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Paris with Kids – C’est Magnifique!
By: Nancy Solomon, Travel Mamas Guest BloggerJanuary 28th, 2010
I can still hear the musical bonjour and au revoir, taste the fresh croissants, and picture the gorgeous Parisian architecture. My kids still talk about the parks, the fruit markets, Notre Dame, and Napoleon. The elegance, energy, and culture for adults combined with wonderful food, interesting exhibits, and an abundance of parks for kids, make Paris a spectacular city for a European family vacation.
Nancy with three of her children, Ellie (seven), Max (five),
and Joe (three), at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France
Why Paris?
Having traveled with four kids to multiple European cities, Paris is still our favorite. Although it is often thought of as an adult destination, the ambiance is surprisingly family-friendly. Parks welcome you all over the city and they are packed with French children playing soccer, picnicking, and enjoying life.
Nancy’s son, Joe, takes a spin on the carousel at Les Tuileries
Since the business district is set apart from the main tourist area, the pace on the sidewalks is calm and the sidewalks are wide, making them comfortable for strollers and kids alike. The expansive parks and gardens like Les Tuileries, Luxembourg Gardens, and Champs de Mars, provide plenty of space for kids to run around. For younger kids, the Jardin D’Acclimatation is a sweet little amusement park that my kids loved.
As for the food, please, it’s Paris. Fantastic bread shops, fruit markets, creperies, and bistros are endless. Every afternoon we would stock up on supplies at a local market or grocery store and then choose a picnic spot. With fresh baguettes, cheese, and charcuterie in hand—we ate very well and inexpensively. My kids still talk about the raspberries from the market on Rue Cler.
A Parisian boulangerie
Where to stay?
Staying in a central location in Paris essential. Although the Metro is efficient, you don’t want to spend all of your time getting to and from what you want to see—it is difficult and tiring with little kids in tow, not to mention expensive.
We have a great list of Paris family friendly hotels on Ciao Bambino. If you are staying long enough to rent an apartment, see my recent post with Paris apartment rental recommendations.
How to explore Paris with kids?
Plan a child-friendly itinerary that balances adult and kid interests, with free-time and sightseeing. Note that plugging children into an adult-focused itinerary is miserable. Choose one or two venues a day to visit, and then relax and enjoy those places in full.
This slow and thoughtful approach will enhance your trip—you’ll see things that you might have rushed past when traveling without kids. For example, I have been to Notre-Dame a few times, but with kids, we took the time to climb the bell towers and hear the story of Quasimoto. Our sightseeing excursion was followed by playing at the little park adjacent to the church and a gelato stop. The perfect afternoon! By incorporating time for playing each day, you keep the kids fresh while parents get a chance to decompress.
A view of the Eiffel Tower from the
top deck of a hop-on-hop-off bus tour
Start with a hop-on-hop-off bus tour of Paris. This provides a broad oversight while you are fighting off jet lag. Then don’t miss the Eiffel Tower (make reservations at the restaurant to avoid waiting in line), the famed Notre-Dame Cathedral, The Louvre art museum (again, get tickets in advance), and Le Marais, which is one of Paris’s oldest and most charming neighborhoods. I highly recommend a formal walking tour during your stay. Both Context Travel and Paris Muse offer great family options.
Once you’ve hit all the main attractions, my favorite part of planning a trip is finding one activity that is unique. Choose something that creates memorable experience for your family like attending a local soccer game or taking a cooking class. You can peruse tour brochures for ideas (Ciao Bambino’s Paris with kids resource list is good for brainstorming too). A favorite website of mine to uncover and book activities is Viator.com. Bon Vacance!
Nancy Solomon is a travel writer and mother of four kids under 10 who lives outside of Boston, MA. She blogs about traveling with kids on CiaoBambino.com.
Dreaming of a trip to Paris with your children? Tell us why in the comments below!
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Tags: amusement park, cooking class, Eiffel Tower, France, Paris, picnic
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What a great list. We’ve taken our girls to paris twice and think it is very family friendly.
I absolutely love Paris! I have visited several times but I have never been with my kids. I hope we can make the trip someday soon. When we do, we’ll be sure to follow Nancy’s tips!
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This post was mentioned on Twitter by TravelMamas: Paris with Kids…C’est Magnifique! Check out this guest blog post on Travel Mamas by @CiaoBambino ‘s Nancy Solomon http://bit.ly/aqvB2c...
France has to be my greatest vacation destination. Each time I visit I discover new things that I fall in love with.
The hop-on, hop-off bus tour is something we didn’t see when we were there many years ago. Great way to get around!
I’ll be heading to Paris for 5 weeks this summer, and I now have a baby in tow. I can’t wait to experience it with her, but the challenge is intimidating. Thanks for the tips!