Any must-dos with elem kids? Planning a trip and I can’t wait!! Will do the Disney thing, the Louvre and probably Giverny. I love Impressionism and want fun for kids. I put Luxembourg Gardens on my list. Going in the spring.
Any must-dos with elem kids? Planning a trip and I can’t wait!! Will do the Disney thing, the Louvre and probably Giverny. I love Impressionism and want fun for kids. I put Luxembourg Gardens on my list. Going in the spring.
pomelo / 5573 posts
We did a nighttime cruise down the Seine - seeing everything lit up was amazing!
pineapple / 12566 posts
@erinbaderin: Definitely a good idea!
If you love Impressionism, I would go to the Musée d’Orsay over the Louvre (if you have to pick just one). For kids, I would probably take my kids to the Pompidou for art if I had to pick just one museum in Paris. I would also check exhibits at Le Grand Palais. See if there is anything going on in the Tuileries, sometimes there’s a giant Ferris wheel and that’s always fun to ride. Check if there are any kid friendly shows at the Opera or Bastille. Rue Muffetard and Rue Cler are cute street markets. Have a picnic! And have fun!
pomelo / 5866 posts
@lamariniere: So many great suggestions!!Thank you.
@erinbaderin: Ok on my list.
I’m a little concerned about safety because of incidents I see in the news. Should I be avoiding anywhere? Was going to stay mainly in Opera and possibly Noisy. Also one night at Le Grand at RUe Scribe which I assume is fine.
persimmon / 1286 posts
Definitely Giverny and you should get this book beforehand (also there's a matching doll):
https://www.amazon.com/Linnea-Monets-Garden-Cristina-Bjork/dp/9129583144
pineapple / 12566 posts
@808love: Noisy? In the suburbs? Paris is perfectly safe. I mean, use the precautions and common sense you would use in any major city. Like in every big city, there are some somewhat sketchy areas like around train stations, Rue St Denis (prostitution), Pigalle...but I wouldn’t say any particular area is outright dangerous.
pomelo / 5866 posts
@lamariniere: Ok thanks for the tips of the places to avoid. Yes, I think Noisy has easy access to Disney and want to see a bit of different parts. Haven’t made final decisions yet. Would you recommend a must-do day trip within France?
nectarine / 2821 posts
@808love: I know there is a blogger (not in this site) who used to live in paris and she had a guide to paris with kids! maybe oh happy day?
pineapple / 12566 posts
@808love: ah, that makes sense. It would certainly be more convenient than traveling in and out of Paris for a daytrip, although, the suburban train RER A does go to Disneyland (I've never been).
As for a daytrip, it depends on how ambitious you're feeling. Accessible by train: Chantilly is cute and not far from Paris, Lille (1 hour), Chartres (1.5 hours), Brussels (1.5 hours), London (2ish hours, leave early, come back late). Or tour some castles in the Loire Valley. I did it as a daytrip as a student, but it was on a charter bus.
pomelo / 5866 posts
@lamariniere: London is so tempting. Which of those other towns are good for an 8 yr old? I don’t really want to do castles. Well a little but am interested in wine...but then again I have my kid and DH doesn’t really drink. What about Brittany? I had a friend that lived there and she raved about it.
pineapple / 12566 posts
@808love: I would take my kids to any of the cities I suggested. Chantilly has a castle and a horse museum and (horse) race tracks. As for Brittany, I was in Nantes this summer which is just below Brittany. It was SUPER cute with plenty for the kids to do (although, mine were not there, but I wish they had been). Nantes and Rennes are both about 2 hours from Paris by train. You could do them in a day if you leave early and come back late, but I would suggest an overnight.
nectarine / 2028 posts
@808love: Hot Chocolate at Angelina's is a must! A stroll through the Rodin museum (outside sculpture garden) is another highlight. You already mentioned the Luxembourg Gardens which are beautiful. A second vote for the D'Orsay-tons of Degas ballerina paintings. The building itself is also super interesting-old railroad station. Also a cruise down the Seine in the evening (mentioned above) was amazing, too. Have an incredible time!
pomegranate / 3401 posts
So fun! We took our kids to Paris for 6 days this past spring. We skipped the Louvre, did the Eiffel Tower, Paris Disneyland, and went to Jardin du Luxembourg basically every day. Be aware though, I just heard that the playground at Jardin du Luxembourg is closed for renovations until sometime next spring. Not sure of the exact date it will reopen. (Not the entire gardens, JUST the playground). We did a lot of picnicking and wandering around. Went to Notre Dame, Sacre Coeur, ate tons of ice cream. There are parks everywhere and my kids even enjoyed riding the bus (bus #69 is the one that takes you by pretty much all the major sites). We did not do the Louvre. I have a 3 and 5 year old. Have so much fun!
coconut / 8079 posts
In Paris with kids I would...
visit Norte Dame and go up to see the gargoyles then walk to Berthillon on the île St Louis for ice cream
picnics near Eiffel Tower and either Luxembourg Gardens or Tuileries
Bateau Mouche at night on Seine
I’m not sure what else. French teacher dreaming of taking my kids one day!
MommyShorts took her 8yo to Paris and did a blog post and perhaps also a vlog about it. Definitely check that out.
pomelo / 5866 posts
Your responses are bee-autiful!! Thanks so much for your help. I spent a long time with my options last night. It kills me not to use my free hotel night or a free day at the Louvre so I spent an extra hour figuring out a long logic problem. I think I’ll just spend extra money. Super excited now that I have your recommendations.
clementine / 944 posts
What about Versailles? The Marie Antoinette farming part may interest kids
pomelo / 5866 posts
@ChitownRo: Maybe! Since we are more into art than history, we will prioritize our indoor days at art museums and balance it out with some activity and outdoors. We also scheduled a cooking class. Eating is a big part of this trip! Also shopping the thrift stores.
pomelo / 5866 posts
We did it all!! Pony rides around Luxembourg are 8 euro! Picnics, Giverny, Disney, Montmartre, Jardins, Eiffel, Open Market, D’orsay ...fresh food galore!!Can’t wait to return.
pineapple / 12566 posts
@808love: yay! Sounds like you had a great trip! What is Open Market? We are taking our LOs for a few days this summer. They’ve been before, but they were 3.5 and 9 months at the time, so this will be the first trip they (hopefully) actually remember.
pomelo / 5866 posts
@lamariniere: we ate so much food at the Bastille open market. We stayed at Le Grand hotel for one night. A few days next to Musee Grevin and stayed Noisy when we went to Disneyland Paris and Walt Disney Studios. DD was loving the sorbet, macaroons and croissants. DH fave was creme brûlée and escargot. I’m a fan of the fruits and all French food.
apricot / 400 posts
I haven't read all of the suggestions, but going up to Sacre Coeur at night is fun because it's up high and you can see all of the monuments lit up from there. Also, be sure to catch the Eiffel Tower twinkling at night. I think it happens on the hour. You don't need to be at it - just somewhere where you can see it. Chartres is a super easy day trip, as is Giverny. And, I think that Paris is quite safe. I wouldn't be worried. Have fun! I can't wait to plan this trip when my kids are a little bit older. Oh, Versaille is pretty cool, too.
pomelo / 5866 posts
We went to Sacre Coeur- but mostly for the art and scenic view.... and chose not to go to Notre Dame although I've seen a lot of footage online just now. Sacre Coeur did seem like it attracted pickpocketers....I heard stories and it seemed sketchy. Eiffel was divine at sunset from Jardin T and sunrise from Trocadero.
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