The Parisians are on vacation! Rent their apartments

American visitors in search of retail therapy have long been shocked to find Paris shops closed on Sunday. With a few exceptions—the Champs-Elysées, the Marais, and some parts of Belleville—the city's boutiques are dead on dimanche. There's a reason for this: the opening of retail stores without special permission has been illegal under a 1906 law that established Sunday as a mandatory day of rest. That law may soon be changing. A bill proposing to relax the Sunday restriction has just passed in the National Assembly. It goes next week to the Senate, where it's expected to pass before being adopted later this month. French President Sarkozy was elected, in part, on a campaign promise to open shopping on Sunday. He promised that the easing of labor restrictions would help the French "work more to earn more." The Obama family's recent visit gave Sarkozy's argument a second wind, according to this article from the AFP. He asked legislators "Is it normal that on a Sunday, when Madame Obama wants to go shopping in Paris with her girls, that I have to make phone calls to get them to open?" Not everyone thinks that Paris shops be open on Sunday. Opponents of the shopping bill fear that this measure will put an end to the beloved tradition of the Sunday family lunch. They also worry that small shops, if they choose not to stay open, might be crushed by superstores. CLICKABLES Sunday in Paris: Where do I eat? Practical Paris: What's closed on Sundays, Mondays, and Tuesdays?

The beach buckets and sand shovels will be out in full force in Slave Lake, Alberta, Canada this Saturday, for the Sandsculpture Championships. Held on the lake's Devonshire Beach (about three hours north of Edmonton), there are three categories of competition—family, children's, and the more competitive "open" category. It's a little pricey to compete (about $4.50 for kids, $27 for families, and $91 for "open"), but it's all free to watch. This year's theme is "The Adventure of the Imagination," so finished sculptures are sure to run the gamut. Check out the huge octopus from last year. Judging is scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m., and visitors are encouraged to peruse the entries to pick their favorite. The top prize is $3,000—not too shabby for an afternoon's inspiration. Also happening on the beach is a volleyball tournament, and there are family-friendly activities like face painting, tug-of-war, kayaking, and a watermelon-eating contest. Now, that's what summer's all "aboot."

For those who are planning a Paris binge or simply want to digest the food scene vicariously, the following blogs are totally delicious. David Lebovitz A pastry chef and author who combines sweet recipes with acidic (and hilarious) tales about life in Paris. He also offers plenty of restaurant recommendations and reviews. Chocolate & Zucchini One of the earliest and still most-popular food bloggers, this young Parisian compliments her recipes with an incredibly helpful French-English food glossary, and guide to favorite markets, shops, and restaurants. Dorie Greenspan The author of four baking bibles, Dorie spends a good part of every year eating and writing in Paris. When she tells me where to buy pastry, I listen. Alex Lobrano's Diner's Journal The long-time local correspondent for Gourmet magazine wrote an excellent restaurant guide in 2008. He shares news and updated recommendations on this restaurant blog. John Talbott's Paris The most prolific eater/writer I have ever followed. As co-host of the food-geeky eGullet France Forum, John Talbott has his finger on the pulse of the local restaurant scene. The blog houses his own reviews, along with regular summaries of what everyone else has said. Adrian Moore The self-styled "bad boy" of the local food scene, Adrian has accumulated a wealth of knowledge in his role as a five star hotel concierge. Restaurant reviews and the occasional rant. Ms. Glaze Pommes d'Amour Now cooking in New York, this young foodie spent several years in the kitchen of a three-star Paris restaurant and offers a behind-the-scenes look at the local food scene. She also created a Paris tour for teens that many chaperones will find handy. Simon Says! The personal blog of Francois Simon, lead critic for Le Figaro and (some say) the inspiration for Anton Ego, the ill-humored critic from Ratatouille. Many articles in English, thanks in part to his collaborator Joe Ray. Chrisoscope Practice your French or simply enjoy the food porn from this prolific and opinionated eater. Handy categories will help you find a restaurant that's open for brunch or on Sunday. Meg Zimbeck Can I nominate myself? Here's my personal blog, where you'll find the reviews and other bits that don't make it into Budget Travel. CLICKABLES Paris: 10 top free events in July and August Our Affordable Paris blog coverage

There's more to Orlando than jolly theme songs and hour-long lines at theme parks. Check out some of the notable things worth seeing in the city itself. Get your coffee on at Natura Café in the morning or come back in the evening for jazz, acoustic open mic nights, and a concert series. Stardust Video and Coffee also serves up a mighty cup with free WiFi, video rentals, and poetry readings. A day at the 57-acre Cassadaga Spiritualist Camp may be an interesting exit from touristy Orlando. Learn about séances and the Cassadaga psychics on a walking tour for $15 a person. Or take the family out to the Li'l 500 go-kart racing track. Tickets are about $4. For the theater buffs, head down to the Enzian Theater for contemporary and classic movies. (It has six film festivals yearly.) Or go to the downtown Winter Park shopping district for Central Park Popcorn Flicks, free movie nights for all ages on the second Thursday of each month. Shady Park Popcorn Flicks is also free and held four times a year. The Mad Cow Theatre is also downtown and features plays or musicals, and all seats are $15 on Mondays. After the show, head to Independent Bar for dance music or Tanqueray's Bar & Grill for a more underground jazz club scene. —David Cumming MORE FROM BUDGET TRAVEL Stress-Free Walt Disney World Find out which tickets to buy, where to stay inside the park, whether the meal plans are worth it, and more.