I%26#39;m trying to set expectations with my kids (13, 11 and 10) for a trip to Paris (and hoping I still remember how to get around). We%26#39;re staying in the Marais in a VRBO apartment on Rue Dupuis and I%26#39;m hoping things will look somewhat familiar, but I expect things have also changed quite a bit.
1. Do they still allow dogs in restaurants?
2. No smoking anymore? Really? Does that mean there%26#39;s clouds of smoke outside restaurants and cafes? Are people more grumpy or fatter? (that%26#39;s a joke)
3. What can I expect in terms of lines and weather March 13-19? Since it%26#39;s our Spring Break in the US I would expect that others have this time off too, and I%26#39;m expecting cold and damp.
4. So far we%26#39;re doing the cooking class recommended by others on this site (Cookn with class or something like that), the night bike tour, a flea market (Vavennes?), some ecclectic shopping recommended on this site, le Bertillon ice cream and a few museums. I%26#39;m trying to let everyone pick something and then do a few things that I think are essential.
5. If memory serves, I would include:
Picasso museum
Place des Vosges
Rodin%26#39;s house
Climb something - probably Notre Dame but maybe Arc de Triomphe
One or two of the %26quot;big%26quot; museums - I don%26#39;t think there%26#39;s a law we have to go to the Louvre - I%26#39;m thinking they will get more out of the smaller museums like the Maumartin (sorry - didn%26#39;t look up the spellin of this).
6. What%26#39;s your take on the Carnevalet museum? Is it all in French? (I speak French despite my horrible spelling in this post, but would they get anything out of it?) I%26#39;m looking for one attraction that would help everyone get situated - something accessible on the history of Paris - that and a beautiful view should be a good way to get started.
Sorry for the long post - any thoughts? THANKS
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It%26#39;s all a matter of opinion on some of the things you ask...however...
You are bringing a dog on a trans-continental flight for a vacation? Is it a service dog? If not, I would not suggest putting it through such trauma.
The general opinion I have seen in this forum is that the Picasso museum is a bit of a disappointment.
Why not climb both Notre Dame and L%26#39;Arc de Triompe?
Your kids might like the bike tours that are recommended. There have also been other posts where people ask for things kids would like and get a multitude of great suggestions! They will probably like the Centre Pompidu, although maybe not the museum itself (modern art).
You may want to check the Paris web sites for tourists (there are a number of them), as well as some of the guidebooks (I know that Fodors does a Paris with kids. At least I think it is Fodors who does).
You will get a lot of really great recommendations from the folks in this forum!
How long will you be there? That would also lead to other suggestions of things to do.
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We took our kids to Paris at about the same ages of your children, and also after a 14-year hiatus! Even though many things have changed in Paris in 14 years, it still looks the same, and if you had a general sense of where you were 14 years ago, I%26#39;m sure you will feel the same on this trip.
The kids really enjoyed the Luxembourg Gardens, the boat ride on the Seine, eating crepes from street vendors in the Place St. Michel, walking along the Seine at night, buying and eating voluminous quantities of croissants and baguettes, shopping for food at street markets, eating Berthillon sorbets on the Ile St. Louis, feeding birds outside Notre Dame, and just walking around this beautiful city. We didn%26#39;t climb the Notre Dame tower because of crowds but I know they would have loved doing that, or climbing the Arc de Triomphe. They didn%26#39;t want to go to the Louvre, and we didn%26#39;t make them go there, or to any museums on this trip, because they just didn%26#39;t want to be dragged, and we know that they will go willingly when they are older. We don%26#39;t regret this decision, although if we had had time, I%26#39;m sure they would have liked the Rodin Museum, if only for the beautiful gardens. I haven%26#39;t been to the Musee Carnavalet for over 20 years, though I plan to go again on an April trip to Paris. However, my memory is that it is such a charmingly funky and offbeat museum that I%26#39;m sure the kids would have liked it.
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You will see a dog in a cafe, but I%26#39;ve never seen one in a restaurant, unless it%26#39;s been so small that i%26#39;ve missed it.
No, no more smoking. And the Parisians I know are happy about it.
Weather is highly unpredictible in Paris. I bring college students during their Spring Break, and each year it seems different. For the most part you can expect it to be around the same as it would be in Arlington. But I recall a few years ago it was 70 and sunny all week. Be prepared for anything. Oh, and there will be lines, but get a museum pass and you won%26#39;t have to wait.
Definitely make room for the Orangerie Museum. It is fabulous, newly renovated and Monet%26#39;s paintings are breathtaking.
I would go to the Carnavalet if your kids have an interest in French history (or if they are inquisitive by nature)...it%26#39;s a well done museum. But yes it%26#39;s in French. I know there%26#39;s a dorky film about the history of Paris, it%26#39;s somewhere in the 9th (I%26#39;ve been to it once but it was eons ago and I can%26#39;t recall...)...it%26#39;s geared toward kids your kids%26#39; ages.
Great treat your giving your children, the seed of travel will be planted!
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One suggestion: The Paris city sewer tour. First time in Paris my daughter was 5. To this day, now 24, she stil remembers it.
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Hi,
Depending on what they enjoy they may like a trip around the catacombs - sounds weird but the first time my nephews (then aged 9 and 14) came they really wanted to go, and enjoyed it - but maybe your kids aren%26#39;t as goulish as them. The other place they really enjoyed going was the Cite de Sciences, it is a great place full of stuff for them to enjoy - I would plan on a long morning or afternoon there as there is so much to see. They also liked the trip up the Arc de Triomphe where they could look down and see all the crazy drivers trying to avoid each other. Another one they enjoyed was a trip up the Grande Arche at La Defense - great views from the top on a clear day and a bit of a scary trip up in the glass lift.
They also liked a trip to Chartiers restaurant, a bit touristy now but still gives them an idea of old Paris and the staff there were really nice with them.
As for the weather it can be really nice at that time of year if you are lucky. My son was born on 7th March and I remember walking around with him 2 weeks later just in t-shirts. So, you may be lucky, round about mid- March the weather usually starts to get a bit warmer, although you do still get the cold days.
I%26#39;m sure your kids will love it whatever you do, all kids that have been to visit us (we used to live in Paris but now live just outside) have enjoyed every bit of the holiday - just to be there has usually been so exciting for them.
Hope you all have a good trip
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I love the idea that you are letting the kids plan some of this -- that will make it all so much more fun and pleasant -- and don%26#39;t hesitate to break into smaller groups -- one parent with one or two kids -- 5 people don%26#39;t need to schlep everywhere together
I would climb Notre Dame -- the gargoyles etc are enchanting for kids (watch the disney movie before you go)
I really disliked the Picasso museum -- it seemed full of second rate stuff to me -- the Marmottan is interesting -- I am not sure it would be for most kids -- I%26#39;d never skip the Louvre which is filled with all sorts of things probably pictured in their history books
the Carnavalet is also on my second and not first list -- glad we went once -- but nowhere near as wonderful IMHO as the Orsay or the Louvre --
It will be cold and rainy most likely so planning for lots of indoor things to warm up between walks in beautiful Paris is great (also therefore include hot chocolate an Angelinas and similar indoor sports)
to orient everyone on Paris and its history -- maybe someone can suggest a video to watch before you go? the Carnavalet seems like one of those boring schools field trip destination to me -- compared to much else you could choose.
perhaps Versailles and the Concierge would provide some of that historical context -- and the archeological exhibit under the square in front of Notre Dame?
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Ha ha, no I%26#39;m not bringing our dog - he would NOT behave in a Parisian restaurant. I%26#39;m still not sure how French kids sit so demurely (and my kids are pretty well behaved). It%26#39;s more that they LOVE dogs and would go up and pet them all, which I have to tell them is just not done....and they would stare.
I%26#39;ve read a lot of the posts on things to do and have a long list of things to suggest and have them participate in developing an itinerary. I specifically wanted feedback on Carnevalet, others%26#39; opinions of %26quot;must do%26quot;, lines, weather and smoking.
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Thanks for all the responses - I wanted to get a feel for what people in my situation are doing and this really helped (for some reason all your other responses popped up after I had already %26quot;sent%26quot; my doggie answer). I will weigh your advice and decide on Carnevalet and Louvre - maybe I%26#39;ll search out the hokey film. I defninitely want them to discover this wonderful city and NOT feel like they are on a school field trip.
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