and homewares shop that would be perfectly at home in Provence . And housed in the same building as the patisserie , you ’ ll find a shop selling tourist trinkets like “ I heart Paris ” T-shirts , berets , and Eiffel Tower figurines ( in case you ’ re wondering , I bought all of these on my first trip to Paris ).
So many top designer brands come from France that even if you can buy things stateside , like handbags , scarves , and perfume , there ’ s always something special about treating yourself on vacation so you have a wonderful memory to bring home . Overseas , you might indulge in a little Dior , Louis Vuitton , Cartier , Hermés , or Chanel ; if you see those brands in EPCOT too , why not use it as an excuse to splurge ?
But Parisian shopping isn ’ t all based in stores ; the Bouquinistes of Paris are made up of over 900 eyecatching green boxes along the Seine , which open up to reveal treasures like art , books , and antiques . Look out for these in EPCOT ,
and you might even spot an artist painting en plein air !
BON APPETIT We cannot travel all the way to France without talking about the food ! From street food like crêpes to graband-go baguettes , cheese , croissants , and pastries , you could dine like Napoleon for dollars ( euros ?) a day either in EPCOT or France . Grab a crème glacée or sorbet to sustain you through the sweltering heat of summer in either case , and you ’ ll be set .
Whether you ' re interested in fine French perfume ( LEFT ) or simple trinkets ( TOP RIGHT ), there is ample shopping to enjoy at the France Pavilion . BOTTOM RIGHT : These are just for show at EPCOT , but in Paris these green Bouquinistes ( booksellers ) are a common site along the Seine . PHOTOS BY LAURIE SAPP