vertical wind tunnel.\u201d If you\u2019ve been wanting to fly nearly free of any type of air travel vehicle, in just your street clothes and a flight suit, but are not quite ready for actual skydiving, then bodyflying might be for you. It’s a nice, controlled way to learn free-fall skills before doing the real thing.<\/p>\n

First, Your \u2018Baptism in Free Fall\u2019<\/h3>\n

For your initial time, it’s recommended that you purchase the \u201cbaptism in free fall\u201d pass, which gives you a training session and an instructor-accompanied flight. On the day of your baptism then, you’ll sign a flight waiver form, if you haven’t already completed it online; watch an instructional video; and, dress in the supplied flight suit, helmet, and goggles. You’ll then enter the waiting area of the \u201cwind tunnel\u201d \u2013 a 46-foot-high vertical glass cylinder that\u2019s the tallest of its kind in the world.<\/p>\n

When it\u2019s your turn, you’ll walk through the door of the cylinder\u00a0and…<\/p>\n

[perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””] …with a whoosh of air that continuously blows upwards from the trampoline-like floor, and some help from your instructor, you’ll go horizontal, your cheeks and flight suit rippling in the wind as you fly. \u00a0 [\/perfectpullquote]<\/p>\n

You won\u2019t be doing any aerial acrobatics or ballet though. Instead, you\u2019ll be learning how to maintain your balance and control your body in what is effectively a weightless environment.\u00a0 You’ll also free fall twice from as high as 20 feet, which is just less than halfway up the cylinder.<\/p>\n

Then, the \u2018Fly Up\u2019<\/h3>\n

After being \u201cbaptized,\u201d you’ll be offered to purchase a \u201cFly Up.\u201d For this second flight, the instructor will start spinning you around and around until you very quickly whirl up to the summit of the tube and then free fall back down. Since iFLY is inside of the Vill\u2019Up shopping mall, you\u2019ll have a crowd of shoppers on each level of the mall for an audience.<\/p>\n

[perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””] While you can experience iFLY in many locations around the world, we like the idea of falling for indoor skydiving in the City of Love best. \u00a0 [\/perfectpullquote]<\/p>\n

Here’s a video of the experience.<\/p>\n