It may still be chilly in Paris, but with blossoms appearing around the city, it's once again time to enjoy the city's many elegant parks and gardens.

From the pomp and rigorous symmetry of formal gardens like the Jardin des Tuileries and the Jardin du Luxembourg, to the sweeping, romantic bluffs and lakes of the Parc de Vincennes or the Buttes-Chaumont, Paris' top parks and gardens are great places to recharge. Relaxed strolls, lazy picnics, and botanical eye-candy await visitors, and even in the fall and winter, these green spots have their charm.

Most of these parks are also great places to spend an afternoon with kids-- from pony rides to puppet theaters, there's plenty to keep young visitors distracted and happy.