Paris To Do List With Children
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Anonymous
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OP here. Thank you everyone! This is why I love DCUM Travel's Forum.
I apologize because I probably should have clarified in my original post what my children's interests were. Their interests are science, history, and the performing arts. Any tips for children who have these interests? Unfortunately, they are not interested in sports besides swimming. Attending a sports event is out. For instance, when we visited London the Tower of London, Science Museum, Natural History Museum, V&A, Warwick Castle, Hyde Park, Hampton Court, and Harry Potter's Studio Tour were winners with them. Hampton Court had a maze and big children's garden with an enormous playground, and lots of trails to walk. They both liked the Greek and Egyptian artifacts inside the British Museum, but that was about it. So, I think they will like those sections of the Louvre, not the other exhibits. I know that Paris and London are two different cities and I can't replicate the same type of experiences. However, I'm delighted to learn from other parents what their children loved about Paris or didn't love. I'm just trying to get a feel of what other families enjoyed and combine them with my children's interests. I truly appreciate any suggestions or tips you may have to offer. Hopefully, other families who are traveling to Paris this year will benefit from your suggestions as well. |
Anonymous
| My kids liked the amazing playgrounds the best, the Louvre, Eiffel Tower, crepes. |
Anonymous
| Check out le Jardin des Plantes. |
Anonymous
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Le Train Bleu restaurant
Eiffel Tower Boat ride on the Seine. A good eve/night activity if you're not sure what to do . Not expensive. You could go in day and another time at night. |
Anonymous
| Mine were bored with most of Paris, in retrospect I would have done Disney Paris for a day trip just to give them something to be a highlight for the. |
Anonymous
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I second the suggestion to walk up the stairs of the Eiffel Tower. My then-7-year old did it and really enjoyed it. It was much easier than you'd expect and no line.
My kids also really enjoyed the Rodin Museum's Sculpture Garden. They ran around taking pictures of each other posing like the sculptures. We took the Hop-On, Hop-Off bus one day. We also went the the Louvre and just ran around finding the top sights. We didn't expect to stay there long. They also had a great time in the Luxembourg Gardens, running around, watching the men sail the boats on the huge pond, etc. We ate lots of crepes and other street food. Just walking the streets and going into the beautiful stores (a whole store full of chocolate animals!!) was fun for them as well. |
Anonymous
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I think kids your kids' age would like the Catacombs. Also the neighborhood around there is great - very authentic (I have family who live near there).
Also if you don't have the energy for all the crowds at Versailles, I recommend Fontainebleau. I haven't been in ages but I remember going in the summer and it was almost empty. I think I took a train to get there. If you want a more authentic amusement park experience, you could try Parc Asterix. |
Anonymous
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Luxembourg Gardens, for sure.
Our family did an amazing private cooking class. We went to the farmer's market with the chef and menu planned and bought ingredients on the spot. He really engaged the kids and got them involved. There is a great kids' tour at the Louvre called Muse Clues (https://parismuse.com/tours/paris-muse-clues-louvre-tour/). One of my kids loved it - the others thought it was fine. |
Anonymous
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The sewer museum! https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g187147-d189688-Reviews-Musee_des_Egouts_de_Paris-Paris_Ile_de_France.html
Also, Versailles is painful if you're just doing the basic walk through in a giant herd of people. The docent-led guided tours, usually focused on one particular theme, are much more worthwhile. There aren't as many in English as in French, obviously, but there are a few, eg: http://billetterie.chateauversailles.fr/guided-tour-the-private-apartments-of-the-kings-english-visite-css5-chateauversailles-lgen-pg51-ei170661.html Book ahead of time in busy seasons. |
Anonymous
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We went to Versailles on our Paris trip (also in March due to Spring Brrak).
DS was super bored inside the palace and cared not for the apartments, antiques, etc. they have these little golly carts you can rent to take down through the gardens and trails to Marie Antoinette's play village. My kid still talks about that as his favorite part of our Paris trip next to unlimited tasty croissants. He of course couldn't drive the gold cart but he loved riding in it l!! We took the train there which was nice. Metro is super easy too but not as clean as London. We loved all the standard tourist spots but missed out on spending time in the museums. Too short of a trip ? |
Anonymous
| Golf cart although I bet Louis XIV would have had a gold one had he had the option! Darn typos |
Anonymous
| One trip we hardly used the subway at all, and one we went through a bunch of carnets, but fyi there are a ton of different metro lines and I found it was very helpful to use the MetrO app, which actually isn't Paris specific but will give you routing for a bunch of transit systems around the world. |
Anonymous
Seine river cruise- both during the day and at night. |
Anonymous
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the best steak frites at Relais de l'entrecote. There is one in St Germain that should be walking distance to you. So good and a very lively atmosphere. Get there early as there is always a line.
Berthillon for the best ice cream in Paris. It is not too far from Notre Dame. Also the best falafel sandwich I've had in my life is in the Marais, an interesting area to explore. L'as du falafel. There are crepe stands and other things nearby if kids don't want falafel but it is amazing and people just stand in the street eating it. Also about a 12 minute walk for Notre Dame if you want to combine. |
Anonymous
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If the ballet is performing that is a fun diversion, especially as it will likely be hot and most hotels and restaurants are not air conditioned.
Sad to hear they’re removing the fair from the Tuileries- some of my favorite memories both as a child and with my young kids. |