You may not think of Paris immediately when you think of family vacations. After all, from a kids'-eye-view, romantic strolls are boring, and endless museums are torture. However, if you get the chance to take your children to Paris, you'll find there's plenty of fun for all ages in the city of light. Below are a few of the best ways to keep kids engaged and interested.
Jardin du Luxembourg
Paris is full of gardens, but one of the best is the Jardin du Luxembourg in the sixth arrondissemont. Marie de Medicis built the palace in 1612, and while palace tours are available, the grand old building serves only as scenery for most of the patrons of this sprawling Jardin.
A formal garden, with immaculate lines of trees, Luxembourg has statues, fountains, ponds to float boats on, and many pigeons for young ones to feed or chase. There is a charming outdoor cafe with excellent food, but the children will be more interested in the puppet theater next door. The shows play on weekends and Wednesday afternoons.
Entrance to the garden is free, but for a small charge, you can buy your children admittance to the Parc de Jeux, near the cafe and the puppet theater, which is one of the most creative playgrounds you're likely to see, complete with a miniature Eiffel Tower for kids to climb.
Grevin Wax Museum
Located at 10 blvd de Montmartre, Paris 75009, the Musee Grevin will keep children entertained all morning, as they stroll through likenesses of world leaders, rock stars, American writers and French philosophers. Ernest Hemingway spent some time in the Jardin du Luxembourg; now you can spend time with him – or at least with his wax likeness.
Eiffel Tower
Lots of space to run and play, lots of ice cream to be bought, and the beautiful, iconic tower itself in the middle; what's not to love? Many famous Parisian attractions are best skipped with kids in tow; the Eiffel Tower is best in the company of little ones. Plus, if your kids are brave (and if you don't mind waiting in line), the view from above is remarkable.
The Louvre
It is true children are often impatient with museums, but if your children are at least school-age, a trip to the world's most famous art museum is worth it. A little preparation can make the trip as fun for kids as it is for parents. After all, why is the Louvre fun for us? Because we can see, in person, art we've heard about for years. Introduce kids to paintings they're likely to see, and they'll love meeting them in person. (For example, look for Guiseppe Arcimboldo's portraits cobbled from fruits and vegetation typical of a particular season of the year). With a little education before hand, a trip to the Louvre becomes a treasure hunt. Also, budding anthropologists will appreciate the Egyptian collection, which rivals the museum in Cairo itself.
And More...
The Jardin des Plantes (botanical gardens) in the fifth arrondissement, the Jardin d'Acclimitation (an amusement park in the Bois de Boulogne on the outskirts of Paris), and the Cite des Sciences (science museum in the nineteenth arrondissement), Paris is full of kid-focused fun. But don't forget the simple pleasures as well. One of Paris's greatest charms is the way it's full of surprises. Walk along the Seine, or around neighborhoods, and find the parks, the puppet shows, the Ferris wheels. Take things slowly, let your children explore, and stop frequently to reward their travel skills with a Nutella crepe from a sidewalk stand, or a pain au chocolat from a bakery. Paris is for lovers, yes, but Paris is also a beautiful, delightful city for anyone who takes the time to search out her treasures.
References
Fodor's Paris 2008. Fodor's: August 2007.
Glusker, Anne. "Paris with Kids," Washington Post, May 14, 2006.
Porter, Darwin, and Danforth Prince. Frommer's Paris 2008. Frommer's: August 2007.
