We Go With Kids!

Category: paris

  • Best Paris Art Museums For Kids

    Best Paris Art Museums For Kids

    Paris is often considered as one of the world’s art capitals.  Not only is the Louvre located along the Seine River, but Impressionism originated with a group of Paris-based artists during the late 19th century.  It is generally quite affordable for families to visit art museums in Paris because kids under 18 are almost always free.  It astounded me that our admissions fees to these world-renowned museums was a fraction of what our family pays to attend local museums.  As a family of art lovers, our three children have been visiting art museums since birth and love exploring galleries.  Several of Paris’ art museums were on our must-see list during our last visit, but we were only able to visit three.  We reached out to fellow bloggers to get the inside scoop on the ones we missed so that we could create this comprehensive guide to the best Paris art museums for kids.

     

    #1:  Louvre

    The Louvre is the largest and most visited art museum in the world. As the world’s premier art museum housed in the Louvre Palace that dates back to the 12th century, it and may not seem likely to be child-friendly, but it is actually one of the most stroller-friendly museums we have ever visited.  Families with strollers automatically skip the often long entry line and are ushered directly to an elevator and are permitted to use elevators throughout the Louvre that are reserved only for disabled visitors and their accompanying parties.

    The building could be considered a work of art in its own right.  In addition to the Louvre Palace and all of its additions, Louvre Pyramid is an iconic glass and metal pyramid that was designed by the Chinese-American architect I.M. Pei and completed in 1989.  The Louvre collection includes over 400,000 works and could take months to closely examine even the works currently on display.  During our lovely visit with our three children last summer, we prioritized the most famous three works, Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo and Winged Victory of Samothrace and spent about three hours meandering through the Louvre’s highlights.  Mona Lisa is much smaller than anyone expects (only about 21 inches by 30 inches!), and her paparazzi was overwhelming.  Nevertheless, we still all wanted to get as up close to her famous smile as we could.

    I think it’s safe to say that no visit to Paris would be complete for me without a visit to the Louvre.  While I would aim to get in as soon as it opens next time and beeline for the Mona Lisa gallery first, I would never hesitate to bring kids.

    • Louvre Hours: The Louvre is generally open from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., except that it is open from 9:00 a.m. to 9:45 p.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays and closed on Mondays, May 1 and December 25.
    • Louvre Admission:   Pre-booked time-entry tickets cost €17 or adults, and general adult admission costs €15 at the door.  Kids under 18 are free.
    • Closest Metro Station: Palais-Royal Musée du Louvre and Pyramides

    Recommended by Catherine D’Cruz from We Go With Kids.  Find out more from Catherine about visiting the Louvre with kids.

    #2:  Musée d’Orsay

    The Musée d’Orsay houses an impressive Impressionist collection of French art featuring Manet, Monet, Renoir, Van Gogh Degas, Cezanne and many more.  Paris was the birthplace of impressionism, and impressionist artists regularly gathered in Montmartre during the late 19th century.  I sure would love to have been a fly on the wall of one of these meetings, and I felt privileged to grace the halls of these magnificent art works.

    The Museum opened in 1986 in the former Gare d’Orsay, which was constructed for the 1900 World’s Fair, and the station’s three enormous clocks are spectacular works of art in their own right.  Our family really loves Impressionism, and my personal favorite painter is the brilliant but troubled Vincent van Gogh, and my kids share my appreciation of his paintings.  The d’Orsay was a particularly treat because it houses one of the largest collections of Van Gogh’s works outside of the Van Gogh Museum with 24 paintings.  Our favorite was Starry Night Over the Rhone.

    Edouard Manet, who was one of the first to incorporate blurred backgrounds and contrasting colors into his painting, is often credited as the first Impressionist artist.  Several of his seminal paintings are exhibited at the d’Orsay, including Olympia and Luncheon on the Grass.  Other favorites impressionist artists include Edgar Degas, who known for his focus on dance and theater.  The Dance Class was a favorite of my budding ballerina.

    The d’Orsay features more than 80 paintings by Claude Monet and Pierre-August Renoir each.  Many are recognizable, and I can’t pass one without smiling.  Both were very talented and prolific artists, so most major art museums around the world feature a handful of paintings by each, and including variations of similar paintings.  While we focused on the paintings, there is also quite a significant sculpture exhibition.  With such an extensive collection, it’s no surprise that the Musee d’Orsay is the 10th most visited art museum in the world with about 3.5 million visitors annually.

    • Musee D’Orsay Hours: The d’Orsay is generally open from 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., except that it is open from 9:30 a.m. to 9:45 p.m. on Thursdays and closed on Mondays, May 1 and December 25.
    • Musee D’Orsay Admission:   General admission costs €14 for adults, €18 if purchasing a combined admission to Musée d’Orsay and Musée de l’Orangerie or €21 if purchasing a combined admission to Musée d’Orsay and Musée Rodin.  Kids under 18 are free, and the d’Orsay is free on the first Sunday of each month.
    • Closest Metro Station:  Solferino

    Recommended by Catherine D’Cruz from We Go With Kids.  Find out more from Catherine about visiting the Musée d’Orsay.

     

    #3:  Musée de l’Orangerie

    Musée de l’Orangerie is located between Place de la Concorde and Tulleries Gardens, just a short walk from the Louvre.  The l’Orangerie features impressionist and post-impressionist art.  The main attraction is unquestionably the two oval shaped rooms featuring Monet’s Nymphéas (Water Lilies).  Monet helped design these two rooms in the 1920s but unfortunately died before the installation was completed.  In the 1960s, a second floor was added above these galleries and obstructed natural light.  Fifty years later, the l’Orangerie spent over $36 million to construct a lower level to move the exhibits on the upper floor below ground and add skylights to these ground floor galleries.

    The eight curved panels built into the walls of these two galleries pop from the crisp, white walls.  As a viewer, I truly felt as if I was part of the installation.  My ten year old announced that these were his two “favorite rooms of art in the world.”

    After exploring the Water Lilies galleries, we spent about an hour and a half exploring the other impressionist works, including works by Cézanne, Matisse, Modigliani, Picasso and Renoir. Renoir’s Jeunes Filles au Piano reminds me of my sister and me, and I was thrilled to find one of the variations on display.  The l’Orangerie might be a bit of a hidden gem, but it is definitely at the top of our must-see list for Paris.

    • Musée de l’Orangerie Hours: Musée de l’Orangerie is generally open from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily, except that it is closed on Tuesdays, May 1, the morning of July 14 and December 25.
    • Musée de l’Orangerie Admission: Admission costs €9 for adults or €18 if purchasing a combined admission to Musée d’Orsay and Musée de l’Orangerie within three months of first entry.  We purchased a combination ticket and visited the two museums on separate days.   Kids under 18 are free.
    • Closest Metro to Musée de l’Orangerie:  Concorde

    Recommended by Catherine D’Cruz from We Go With Kids.  Find out more from Catherine about visiting the Musée de l’Orangerie.

     

    #4:  The Centre Pompidou

    With an entire floor dedicated entirely to kids, the Pompidou Center is one of our favorite museums for kids in Paris. The Pompidou Center houses France’s national library and the museum of modern art and provides an introduction for children to the works of artists from the 20th and 21st centuries including Matisse, Picasso and Warhol. In the Galeries des Enfants special trails, workshops and exhibitions aim to bring the art alive for children with creative use of digital and hands on activities.  And, it is not just the kids galleries that make the Pompi (as it is affectionately called) worthwhile. The building itself is fun to explore thanks to the iconic exterior escalators and modern architecture.  Outside in the Place Stravinsky families can explore the fountains and watch performances by street artists.

    Image by pixabairis from Pixabay

    • Pompidou Center Hours: The Pompidou Center is generally open from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily, except that it is closed on Tuesdays and May 1.  Certain exhibits are open until 11:00 p.m. on Thursdays.
    • Pompidou Center Admission: General admission costs €14 for adults.  Kids under 18 are free, and the Center is free on the first Sunday of each month.
    • Pompidou Center Visitor Tip:  There are strollers available for young children to use during their visit, which makes it easy to wheel around tired little legs.
    • Closest Metro Stops to the Pompidou Center:  Rambuteau Hotel de Ville or Chatelet

    Recommended by Katy Clarke from Untold Morsels.  Find out more about Paris from Katy.

     

    #5:  The Rodin Museum

    Our first visit to Europe included a fantastic five days in Paris. Our three kids were young at the time, just 5, 7 and 10. We had no idea that those little ones would love the museums of Paris. Each day, we’d visit one, sometimes large, sometimes small, and each time, they found something special to enjoy. Their favorite was a museum that I hadn’t heard much about before researching our visit: The Rodin Museum. We only visited the Sculpture Garden, but it remains one of their favorite European museums. With incredible sculptures intermixed in beautiful rose gardens, this park-like setting turned into a mini photo shoot of our three little one’s trying to recreate Rodin’s creations with their little bodies.  It started on arrival as our three littles sat in front of The Thinker and recreated the famous pose. It continued as we wandered through the beautiful gardens with each and every life-size sculpture. Incredibly, many of Rodin’s pieces include three people, just like them! It was so much fun that we spent hours there, moving from one new piece of art to another, enjoying time on a bench or roaming the gardens along our way.   For families looking for a relaxing few hours where the kids, of any age, can learn to enjoy and interact with artistic works, this is an ideal place. Just don’t forget a camera!!

    • Rodin Museum Hours: The Rodin Museum is generally open on daily from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. except that it is closed on Mondays, January 1, May 1 and December 25.
    • Rodin Museum Admission: General admission costs €12 for adults.  A combined ticket with the Musee d’Orsay costs €21.  Kids under 18 are free, and the Center is free on the first Sunday of each month.
    • Closest Metro Stops to the Rodin Museum:  Varenne or Invalides

    Recommended by Joanne Norman from Sunsets and Roller Coasters.

     

    #6:  Musée de Cluny – The National Museum of the Middle Ages

    The Cluny Museum in Paris is one of the most underrated museums in the city. Also known as the Musée de Cluny – The National Museum of the Middle Ages, this museum has everything from Roman artifacts to Medieval tapestries. The collection is housed inside a 15th century mansion in the Latin Quarter and the building itself is as much of an attraction as the relic inside.

    We visited with our three kids as part of a Context Travel Paris tour uncovering Roman history in Paris. Inside the Cluny Museum are the most magnificent Roman baths and frigidarium dating to the 2nd century. The collection also includes the famous tapestry “The Lady and the Unicorn”, Gothic Rooms, the Abbot’s Chapel, a treasury, and beautiful outdoor gardens to explore. I would highly recommend booking a family friendly tour at the Cluny as there is a ton to take in, but it is definitely worth a stop on a family visit to Paris.

    • Cluny Museum Hours: The Cluny Museum is generally open from 9:15 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. daily, except that it is closed on Tuesdays, January 1, May 1 and December 25.
    • Cluny Museum Admission: Admission costs €9 during temporary exhibitions €5 outside of temporary exhibitions.  Kids under 18 are free, and the Cluny Museum is also free on the first Sunday of each month.
    • Closest Metros to the Cluny Museum:  Cluny-La Sorbonne, Saint-Michel or Odeon
    Recommended by Kirsten Maxwell from Kids Are A Trip.  Find out more from Kirsten about Context Tours in Paris.
    #7:  Musée du quai Branly

    Quai Branly Museum in Paris is a space dedicated to arts of non-Western civilizations. Designed by the famous French architect Jean Nouvel, it displays artifacts, costumes and precious handcraft objects of the main civilizations divided by continents. Quai Branly Museum also has a theater, a reading room, a cinema, two restaurants, and a bookstore. It also proposes interesting temporary exhibitions regularly. This museum is great for families because of the exciting design of the building and the surrounding spaces and also for its educational side. After crossing its famous vegetal wall facing the Seine River, the building is located in the heart of a wooded savanna. From there, visitors have a great perspective of Haussmannian apartments, and kids can explore the hidden treasures of the garden. The spaces inside are linked by a spectacular ramp, a kind of spine for the building,  which makes the arrival to the main exhibition space very exciting. The collections are very interactive and utilize different media, which is great for keeping the kids interested and entertained at the same time.

    • Quai Branly Museum Hours: The Quai Branly Museum is generally open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Sundays from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m and generally closed on Mondays.
    • Quai Branly Museum Admission: General admission costs €10 for adults.  Kids under 18 are free, and the Center is free on the first Sunday of each month.
    • Closest Metro to the Quai Branly Museum:  Alma-Marceau

    Recommended by Elisa from World in Paris.  Find out more from Elisa about hotels with a view of the Eiffel Tower.

     

    #8:  Paris Atelier des Lumières  

    Paris Atelier des Lumières is one of the most kid-friendly museums in Paris. It offers a very creative way to appreciate the art masterpieces from famous artists like Van Gogh, Monet and others.  The whole museum spreads over with over 30,000 square feet of gallery space equipped with modern multimedia tools to create the stunning effects on the way artworks appear to the stage. Once stepping into this museum, kids do not only feel movement of the painting but also indulge in the sounds of nature like they are witnessing the real landscape.

    From one corner to another, all the changes are carefully designed to make sure even the less artistic-genre person still feel attracted. Atelier des Lumières is simply a perfect choice for an educational visit. Families will not feel regret with their dedicated exhibition!

    Recommended by Tan Bang from Travel to Work.

    #9:  Dalí Paris (Formerly known as Espace Dalí)

    I remember the huge impression that l’Espace Dalí made on me when I visited at the age of 15, but I was easy game.   I was already in love with Salvador Dalí’s quirky paintings and sculpture at that time. Some 25 years later, I brought my girls to the recently refurbished and renamed Dalí Paris, and sure enough, they loved it too, just as I had. The Dali Museum houses the biggest collection of his work in Paris, including some fabulous bronzes with my favorite Space Elephant and of course his melting clocks.

    Dalí Paris is located on Montmartre, just a few steps from the main square with its open air displays of paintings.    We recommend visiting Sacré Coeur Basilica first, then wander the Montmartre streets and save Dalí for the climax.

    • Dali Museum Hours: The Dali Museum is generally open daily from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. during June, July and August.
    • Dali Museum Admission: General admission costs €12 for adults and €9 for visitors age 9-26.  Kids under 8 are free.
    • Closest Metro Stations to the Dali Museum: Anvers, Abbesses or Lamarck-Caulaincourt

    Recommended by Ania from The Travelling Twins.

    Paris is an art-lover’s dream with so many art museums.  These museums may not seem child-friendly, but kids are truly welcome and find delight in the beauty of some of the world’s most famous masterpieces that span from antiquities to impressionism to contemporary art.  As an added bonus, kids are free at almost all of these museums.  Find out more about visiting Paris with kids.

  • Tips for Visiting the Louvre With Kids

    Tips for Visiting the Louvre With Kids

    The Louvre in Paris is the largest and most visited art museum in the world with 400,000 art works and a permanent collection of about 35,000 on display.  It is housed in the Louvre Palace, a former royal palace that dates back to the 12th century.  The Louvre became a museum in 1793 during the French Revolution and has been expanded and renovated many times over the past 800 years.  The Louvre may not seem like a museum that welcomes children with open arms, but it is actually one of the most stroller-friendly museums we have ever visited.  So, there is no reason to skip it when traveling with children.  Here are our top 10 tips for visiting Musee du Louvre with kids:

    A Visit to the Louvre For Kids

     

    Tip #1:  Buy Skip the Line Louvre Tickets Online in Advance

    We booked a 9:30 am entry on our first morning in Paris directly through the Louvre’s website.   Pre-booked adult tickets cost €17 each, which is just slightly more than the €15 entrance fee for tickets purchased at the museum.  All visitors under age 18 are free.  Considering admission for our family of five to almost any US museum seems to cost at least $75, €34 to visit the Louvre seemed like an absolute bargain, and we didn’t think twice about the extra €4 necessary for advanced booking.

    Tip #2:  Eat Before Arriving at the Louvre With Children

    The Louvre requires a good bit of walking.  It is important to arrive with children who are well rested and well fed.  We stopped at Franprix for a delicious breakfast of freshly squeezed orange juice and amazing bread and pastries.  We didn’t stop to eat at one of the Louvre’s cafes or restaurants during the three hours we spent there, choosing not to risk long lines and instead enjoyed lunch at a British pub during England’s Quarterfinal World Cup match afterwards.

     

    Tip #3:  Arrive at the Louvre Early or Late

    Our flight arrived in Paris in the evening, and in hindsight, it may have been a bit ambitious to plan a 9:30 am museum arrival the next morning. But, we had a full night of sleep and arrived at the Louvre on time.  We definitely noticed that the Louvre became much busier by late morning.   The Louvre is also open until 9:45 p.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays, and it is typically less crowded during those evening hours.   When planning a Paris itinerary, note that the Louvre is closed on Tuesdays, January 1, May 1 and December 25.

    We entered through the Louvre Pyramid, the iconic glass and metal pyramid that was designed by the Chinese-American architect I.M. Pei and completed in 1989.  The Pyramid and underground lobby were created so that the Louvre could better accommodate its increasing number of daily visitors.  The Pyramid was designed for 4.5 million annual visitors, and the underground lobby had to be redesigned between 2014 and 2017 when the number of annual visitors rose from 4.5 million to over 8 million.  We talked about how I.M. Pei also designed the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s pyramid in Cleveland as we entered.

    View from inside the Louvre's Pyramid
    View from inside the Louvre Pyramid

    Tip #4: Bring the Stroller to the Louvre

    Even though it was necessary at times to carry our stroller up or down a flight of stairs, it’s understandable considering the building dates back to the late 12th century.  Nonetheless, the Louvre Museum gets high marks for being stroller friendly.   When we arrived at the Pyramid, we noticed separate lines for pre-booked tickets and visitors needing to purchase tickets from the box office, but neither had much of a line when we arrived.  It didn’t matter because as soon as the guard saw our stroller, he ushered us through the middle of the two entrances to wait for the next circular open air hydraulic elevator into the museum.  Our kids thought this was the coolest elevator we have ever been inside of and thought it looked like it belonged on a futuristic spaceship.

    Strollers are welcome throughout the museum, and we rarely felt crowded.  Elevators in the Louvre are reserved for the disabled (including children in strollers) and their accompanying parties.  This is in stark contrast to Versailles where we had to check our stroller at left luggage before entering the Palace and the Vatican where wall to wall visitors in many galleries made it extremely hard to maneuver the stroller and where we were not permitted to use the elevators, which were reserved for those in wheelchairs only.

    Tip #5:  Don’t Forget the Louvre Map

    The Louvre exhibits are seemingly endless.  It’s absolutely massive and not possible to explore every exhibit in a single day. It is essential to bring a map and formulate a game plan.  We should have downloaded and printed the Louvre interactive floorplan in advance, but we picked up a map underneath the Pyramid first thing.

    Tip #6:  Use Rick Steves as a Tour Guide at the Louvre

    We traveled with Rick Steves’ Paris guide, which includes a 30 page annotated tour of the Louvre.  This guide was perfect for us.  I read Steves’ descriptive overviews about an exhibit or selected major works for my husband and kids and found that it provided the perfect nugget of information to help enhance the experience for our whole family.  We otherwise would not have noticed the S-curve in Venus de Milo‘s back and the seam at her hips.  We also made sure to examine the glass case next to Winged Victory of Samothrace with her outstretched thumb and finger, which was discovered in the 1950s.

    Tip #7:  Prioritize the Big Three at the Louvre

    I vividly remember visiting the Louvre on my college backpacking trip and following pictures directing me to Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo and Winged Victory of Samothrace.  These seem to be on everyone’s Louvre must see list.  Because the Louvre is enormous, it takes some time to just navigate to each, but make sure not to rush through the amazing galleries along the way.

    We started in the Sully Wing and first visited the Near Eastern Antiquities, which was impressive and not very crowded at all.  My favorite was the Frieze of Archers from the fifth or sixth century B.C.

    We then visited the Egyptian galleries before reaching the Gallery of Statues with perfect anatomic Greek sculptures in natural poses.   Athena of Velletri stands at one side and Venus de Milo at the other.  Athena of Velletri is a Roman replica of a Greek statue that dates from the 5th century B.C.  Venus de Milo is an ancient Green sculpture created between 130 and 100 B.C.  I love the juxtaposition of the goddesses of wisdom and beauty.

    The statue of Athena of Velletri at the Louvre
    Athena of Velletri
    The statue of Venus de Milo at the Louvre
    Venus de Milo

    We then headed into the Denon Wing to Winged Victory of Samothrace, which dates back to about 190 BC.  This winged-woman standing on a ship commemorated a naval victory.   I love that this massive statue is exhibited in a large open area with high ceilings rather than crammed into a gallery.  We had a discussion about how fragile arms are on ancient statues and how they were often broken and lost.

    Statue of WInged Victory of Samothrace at the Louvre
    Winged Victory of Samothrace

    The Louvre statues were particularly impressive due to their age and preservation.

    Of the “Big Three”, we visited the Mona Lisa last and realized when we saw the crowd that we should have made a b-line for this gallery as soon as we arrived.

     

    Tip #8:  Be Prepared for Mona Lisa‘s Paparazzi at the Louvre

    Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa is virtually synonymous with the Louvre.  This early 16th century Italian Renaissance painting has been on display in the Louvre since 1797.  While the Louvre generally did not seem crowded on our Saturday morning visit, visitors line up to see the Mona Lisa, protected by bullet proof glass and guarded by guards.  It took us several minutes to work our way up to the front of the crowd to get a picture of her famous smirk.

    The word “paparazzi” comes to mind, and yes, Mona Lisa is much smaller than anyone expects (only about 21 inches by 30 inches!).

     It doesn’t help that the Louvre’s largest painting,  Paolo Veronese’s The Wedding Feast at Cana, is displayed on the opposite wall.  I was drawn to Veronese’s massive canvas and surprised at how little attention it received as the visitors focused solely on Mona Lisa.  The unexpected Venetian setting made me more excited about our upcoming trip to Venice a few days later.  The juxtaposition of these two paintings definitely was one of the most interesting parts of the Louvre.

    Even though I saw Mona Lisa 21 years ago, it was simultaneously exhilarating and slightly underwhelming to visit her on this trip.  Nevertheless, Mona Lisa was the most memorable part of our Louvre visit for our kids.  They remember the crowd, her auspicious smile and The Wedding Feast at Cana on the opposite wall.  My son is convinced she’s planning something evil.

     

    Tip #9:  Don’t Forget to Look Up While Visiting the Louvre

    Some of the most memorable art is located on the gallery ceilings.  It’s easy to be so mesmerized by the art on the wall and not fully appreciate the architecture and ceiling art.

     

    Tip #10:  Take Forced Perspective Pictures in front of the Pyramid at the Louvre

    The Louvre’s Pyramid is not only a world-renowned architectural icon but also a great place to take a forced perspective picture.  There are a number of strategically placed pedestals in front of the Pyramid to make it easier to capture the perfect shot, which we most certainly used.

    We loved our family trip to Paris and recommend the Louvre for kids.  Make sure to check out our posts on Planning a Trip to Paris, Top 25 Attractions in Paris for Families, Visiting the Eiffel Tower as well as our other posts about Paris!

  • Visiting the Eiffel Tower With Kids

    Visiting the Eiffel Tower With Kids

    The Eiffel Tower was a major inspiration for our family’s European vacation this past summer.  Seeing the Eiffel Tower has been #1 on our eight year old son’s bucket list ever since he saw the half scale replica in Las Vegas at age four.  He wasn’t even sure why he was so enamored with Gustave Eiffel’s wrought iron lattice tower, but it was something he had to see.  Whenever we discussed potential vacations, he made sure his desire to see the Eiffel Tower had not been forgotten.   My husband and I consider a wide range of factors including air fares and our personal desire to visit a location when deciding on where to spend our family vacations, but our son’s unwavering insistence on the Eiffel Tower was persuasive.  When we found that round trip airfare from Cleveland to Paris was about half the cost of flights to any other mainland Europe destination, it seemed that our visit to the Eiffel Tower with kids was destined.

    Las Vegas’ Eiffel Tower

    Why is the Eiffel Tower So Popular with Kids?

    The Eiffel Tower is one of the world’s most famous landmarks.  It was designed to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution and also to be used as the entrance to the 1889 World’s Fair.  The Tower took less than two and a half years to construct and was the tallest building in the world until the Chrysler Building surpassed it in 1930.  It was named for Gustave Eiffel, the engineer whose company designed and constructed it.

    Favorite Viewpoints of the Eiffel Tower for Kids

    We first spotted the Eiffel Tower as our plane was landing at Charles du Gaulle Airport.  It was small but noticeable in Paris’ skyline.  My eight year old was pretty excited.  We arrived in the early evening, and after checking into our VRBO in Montorgeuil, we strolled to the Seine River, where he got his first close up view of the Eiffel Tower dominating the skyline.  Even though the Tower was off in the distance, it was a magical moment.

    Boy meets the Eiffel Tower

    The Eiffel Tower is visible from so many spots in Paris that we saw it multiple times each day during our two weekends in Paris.  Each bridge across the Seine offers a slightly different perspective, and it was fun to find it in the skyline.   On our second evening in Paris, we took a classic Seine River boat cruise with Vedettes du Pont Neuf and got to see the Eiffel Tower up close for the first time.

    We could also see the Eiffel Tower from the Arc de Triomphe.  While we didn’t climb to the top of the Arc, I’ve heard that those who do enjoy one of the best views of the Tower.  Another favorite view of the Tower was from Sacre Coeur where we saw it lit up with sparkling lights at night.  This light show occurs on the hour every hour between sundown and 1 a.m. and lasts for about five minutes.  The entire Tower sparkles, and a spotlight shines from the top.

    Booking Tickets to the Eiffel Tower With Kids

    Many visitors to Paris are satisfied viewing the Eiffel Tower from one of the many stunning viewpoints. I had visited Paris twice previously but only not gone inside.  Visitors who want to go into the Eiffel Tower need to book tickets well in advance during peak tourist season.   There are many tours companies that include an Eiffel Tower visit, but we booked our tickets directly through the Tower’s official website.  We secured our tickets three weeks in advance of our visit, which was necessary as elevator tickets to the Eiffel Tower summit were ultimately sold out for all five days we were in Paris.  We settled for elevator tickets right before sunset to the second floor for our family of five (two adults and kids ages 10, 8 and 3) for a total of €40.  We printed out our emailed tickets and waited patiently for the final night of our European vacation.  Because there is no way to predict weather conditions so far in advance, we kept our fingers crossed for blue skies.

    It is possible to purchase tickets to the second floor or summit via elevator or stairs at the Eiffel Tower itself, but lines are often quite lengthy.  Our goal was to avoid lines at all cost during this trip, so we didn’t even consider “day of” tickets.  However, friends of ours went a few weeks before us with their four kids and reported that the trip to the summit was worth the wait down below.

    How Much Does it Cost to Visit the Eiffel Tower?

    The adult rate to visit the Eiffel Tower ranges from €10,20 for stair access to the second floor to €25,50 with elevator access to the top.  There are separate children’s rates for those age 12-24 (ranging from €5,10 to 12,70) and 4-11 (ranging from €2,50 to €6,40).  All children under age 4 are free.  Check up to date Eiffel Tower ticketing information.

    Visiting the Eiffel Tower With Kids

    On the last night of our European vacation, we took the Metro to Trocadero and arrived about 45 minutes before our timed elevator tickets.  At the Gardens of the Trocedero, we were treated to our best view of the Eiffel Tower yet – complete with a rainbow created by the mist from the Fountain of Warsaw.

    Due to construction in the area and limited pedestrian crossings, we had to take a roundabout path to get to the Eiffel Tower entrance, but we followed the crowds and arrived at the security check point about 15 minutes before our entry time.  We cleared security a few minutes later and were directed to the elevator entrance and another short line.  We checked out the view from underneath the Eiffel Tower on the way from one line to the next.

    We were not permitted to enter the elevator line until 10 minutes before our 9:00 p.m. entry.  A tour group accompanied us on the elevator, so we heard the guide’s commentary.  I found this informative and interesting, but my husband would have preferred if tour groups were separated from other tourists.

    Second Level of the Eiffel Tower

    We exited on the second level, which consists of an upper and lower observation deck and were wowed by the views.  Free bathrooms and a bar are located on the lower of the two observation decks.  Jules Verne, a Michelin star restaurant is located on this level and accessible through private access from the south pillar.  A meal at Jules Verne was not in the cards (or budget) on this visit, and the restaurant is now temporarily closed for renovations until Spring 2019.

    Sunset was approximately 9:45 p.m. that night, so we watched as the sky turned from blue to yellow and orange.

    We had hoped that there would be a way to secure tickets to the summit on the second floor but learned that was no longer possible.  We fully explored the second level until after the 10 p.m. light show when the entire Tower illuminated with flashing gold lights, and a beam spun around from its top.  We decided to walk from the second floor to the first floor for a different experience.  The 341 stairs really weren’t bad, even with three kids and a stroller.  The journey took no more than 10-15 minutes.

    First Level of the Eiffel Tower

    The first level includes a glass floor, a gift shop and several restaurants, including the 58 Tour Eiffel and The Buffet.  We wandered around this floor as the sky turned black and then decided to head down.  My husband and the boys chose to take the remaining 328 stairs down, while my daughter and I took the elevator.  We thought that we would easily beat them down, but finding the elevator exit was more challenging than I expected.  We found them waiting on the ground level in the center of the Tower when we exited the elevator.   As we admired our last up close view of the Eiffel Tower, the 11 pm light show began, and we got to see the dazzling Tower from underneath before heading to the Metro.

    Eiffel Tower Review

    The Eiffel Tower was a highlight of our family’s visit to Paris.  While it is possible to enjoy many breathtaking views of the Eiffel Tower from all around Paris, going up into the Tower was an unforgettable experience.  It’s essential to book early during peak season, even if though it means a chance of less than ideal weather.  We were lucky that we had perfect weather conditions, but we all wish we would have booked early enough to secure tickets to the summit.  It was a bummer for sure to miss out on that view, but on the bright side, we all have a reason to return to the City of Lights.

    Our Eiffel Tower Review

    A visit to the Eiffel Tower with kids really was a bucket list opportunity, not only for our eight year old but for our entire family.  My daughter, who was three during our European vacation, regularly mentions that the Eiffel Tower was one of the highlights of our trip.

    Planning a family trip to Paris?  Check out our entire series of blog posts on visiting Paris, and don’t miss our guide to planning a trip to Paris.

     

  • Review of Thello Night Train from Paris to Venice With Kids

    Review of Thello Night Train from Paris to Venice With Kids

    Our family had a lovely journey on the Thello night train from Paris to Venice.  My husband and I had each taken overnight trains as young backpackers in our 20s, and we were hesitant at first to travel on an overnight train as a family with kids ages 4, 8 and 10.  But, we considered this travel option when researching how to get from Paris to Venice.  We discovered a number of complications with the budget flights from Paris to Venice.  Arriving in Venice at night is challenging because Airbnb hosts charge hefty late check in fees, and late arrivals also require an expensive water taxi ride into Venice.  At €35 per person for a couchette with bedding, the cost of Thello tickets was a particularly affordable option, and the sleeper cabin looked much better than any I had taken during my backpacking days.  The Thello night train also allowed us to travel from the city center of Paris to the city center of Venice without losing much valuable sightseeing time.  The Thello sleeper train turned out to be a fun and convenient way to travel from Paris to Venice with kids.

    A Trip on the Thello Night Train

     

    Thello Train Booking

    We booked our Thello tickets directly through Thello’s website.  We printed our confirmation and brought it with us.  We chose the smart fare, which is non-refundable and available as low as €29 per person.

     

    Thello Train’s Gare de Lyon Departure 

    In order to prepare for our Thello night train’s departure at 7:10 p.m. from Paris’ Gare de Lyon, we condensed our family’s luggage into our large suitcase and one backpack before checking out of our Airbnb.  We knew that it would be totally impractical to lug around our suitcase and backpack as we explored the Champs-Élysées, the Place de la Concorde and the Musée de l’Orangerie and knew luggage storage was essential.  We did some research about area luggage storage and decided that it made the most sense to store our luggage at Gare de Lyon rather than near our Airbnb and have to return to the area before continuing on to the train station.  We took the Metro to Gare de Lyon, and I waited with the kids inside the Metro station while my husband exited into the train station with the suitcase and backpack to the luggage storage facility we found online.  After he safely stored the bags in a locker, he used another billet to get back into the station to meet us and continue on to the Arc de Triomphe.

    Luggage Storage at the Gare de Lyon

    We had an unforgettable, luggage-free day of sightseeing that included McDonald’s ice cream and Monet’s Waterlilies galleries, the two best rooms of art my sons have ever seen and not a roller suitcase.  We returned to Gare de Lyon about an hour before our departure, picked up our luggage, purchased dinner and waited in the beautiful, bustling station, which was built for the 1900 World’s Fair.

    Waiting for our Thello Night Train at the Gare de Lyon

    We boarded our train upon its arrival on the platform.  Even though my three year old did not have to pay to ride the train if she used existing seats, we did not think that we could comfortably have two people share a couchette in one of the four person sleeper cabin.  So, we chose to book all the couchettes in a six person sleeper cabin at €35 per seat to make sure that no other passengers were placed with our family of five.  The overnight train cost us a total of €210, which was roughly the same as our average accommodation cost!  Similar smart fares are available for this route starting at €29 for adults and €20.30 for children ages 4-14.  Considering the low cost, it was not surprising that our cabin was located in pretty far down the platform in coach 86, but we didn’t mind the walk.

    Thello night train

     

    Thello Night Train Ride With Kids

    When we reached coach 86, we located our sleeper cabin and were pleasantly surprised to find that it very closely resembled the pictures we had seen online.  We specifically chose a cabin in the middle of coach 86 so that we would not be right next to the bathroom and really were not disturbed by other passengers at anytime in the journey.  There were three seats on each side, and the highest bunks were set up with six sets of bedding.  There was luggage storage available over the door and under the seats and six water bottles in specifically designed holders in the wall.  Had we known that water bottles were provided, we would not have stocked up on beverages in the train station.

    We were pretty sure that our kids would enjoy the overnight train as a fun family sleepover experience, and they definitely did.  The three level bunk beds were a particular hit, and the Thello couchettes were more comfortable than we expected.  As the train journey got underway, we ate our dinner and had a relaxed evening in our sleeper cabin.  We enjoyed watching the French countryside that we passed by until the last bit of sunlight bid farewell for the day.  Our boys chose the top bunks, and our daughter quickly mastered climbing the ladder up and down to “visit”.  We explored a bit but mostly stayed in our seats.

    Thello train corridor

    When the conductor came by to check our tickets, she also took our passports.  Many train passengers worry about this, but we knew from our previous night trains it was common practice to expedite passport control when crossing borders.  There was no WiFi, so we read about Venice in our guidebook and all slept for at least nine hours of the journey.  We were able to keep all our luggage with us and lock our compartment from the inside.  We felt very safe traveling with kids.  Although we would have enjoyed seeing the Swiss countryside, it was dark for our entire journey through Switzerland.  Our kids will have to wait for another trip to be dazzled by the Alps.

    We somehow managed to sleep right through the alarm I set and woke up when the conductor knocked to return our passports as promised after Milan.  It was not long before our scheduled 9:35 a.m. arrival in Venice, and we were a bit frantic to get packed up until we discovered that the train was running late.  Breakfast bags with pastries and more water bottles were delivered as an unexpected surprise before our arrival in Venice at about 11:00 a.m.

    Checking out the view on the Thello night train

     

    Our Thello Night Train Review

    Taking the Paris to Venice train was a fun and convenient way to travel, and we saved at least $800 by avoiding flights, travel to and from airports in Paris and Venice and late Airbnb check in fees.  One main negative was that we did not have a private bath or the ability to shower.  Two and three person premium sleeper cabins with private bathrooms are available on Thello night trains, but my husband and I were uncomfortable splitting our family into two rooms.  The only other negative was that the train arrived in Venice about 90 minutes late, which meant we were late for our scheduled Airbnb check in, but that luckily worked out seamlessly.  While we flew from Rome to Paris at the end of our time in Italy, it took seven and a half hours door to door, which meant that we lost almost an entire day of sightseeing en route.  We will definitely consider a night train as a travel option in the future and would recommend considering the Thello night train with kids.

     

    Find Out More About Visiting Paris or Venice With Kids

    Considering a family trip to Paris or Venice?  Check out our posts on planning visits to Paris with kids and Venice with kids.

  • Visiting the Palace of Versailles With Kids

    Visiting the Palace of Versailles With Kids

    Thank you to the Palace of Versailles for providing complimentary tickets for my family.  As always, all opinions are my own. 

    The Palace of Versailles definitely earns its title as the world’s most spectacular palace.  Versailles was France’s royal palace from the late seventeenth century until the French Revolution and is certainly the most opulent building I’ve ever toured and the clearest symbol of royal excess.  A visit to the Versailles Palace was high on the to do list during our visit to Paris with our three kids, ages 3, 8 and 10.  Although it did require a trip out of the city center, we really enjoyed visiting the Palace of Versailles with kids.

    A Tour of Versailles With Kids

    The Palace of Versailles and its Louises

    The Chateau de Versailles was completed in 1682 during the reign of Louis XIV.   The Sun King’s reign began when he was only four years old and lasted 72 years, making him the longest recorded monarch in Europe.  Louis XIV enjoyed Versailles as a primary residence for over 30 years until his death in 1715.  Because Louis XIV’s eldest son and eldest grandson, each also named Louis, both predeceased him, the Sun King’s five year old great-grandson, Louis XV succeeded him.  The reign of Louis XV lasted 59 years.  Louis XV’s eldest son (yup, another Louis) predeceased him , and so Louis XV was succeeded by his grandson, Louis XVI.  These combined six Louises each married a woman named Marie or Maria, except the Louis XV’s son, who married one of each.  The seventeenth and eighteenth century members of the French royal family were clearly imaginative when it came to names….

    Bernini’s Bust of Louis XIV in the Salon of Diana

    The Palace of Versailles remained the principal residence of France’s royal family until the royal family was evicted by royal protesters at the beginning of the French Revolution in 1789.  A few months later, Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette were famously beheaded in the Place de la Concorde. Versailles was opened as a museum in 1837.  In addition to its stunning Baroque architecture, Versailles includes 700 rooms, 5,000 pieces of antique furniture and 6,000 notable paintings.  Its estimated value is over $50 billion.

     

    Getting to the Palace of Versailles With Kids

    Versailles is about a 35-45 minute train ride outside of Paris on the RER train, which is somewhat more complicated to navigate than the Metro.  We found this guide very helpful for step by step directions.  We purchased round trip tickets for two adults (€7.10 each) and two children (€3.55 each) to Versailles Chateau Rive Gauche at the Chatelet les Halles Metro station.  Our three year old daughter did not require a ticket.  The four of us each received two tickets (one for our journey there and one for our return) and were careful to keep the two sets separate before we began our journey.  We traveled by Metro one stop on the B5 Metro to St. Michel – Notre Dame where we transferred to the RER-C.  The screens on the platform clearly identified the upcoming train schedule, and we waited for a train indicating a stop at Versailles Chateau Rive Gauche, Versailles Chat or Versailles RG (not Versailles-Chantier or Versailles-Rive Droit).  By the time the train to Versailles arrived at the platform, there was definitely a crowd of waiting tourists.

    Once we arrived at the Versailles Chateau Rive Gauche station, we crossed the street at the pedestrian cross walk and turned right onto the pedestrian pathway leading to the Palace.

    Pedestrian walkway to the Palace of Versailles

     

    A Family Visit to the Palace of Versailles 

    Although Sunday is typically the most crowded day at Versailles, it was the only day that worked on our Paris itinerary for us to visit.  Our day at Versailles also happened to be the hottest day during our time in Paris.  We arrived at about 10 am and were amazed at the length of the line to purchase tickets and also the security line, which was about two hours long and without shade.  Although the Royal Gate, which is decorated with 100,000 gold leaves with the Palace behind, is a breathtaking sight, we were very grateful to have expedited entry on this hot morning.

    The Royal Gate

    Strollers are not permitted in the Palace, so we checked our daughter’s stroller at the free left luggage facility and then proceeded into the Palace where we picked up free audioguides (available for guests ages eight and over only) on the way into the Palace where we immediately ran into a costumed Louis XIV and his entourage.  The Palace was extremely packed.  Although not quite the shoulder to shoulder crowd that we found in the Vatican Museums, it was challenging at times for the five of us to stay together and to focus on the informative audioguide while absorbing these incredible rooms.  My three year old daughter asked to be carried at times, but the knowledge that princesses had lived in the Palace held her interest, and she enjoyed wandering from room to room.

    Statue of Louis XIV in the Salon of Venus and the Versailles crowds

    My favorite room in the Palace was the Hall of Mirrors, which is 236 feet long with 17 arched windows and 17 beveled mirrors.  I imagined Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette’s basking in the glory of this room during their wedding reception as I walked through the Hall where the Treaty of Versailles was signed in 1919.

    Hall of Mirrors
    • Pro-tips:  Book a guided Palace of Versailles tour to skip the security line.  Free Wifi is available in the courtyard and in the entrance to the Gardens but is spotty.

    The Gardens of the Palace of Versailles With Kids

    It’s no surprise that Louis XIV considered the Gardens as important as the Palace.  The Gardens of Versailles are the finest  French formal gardens.  We enjoyed sneak peek views of the lavish gardens from the Palace windows.

    A room with a view

    The gardens near the Palace are a brilliant combination of color and carefully pruned trees and shrubs.  It would be a wonderful place to sit in the shade if benches and shade were more plentiful.  We enjoyed a nice stroll instead….

    Taking time to smell the flowers

    From the Palace, the Royal Drive stretches to the Grand Canal far into the horizon.  Groves expand out from either side of the Royal Drive in an elaborate grid.  Our boys decided to race each other down the Royal Drive to stretch their legs and returned desperate for water, so we headed to a snack area for drinks and ice cream.  In the meantime, my daughter stumbled on the gravel path and skinned her knee, and I discovered that I did not have any band-aids with me.  While she was reiterating that she needed a band-aid, a woman standing in front of us in the bathroom line reached into her handbag and offered her two.  Note to self: make sure to carry a stash of band aids in every handbag so that I can pay this kindness forward.

    Latona Fountain, Royal Drive and Grand Canal

    After picking up ice cream for everyone, we headed down a passage in search of a bench in the shade and were delighted to find just what we were looking for as the afternoon water display began.  The water display was part of the Garden’s Musical Fountain Shows, which feature over 50 water fountains accompanied by classical music.

    Exploring the Garden pathways

    The Fountain show was a spectacular combination of art, music, botany and architecture.

    Fountain show

    The Trianon Palaces and Domaine de Marie-Antoinette are at the far end of the Gardens, but we were too exhausted to make the hike. So, we saved those for next time….

    • Pro-tips for the Palace of Versailles: The Gardens are massive, and the pathways are made of small stones.  Sandals are doable, but with the dust, I would have preferred sneakers.  Entry to the Gardens is free except when the Musical Fountain Shows or the Musical Gardens occur.

    We definitely recommend a tour of the Palace of Versailles for kids.  Visiting Versailles and its unparalleled Palace and Gardens was a truly enchanting, bucket-list adventure.  It may have been a particularly tiring day, but one we will never forget.

    Every so often, we encounter a place that is so fabulous for those traveling with kids that it is worthy of being featured on its own. For more fabulous locations, please check out our other Spotlight features!  Also, be sure to check out all our category of posts on Paris with kids. 

  • 25 Top Attractions in Paris for Families

    25 Top Attractions in Paris for Families

    Our first family trip to Paris absolutely exceeded our expectations.  It had been 21 years since my last visit, and my husband, who had traveled there more recently for work, was not overly enthusiastic this stop on our family vacation.  But, we all loved the City of Lights.  In our combined five days and five nights spread over two weekends, we did a great deal of walking and saw a lot of amazing monuments, museums and churches.  But, we also had the chance to really explore a few neighborhoods, retrace our steps and enjoy meals at some of the many cafes in the city.   Here are 25 top attractions in Paris for families – make sure to note how many are free!

    Champs-Élysées With Kids

    #1:  Arc de Triomphe

    Napoleon commissioned the iconic Arc de Triomphe after winning the 1805 battle of Austerlitz.  The 165 foot Arc was inspired by Rome’s Arch of Titus and completed in 1836, 15 years after Napoleon’s death.  It is the world’s largest triumphal arch.  The Arc de Triomphe is located on the western end of the Champs-Élysées at the center of Place Charles de Gaulle, the junction of 12 streets.

    • Arc de Triomphe Facts:  La Marseillaise, the relief on the right pillar depicts Lady Liberty rallying tired soldiers onward.
    • Arc de Triomphe Cost:  Free to view.  Admission to climb 284 stairs to the rooftop is €12 for adults but is free for kids aged 0-17.
    • Closest Metro Station to Arc de Triomphe:  Charles de Gaulle-Etoile

     

    #2:  Champs-Élysées

    The Avenue des Champs-Élysées is one of the world’s most famous boulevards.  This magnificent, tree-lined street runs the 1.2 miles between the Place Charles de Gaulle (the Arc de Triomphe’s location) and Place de la Concorde.   The portion close to the Arc de Triomphe is lined with cafes and high-end shops.  We strayed from the Champs-Élysées only to check out the Grand Palace and the Petit Palace.  The Champs-Élysées is the center of Bastille Day and World Cup celebrations (both of which occurred while we were in Italy) and the finale of the Tour de France, which took place one week after our return home.

    • Champs-Élysées Facts:  The Champs-Élysées is the site of the world’s most profitable McDonald’s, which happened to be the only McDonald’s we visited during our European holiday.  Orders are placed on touch screens, and our ice cream was more expensive than any of our daily gelato stops.
    • Champs-Élysées Cost:  Free
    • Closest Metro Stations to Champs-Élysées:  Charles de Gaulle-Etoile (Arc de Triomphe), George V, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Concorde (Place de la Concorde)

     

    #3:  Grand Palace

    The Grand Palace is an exhibition hall that was constructed in the Beaux-Arts style for the 1900 World’s Fair and located just off the Champs-Élysées.

    • Grand Palace Facts:  The Grand Palace will be used for the fencing and Taekwondo events in the 2024 Olympics.
    • Grand PalaceCost: Admission prices vary with each exhibit
    • Grand Palace Tip:  Closed on Tuesdays
    • Closest Metro Stops to Grand Palace:  Champs-Élysées Clemenceau or Franklin D. Roosevelt

     

    #4:  Petit Palace 

    The Petit Palace was built for the 1900 World’s Fair and houses the City of Paris Museum of Fine Arts (Musée des Beaux-Arts), which features an extensive collection from Greek antiquities to Art Nouveau, including works of Rembrant, Courbet and Monet.  The featured Temporary Exhibit is currently Impressionists in London, which we would have loved to see, but were unfortunately visiting on a Monday when the Museum is closed.  Instead, the gorgeous entry way and stairs served as a perfect spot to rest before continuing up the Champs-Élysées.

    • Petit Palace Facts:  Architect Charles Girault won a 1894 contest with a late 17th/early 18th century French architectural design.
    • Petit Palace Cost:  Permanent collection is free, fees are charged for special exhibits.
    • Petit Palace Tip:  The City of Paris Museum of Fine Arts is closed on Monday.
    • Closest Metro Stops to Petit Palace:  Champs-Élysées Clemenceau and Franklin D. Roosevelt

     

    #5:  Place de la Concorde

    Place de la Concorde is Paris’ largest public square and is located at the eastern end of the Champs-Élysées.  The 75-foot Luxor Obelisk, which was once at the entrance of Luxor Temple, stands at the center of the square.  This 3,300 year old granite column is decorated with exquisite hieroglyphics.  It’s original gold cap was believed to have been stolen in the 6th century B.C., and the current gold-leafed pyramid cap was added in 1998.

    • Place de la Concorde Facts: Place de la Concorde was the site of over 1,200 executions during the French Revolution, including Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette.
    • Place de la ConcordeCost:  Free
    • Closest Metro Station to Place de la Concorde:  Concorde
    • Time Spent at Place de la Concorde:  About 15-20 minutes

     

    Left Bank With Kids

    #6:  Eiffel Tower

    The Eiffel Tower (aka the Iron Lady) is the quintessential landmark.  It was #1 on my middle son’s bucket list eversince he saw the half scale model in Las Vegas at age four.  This wrought iron lattice tower was designed by engineer Gustave Eiffel for the 1889 World’s Fair to recognize the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution.  When constructed, the Eiffel Tower surpassed the Washington Monument to become the tallest structure in the world until the completion of the Chrysler Building in 1930.

    The Eiffel Tower is the most visited monument (with an admission fee) in the world with almost 7.0 million visitors each year.  There are three observation decks.   Visitors who wish to visit the summit should book tickets immediately after flights or as soon as they are available online (about three months in advance).  We were only able to book tickets to the second floor in advance because the summit was fully booked each day we were in Paris.  We took the elevator to the second floor and chose to take the stairs from the second to first floor.  My husband and sons took the stairs from the first floor to ground floor and actually beat my daughter and I taking the elevator.  The light show, which begins after sunset, is a particular treat.  For more information, make sure to read our entire review of our visit to the Eiffel Tower with kids.

    • Eiffel Tower Facts:  The Eiffel Tower was intended to be dismantled after 20 years but maintained after a wireless telegraph transmitter was installed
    • Eiffel Tower Cost:  Elevator tickets to the second floor cost €16 for adults, €8 for youths aged 12-24, €4 for children aged 4-11 and free for kids under 4.  Elevator tickets to the summit cost €25 for adults, €12.5 for youths aged 12-24, €6.3 for children 4-11 and free for kids under 4.

    #7:  Luxembourg Gardens

    The Luxembourg Gardens are 60-acres of lush gardens, fountains and statues, ponds with toy sailboats for rent and the Luxembourg Palace.  This is a haven for children, who particularly enjoy pushing toy sailboats available to rent in 30 minute intervals around the Grand Bassin duck pond.

    Photo credit: Marissa Mayer

    • Luxembourg Gardens Facts:  Marie de Medici built Luxembourg Palace in the early 17th century after the death of her husband, Henry IV.  It was designed as a recreation of her childhood home, Pitti Palace in Florence.
    • Luxembourg Gardens Cost:  Free to enter.

     

    #8:  Musée d’Orsay

    The Musée d’Orsay houses an impressive Impressionist collection of French art featuring Manet, Monet, Renoir, Van Gogh Degas, Cezanne and many more. The Museum opened in 1986 in the former Gare d’Orsay, which was constructed for the 1900 World’s Fair, and the station’s three enormous clocks are spectacular works of art in their own right.  Our family really loves Impressionism, particularly the works of Van Gogh and Monet.  So, the Musée d’Orsay, which includes 24 Van Gogh paintings, was a particular treat. Our favorite was Starry Night Over the Rhone.

    • Musée d’Orsay Facts:  Because the platforms were too short for modern trains, Gare d’Orsay was closed in 1939.  It may not have been able to accommodate trains but now houses the largest collection of Impressionist paintings in the world.
    • Musée d’Orsay Cost:  €12 for adults or €16 if purchasing a combined admission to Musée d’Orsay and Musée de l’Orangerie; kids 0-17 and EU citizens 0-26 are free.
    • Closest Metro Station to Musée d’Orsay:  Solferino
    • Musée d’Orsay Tip:  To avoid ticket lines, purchase tickets online for same day or advance tickets with €1.50 surcharge.  Visits to Musée d’Orsay and Musée de l’Orangerie do not have to occur on the same day.
    • Time Spent at Musée d’Orsay:  About three hours

     

    #9:  Place du Trocadéro

    The Place du Trocadéro is located across the Seine River from the Eiffel Tower and offers a picturesque view of the iconic Tower, along with beautiful fountains.

    • Place du Trocadéro Facts:  The Place du Trocadéro is named after the 1823 Battle of Trocadéro in which France defeated Spain.
    • Closest Metro Station to Place du Trocadéro:  Trocadéro
    • Place du Trocadéro Cost:  Free

     

    Right Bank With Kids

    #10:  Louvre Museum

    The Louvre is the world’s largest and most visited art museum with 400,000 art works and a permanent collection of about 35,000 on display.  It is housed in the Louvre Palace, which was once the world’s largest palace, and includes DaVinci’s Mona Lisa, Winged Victory of Samothrace, the Venus de Milo and so many more of the world’s masterpieces.  This vast museum was not nearly as crowded as the Vatican, except for the room displaying the Mona Lisa, which is a nonstop paparazzi scene.  Read our entire review of visiting the Louvre with kids.

    • Louvre Museum Facts:  The Louvre contains more than 380,000 objects.
    • Louvre Museum Cost: €17 for adults, free for kids 0-17
    • Louvre Museum Tips:  We purchased online tickets directly through the Louvre’s website for 9:30 am on our first full day in Paris.  There really weren’t significant lines for either people with reserved tickets or people purchasing tickets, but we were ushered to the front of both lines because we had a stroller.  There are a lot of stairs in the Louvre, but this museum goes above and beyond to accommodate strollers.  There is a special circular elevator in the pyramid so that strollers do no need to use the escalator, and stroller users have elevator access throughout the Louvre.
    • Closest Metro Stations to Louvre Museum:  Palais Royal-Musée du Louvre and Louvre-Rivoli
    • Time Spent at Louvre Museum:  About 3 hours

     

    #11:  Louvre Palace and Pyramid

    A visit to the Louvre Palace and Pyramid should be on every family’s Paris itinerary.  The Louvre Palace is a former royal palace that dates back to the 13th century but has been expanded and renovated over the past 800 years.  The iconic glass and metal pyramid that serves as the museum’s main entrance was designed by the Chinese-American architect I.M. Pei and completed in 1989.  There are platforms in the courtyard perfect for staging those forced perspective photos that kids particularly love.

    • Louvre Palace and Pyramid Facts:  The pyramid and underground lobby were created so that the Louvre could better accommodate its daily visitors.  The pyramid was designed for 4.5 million annual visitors, and the underground lobby had to be redesigned between 2014 and 2017 when the number of annual visitors rose from 4.5 million to over 8 million.
    • Closest Metro Stations to Louvre Palace and Pyramid:  Palais Royal-Musée du Louvre and Louvre-Rivoli
    • Louvre Palace and Pyramid Cost:  Free

     

    #12:  Montorgueil

    Montorgueil is a quaint pedestrian only neighborhood lined with cafes along its cobblestone streets.  This is a great place to have an evening drink or watch a World Cup match (which we did!).

    • Montorgueil Facts:  Montorgueil means “Mount Pride”.
    • Closest Metro Stations to Montorgueil:  Les Halles, Centre Georges Pompidou, Hôtel de Ville
    • Montorgueil Cost:  Free

     

    #13:  Musée de l’Orangerie

    The Musée de l’Orangerie features impressionist and post-impressionist paintings, including the Museum’s main attraction, two oval rooms custom designed to each display four massive  Nymphéas (Water Lilies) wall murals completed by Claude Monet in his final years.  My ten year old deemed these two rooms the “best rooms of art” he’s ever seen, and he’s visited many art museums.

    • Musée de l’Orangerie Facts:  The Museum completed a six-year, $36 million renovation in 2006 to move the second floor collection underground so that a skylight could be added to the oval rooms featuring Monet’s Water Lilies.
    • Musée de l’Orangerie Cost:  €12 for adults or €16 if purchasing a combined admission to Musée d’Orsay and Musée de l’Orangerie; kids 0-17 are free
    • Musée de l’Orangerie Tip:  Closed on Tuesdays.
    • Closest Metro Station to Musée de l’Orangerie: Concorde
    • Time Spent at Musée de l’Orangerie :  About 1.5 hours

     

    #14:  Opera Garnier

    The Opera Garnier is Paris’ grand theater, which was completed in 1875.  It seats over 1,900 and boasts one of the world’s largest stages.  The Opera Garnier was completed in 1875 and is the home of the Paris Opera.

    • Opera Garnier Facts:  Opera Garnier was the setting for The Phantom of the Opera.
    • Opera Garnier Cost:  Admission for tours is €7-€12 for adults and free for kids 0-11.

     

    #15:  Tuileries Garden

    The Tuileries Garden is the royal garden of the Louvre Palace, which is located between the Louvre and the Place de la Concorde.  The portion next to the Louvre includes a ferris wheel and green space, but much of the rest of the length has  more pebbles than grass.

    • Tuileries Garden Facts:  The Tuileries Gardens were designed for Henry II’s wife, Catherine de Medici, in the 1500s as a replica of her family’s Boboli Gardens in Florence.
    • Closest Metro Stations to Tuileries Garden:  Tuileries and Concorde
    • Tuileries Garden Cost:  Free to enter.  Rides are available for a fee.

     

    Montmartre With Kids

    #16:  Montmartre

    The Montmartre neighborhood is located on Paris’ highest hill and the former home of some of the world’s most famous artists.  This is still an artists’ haven with many galleries and working artists ready to paint portraits or caricatures.

    • Montmartre Facts:  Famous Montmartre residents include Pablo Picasso, Vincent Van Gogh, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Edgar Degas, Maurice Utrillo, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Salvador Dalí and Amedeo Modigliani.
    • Closest Metro Stations to Montmartre:   Pigalle and Abbesses
    • Montmartre Cost:  Free

     

    #17:  Sacre-Coeur Basilica

    Sacre-Coeur Basilica, a white Romano-Byzantine cathedral, is located at Paris’ highest point.  The Basilica was completed in 1914 . The mosaic above the altar depicts a 60-foot-tall Christ exposing his sacred heart.  The view from the Sacre-Couer steps is absolutely phenomenal both during the day and at night.  The central mosaic is one of the largest in the world.  It’s definitely worth the two long flights of stairs to reach.  We attended a memorable Sunday Mass here.

    • Sacre-Coeur Basilica Facts:  Architect Paul Abadie was the winner of a design competition for the Basilica.
    • Sacre-Coeur Basilica Cost:  Free
    • Closest Metro Station to Sacre-Coeur Basilica:  Anvers
    • Time Spent at Sacre-Coeur Basilica:  About 1.5 hours – We arrived 15 minutes before Mass, stayed for the duration of Mass and then about explored the Basilica and gift shop for about 15 minutes.

     

    #18:  Wall of Love

    The Wall of Love is a love-themed mural that includes the phrase, “I love you” featured 311 times in 250 languages.  The mural was created in 2000 by Fédéric Baron and Claire Kito.

    • Wall of Love Facts:  While most walls divide people, the purpose of this wall is a place of reconciliation and support.
    • Wall of Love Cost:  Free
    • Wall of Love Closest Metro Station:  Abbesses
    • Time Spent at Wall of Love:  Less than five minutes

     

    Ile de la Cite With Kids

    #19:  Notre-Dame Cathedral

    The Notre-Dame Cathedral is medieval French Gothic cathedral that was one of the first to use flying buttress supports.  Notre-Dame was completed in 1345 and is known for its Rose Window with original medieval glass, gargoyles, two 226-foot towers and of course, the Hunchback of Notre Dame.  Our kids were particularly amused by the statue of St. Denis holding his own head near the left portal.  We attended Sunday evening Mass, and the archbishop presided.

    • Notre-Dame Facts:  Point Zero Paris is a geographic marker located right outside of Notre Dame.  The distance from Paris to all other places is measured from this Point.
    • Notre-Dame Cost:  Free
    • Closest Metro Stations to Notre-Dame:  Cite, Hotel de Ville and St. Michel
    • Time Spent at Notre-Dame:  About 1.5 hours – We arrived 15 minutes before Mass, attended Mass and then walked around the exterior exploring the carvings, gargoyles and flying buttresses.

     

    #20:  Square du Vert-Galant

    The Square du Vert-Galant is a triangular park at the tip of Il de la Cite.  The apex of the Square is shaded by an enormous weeping willow.  We spotted this tree during our Seine River cruise and visited it afterwards and met the picnickers who appeared in my husband’s cruise photos.  This is an amazing spot to watch the sunset.

    • Square du Vert-Galant Facts:  This small public park was named to honor Henry IV, who had been nicknamed the “Green Gallant.”
    • Square du Vert-Galant Cost:  Free (BYOB)
    • Closest Metro Station to Square du Vert-Galant:  Pont Neuf
    • Time Spent at Picnic at Square du Vert-Galant:  About 30 minutes

     

    #21:  Sainte-Chapelle

    Sainte-Chapelle, a 13th century Gothic chapel, is known for the stunning stained-glass windows in its sanctuary.  It is considered as the world’s largest expanse of stained glass.

    • Sainte-Chapelle Facts:  Sainte-Chapelle was completed in just six years and means “Holy Chapel.”
    • Sainte-Chapelle Cost:  €10 for adults, free for kids 0-17
    • Closest Metro Station to Sainte-Chapelle:  Cite
    • Time Spent at Sainte-Chapelle:  About an hour, including security, purchasing tickets and browsing at the gift shop

     

    #22:  Soap Bubbles

    After visiting Sainte-Chapelle, we had a little time before our 9 pm appointment tickets to the Eiffel Tower.  We walked through Place Louis-Lepine and found a street performer creating soap bubbles with accompanying music.  Our kids were absolutely enthralled with the enormous bubbles and joined the pack of kids chasing the bubbles around the square.   There were no long faces or tired faces in the group, and there was a constant clinking of change in the performer’s basket.

    • Soap Bubbles Facts:  The changing colors that appear on the surface of soap bubbles appear because of the interference of light reflecting off the surfaces of the soap film.
    • Soap Bubbles Cost:  Free, but tips appreciated

     

    Family Trip to Paris – Generally

    #23:  Cafes

    Cafes are synonymous with Paris.  Chairs on the patio tables generally face outward so diners can take in the hustle and bustle around them.  Many offer fixed price, three course lunch meals, which we particularly enjoyed.

    • Cafes Facts:  There are 37 bridges in the city of Paris.
    • Cafes Cost:  Varies

     

    #24:  Seine River Cruise

    There are several options for families to take an iconic cruise along the Seine River.  Vedettes du Pont Neuf, Bateaux-Mouches and Bateaux Parisiens all offer similar one-hour boat cruises.  We chose a Vedettes du Pont Neuf cruise because the dock was within walking distance of our Airbnb and had a lovely time listening to the narration and checking out the view of Paris from the River.

    • Seine River Cruise Facts:  There are 37 bridges in the city of Paris.
    • Seine River Cruise Cost:  €10+ for adults, €5+ for kids aged 4-12, free for kids under 4
    • Seine River Cruise Tip:  We purchased our tickets on Vedettes du Pont Neuf’s website for the 8:45 cruise as we were leaving our Airbnb and saved €12 over the ticket office price for our four tickets.  We made good time to the dock and ended up using our 8:45 for the 8:15 cruise with no issue.  Cruises leave promptly, so make sure to arrive at least 10 minutes before the departure.
    • Time Spent at Seine River Cruise:  About 1.25 hours

     

    #25:  Street Art

    Paris is a major art capital, but art is not only displayed in its fine museums.  We found so many street art gems while wandering around the city.  This Guate Mao creation down the street from our VRBO in Montorgueil was definitely our favorite.

    • Street Art Facts:  Parisian street artist Gaute Mao secretly paints portraits around Europe.
    • Street Art Cost:  Free

    Best Family Attractions in Paris

    The Eiffel Tower may have been Paris’ biggest draw for my kids, but we were all wowed by its art, cathedrals and landmarks.  Planning a family trip to Paris?  Make sure to check out our Planning, Logistics and Itinerary blog post as well as our other blog posts about Paris!

  • Planning a Trip to Paris With Kids

    Planning a Trip to Paris With Kids

    The Eiffel Tower has been #1 on my eight year old son’s bucket list ever since he saw the half scale replica in Las Vegas at age four.  So, when we start looking into European destinations for our summer vacation and found flights on Wowair to Paris at a fraction of the cost of any other flight from Cleveland to mainland Europe, it seemed as though we were destined to take him to Paris.  My husband and I looked at budget flights from Paris to Venice and Rome to Paris for ourselves and our three kids, aged ten, eight and three and quickly decided to include 10 days in Italy.  We thought about traveling in August, but everything we read seemed to indicate that we should avoid traveling to Italy in August at all costs, so we booked round trip flights from Cleveland to Paris leaving right after the July 4th holiday.  We are so glad we chose plan a trip to Paris with kids.

    Booking a Trip to Paris

    We booked our flights a mere 5 1/2 weeks before our departure due to scheduling issues.  While we often book vacations at the last minute, I wondered, while trying to nail down accommodations and internal travel during peak season, if we had taken on too much.  Luckily, once we had accommodations booked for the duration of our stay and transportation to and from Italy nailed down, I decided that this trip was indeed doable and was going to be wonderful.  It’s definitely preferable to have more planning time than we did, but we were able to secure accommodation, transportation and advanced bookings necessary even on a tight schedule.

    Boarding our flight to Paris in Reykjavik

    Accommodations in Paris With Kids

    Because our flights required us to start and end our trip in Paris, we decided this was a great opportunity to explore two different Parisian neighborhoods.  Unfortunately, our accommodation choices were quite limited because our trip was booked so close to our departure and both Paris stays were over weekends. We booked a VRBO in Montorgueil for the first three nights of our trip.  We absolutely loved the pedestrian neighborhood with many cafes, bolangeries and shops literally at our doorstep, but the apartment itself was honestly the worst homestay experience we have had and is fortunately no longer listed on the VRBO site.

    Our Montmartre Airbnb for our final weekend was much better than the Montorgueil apartment but was very different from the photos shown on Airbnb’s website and did not have several of the promised amenities.  We definitely learned how important it is to book weekend accommodations well in advance and also to make sure that the homestay website includes a clear picture of the bathroom and that the host answers all specific questions about the property prior to booking.

    While homestays worked best for our family of five, there are many hotel options.  Check out these recommendations for the best hotels in Paris.

    Paris Airports With Kids

    We flew into and out of Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) at the beginning of our trip and also arrived from Rome via Paris Orly Airport (ORL) after our time in Italy.  We appreciated the efficiency of baggage handling at both Parisian airports and particularly enjoyed all the unique moving sidewalk tubes at CDG.

    Moving sidewalk tubes at CDG

    Before our departing flight at the end of our trip, we went through security for gates 70-78 to find only one cafe with extremely long lines and immediately wished we had picked up dinner before going through security.  Also, it was a bit unusual to us that we didn’t know our actual gate number until the flight started boarding, but other than the 45 minute wait to pick up sandwiches at the cafe, it worked out fine.

    While families can choose to travel to and from the Paris airports via train/Metro, taxi, shared shuttle, taxi and Uber, we chose to use taxis.  We liked that official Paris taxis have standard rates for airport transportation to and from each airport as follows:

    • From CDG to: right bank – €50 and left bank – €55
    • From ORL to:  left bank – €30 and right bank – €35

    We did not compare the cost of a taxi with the cost of an Uber van that would accommodate all five of us, but the taxi fares were comparable with trains and shared shuttles.   Because we are a family of five, we had to wait in the taxi stand until there was a taxi that could accommodate us and also pay an additional €4.  We had virtually no wait for a taxi at CDG but had to wait about 20 minutes at ORL.

    Taxis worked great because we did not want to schlep our kids and bags on the train and Metro and really liked the convenience of the taxis and found the drivers particularly professional.  One driver even graciously stopped for an emergency trip to the bathroom.  We had two BubbleBum booster seats with us, but one taxi actually had built-in booster seats.

    Local Transportation in Paris With Kids

    We found Paris very walkable, but the Metro was convenient when we needed to travel farther distances quickly.  In our combined five days in the city, we took a total of five Metro rides and one round trip train journey to Versailles.  Metro stations are clearly labeled Metropolitain and decorated in a beautiful French Art Nouveau style.   The Metro is free for all passengers under four (including our daughter, who happened to turn four only a few hours after leaving Paris), but single ride tickets (billets) for all passengers aged four and up are €1.90.  Families planning to take several Metro rides will likely find purchasing a carnet of 10 tickets the most economical option.  A carnet costs €14.90 for all passengers aged 11 and up but only €7.45 for passengers aged four to ten.  My husband and I shared one carnet, while our 8 and 10 year old sons shared the second.

    The entrance to the Abbesses Metro has one of the few remaining roofs (édicules), but it’s a long way down to the platform, which is one of the deepest in the city.

    The entrance to the Abbesses Metro station

    Currency

    We definitely needed to use euros at times, so it was essential to get some local currency.  We traveled with about €200 and then withdrew money twice from ATMs during the trip.

    Packing for Paris With Kids

    Our entire trip was 17 days and 17 nights, but we were primarily staying at homestay apartments with washers.  We packed approximately five to six full outfits for each person, which was, as always, more than we really needed, but I worried that the promised laundry facilities might not be functioning in each of our locations.  We also needed some bulky items like two Bubble Bum booster seats for Italy.  Wowair charges for each carry on larger than a personal item (e.g. back pack) and each checked bag, which cannot weigh over 44 pounds without incurring overweight fees.  So, we chose to check one bag and also bring two back packs with us and packed a gym bag inside our checked suitcase, knowing that we would likely be returning with more than we brought with us.  Churches in Paris do not require covered knees and shoulders, so shorts and sundresses were appropriate outfits for the unseasonably warm weather we experienced.

    Our luggage

    With a three year old who would need to nap on the go, we decided to bring a small umbrella stroller with us.  While we did need to carry the stroller up and down stairs at times, particularly in Metro stations, we found that much easier than carrying our daughter, especially when she was sleeping.  We do look forward to being stroller-free soon but will miss the built in storage and bottle holders.

    For the first time, I rolled and packed each person’s clothes in zip lock bags and had separate bags with our pajamas and first day clothes packed into one of the back packs.  This helped with the organization of the large suitcase and provided a back up in case our suitcase was delayed at the beginning of the trip.  Luckily, we had no trouble retrieving our suitcase at CDG upon arrival.  However, on the way back, we made the rookie mistake of packing our pajamas and remaining clean clothes into our back packs along with our cameras and breakables and packed all of our new clothes and shoes and toiletries into the suitcase.  We also forgot to remove cash from the locked pocket before checking our suitcase for our return flight.  When it didn’t make the connection in Reykjavik, we worried if we’d ever see it again and realized that so many things we had packed were irreplaceable because they were simply not available in the US.  Luckily, our bag arrived via FedEx Ground four days later.

    We neglected to pack a supply of small soap bars, shampoo or wet wipes but were able to find these items easily in Paris.  I also made a bad assumption that our converter also had adapter capabilities when I brought my flat iron, which turned out to be unusable for the duration of our trip (and then delayed).  Next time, we’re definitely going with four to five outfits, maximum.

    Cell Service in Paris

    We researched relatively inexpensive options to add voice/data to our Verizon mobiles while in Paris but ended up not using cell service in the city. We were able to contact our first VRBO host using the WiFi at CDG upon our arrival and had self-check in at our Airbnb at the end of the trip.  While WiFi was usually available at restaurants and at least near the entrances of the Louvre, Musée d’Orsay and Musée de l’Orangerie, we were able to mostly unplug during the day and use WiFi at our accommodation in the evenings.

    Language Barrier in Paris With Kids

    Most people in the Paris tourist industry speak English, and all menus were translated into English as well.  My husband and I both studied French in high school and retained some rudimentary language skills.  Those skills were helpful in exchanging pleasantries but were rarely necessary.

    Eating in Paris With Kids

    We thoroughly enjoyed eating at cafes in Paris.  Chicken, sea food, beef and frites (aka French fries) were regularly on menus, and many cuisines were available throughout the city.  We were also able to pick up snacks, bottled water and toiletries at one of the many Franprix stores or other local groceries.  We particularly enjoyed the freshly squeezed orange juice right out of the machine. We only made the mistake once of buying sparkling water instead of still water.  It’s not always clear, but double-check that there aren’t any bubbles on the label when looking for still water.

    Planning Our Paris Itinerary

    To help get our kids involved with planning our five nights in Paris, I borrowed some children’s books on Paris from our local library.  My eight year old and I went through one and made a list of what we wanted to see, and I started doing research to determine what attractions require advance bookings.  Our top 10 list included the Eiffel Tower, Palace of Versailles, Notre Dame, Arc de Triomphe, Jardin du Luxembourg, Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, Sacre Coeur, Champs-Elysees and Place de la Concorde.  We knew that the Eiffel Tower, Versailles Palace and the Louvre would require advance tickets but that the other attractions probably did not.  We had accommodations booked on our first and last weekend near Notre Dame and Sacre Coeur, respectively, and planned to visit each cathedral for Sunday Mass.

    We looked into purchasing the Paris Pass, a sightseeing pass with fast track entry to certain attractions that includes a free travel card and Paris guidebook.  However, we decided that it was not worth the cost for what we had planned.  Kids are free at many of Paris’ top attractions, and we were able to skip lines by booking entry in advance online.

    Because we knew we would be leaving out some sights in Paris during our stay due to timing, we didn’t consider any day trips from the city other than Paris.  However, we might consider one of the many day tours from Paris on our next trip to explore the surrounding area.

    Our Paris Itinerary – Two Weekends

    Because of our round trip flight from Cleveland to CDG, we had spent weekends in Paris at the beginning and end of our trip.  Our five days and five nights were split up and included three trips to or from an airport.  Our time in Paris was at the beginning and end of a 17 day trip, and we planned to take a slower pace, sit and enjoy meals at cafes and really explore our neighborhoods.  We also had some minor ailments to deal with like upset stomachs, bloody noses and a lost tooth in addition to watching World Cup soccer matches.  We really didn’t acclimate to waking up early, but it was always late before we got into bed.  Even though we weren’t in full tourist mode, we made it to everything on our top 10 list except the Jardin du Luxembourg.  The Jardin du Luxembourg is a classic family outing in Paris, but we had a few less than stellar park experiences on this trip decided to visit Sainte-Chapelle on our last day instead with no regrets.  Next time, we’ll sail boats.

    Here is our basic daily itinerary:

    First Weekend

    Friday

    • Flight arrives at 5:30 pm
    • Taxi from CDG to Montorgueil VRBO
    • Check in and explore Montorgueil neighborhood
    • Walk to Seine River and check out the Eiffel Tower

    Saturday

    • Louvre in morning
    • Rest/World Cup in afternoon
    • Seine River cruise

    Sunday

    • Palace of Versailles and Gardens of Versailles
    • 6:30 Mass at Notre Dame

    Monday

    • Arc de Triomphe
    • Champs-Elysees
    • Place de la Concorde
    • Tuileries Garden
    • Musée de l’Orangerie
    • Petit Palace
    • Night train to Venice

    Second Weekend

    Friday

    • Flight arrives at 5:15 pm
    • Taxi from ORL to Montmartre Airbnb
    • Check in, explore Montmartre neighborhood and visit Sacre Coeur scenic overlook

    Saturday

    • Musée d’Orsay
    • Sainte-Chapelle
    • Soap Bubbles with Street Performer
    • Trocadero and Eiffel Tower

    Sunday

    • Mass at Sacre Coeur
    • Exploring Montmartre
    • Taxi to CDG at 3:00 p.m.

    Find Out More About Paris With Kids

    We loved our trip to Paris with kids.  Make sure to check out 25 Top Attractions in Paris and the rest of our blog posts on Paris!

    Note:  The Palace of Versailles hosted our family’s visit.  As always, all opinions are my own.

  • Best Science Centers in the World

    Best Science Centers in the World

    Science museums offer interactive and hands-on exhibits to inspire excitement for STEM learning.  Many science museums also participate in the ASTC Travel Passport Program, which provides members of participating museums free reciprocal admission to hundreds of natural history, science and children’s museums around the world.  We asked some of our fellow family travel bloggers for favorite science museums they’ve visited and came up with this list of the best science centers in the world (asterisked museums are participants in the ASTC Travel Passport Program).

    Best Science Museums for Kids

     

    #1:  Arizona Science Center With Kids* (Phoenix, Arizona)

    There are two things that make for a great science museum: interactive exhibits and engaging explanations. We found both of those in spades at the Arizona Science Center! We visited with our 3 and 5 year old children and found meaningful, hands-on stations to suit everyone in the family along with easy-to-understand signage everywhere. There’s almost an entire floor dedicated to the human body, a huge section on mechanics and even a large area covering extreme weather (perfect for my Storm Chasers-loving husband). The Center always shows interesting and age-appropriate films at its IMAX theater and has a fantastic cafe on-site that offers food that is both healthy and fun. A visit to the Arizona Science Center is the perfect way to escape the Phoenix heat with kids, and bring your ASTC member card for free admission!

    Recommended by Melissa Conn from The Family Voyage.  Find out more from Melissa about great family activities in Phoenix. 

     

    #2:  California Academy of Sciences With Kids (San Francisco, California)

    The California Academy of Sciences is both a natural history museum and a science museum all in one! The Academy has a rain forest, aquarium (with a touch and feel tide pool), planetarium, living roof, and a section where they provide African wildlife exhibits – including real penguins! The playroom is a favorite with our 1 and 3 year old children, too. Visitors can’t forget the albino alligator, Claude, who lives in the swamp of the Academy. We’ve had a membership to this museum since before we had kids, and we now continue to renew it because there is truly something for everyone. It’s located in a central part of the Golden Gate Park, so it’s a perfect spot to stop while you are exploring San Francisco.

    Recommended by Emily Jenks from Henry and Andrew’s Guide.  Find out more from Emily about San Francisco with kids.

     

    #4:  Cite des Sciences et de l’industrie With Kids (Paris, France)

    Housed inside a giant concrete block, the Cite des Sciences is the largest science museum in Europe.  It has several permanent exhibits featuring sciences, mathematics and technology.  Visitors can explore the human brain, learn about the origins of the universe and see how man has developed technology, among other things.   Don’t miss the Geode at the back of the museum; this enormous reflective globe contains a state of the art IMAX and virtual reality cinema.

    Children will be especially interested in the Cite des Enfants (Children’s City) where they can join a 90 minute session and explore experiments and interactive tasks, while learning about their bodies and the physical world.  Older children can also play in a TV studio and a garden.  The sessions are split by age: ages 2 – 7 and 5 – 12.  Kids don’t want to leave!

    After exploring the exhibits in the museum, take a walk in the Parc de la Villette behind the museum to see its modern, industrial architecture.  The Cite des Sciences is a little off the main tourist trail in Paris, but it’s reached easily enough from the Gare du Nord.  There’s no general admission fee, but individual exhibits do require admission, and pre-booking the children’s city is a good idea to avoid the long queues.

    Recommended by Emily Cole from Kids and Compass.  Find out more from Emily about Paris with small kids.

    #5:  The Franklin Institute With Kids* (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)

    The Franklin Institute is a science and technology center in Center City in Philadelphia. It’s named for Philadelphia’s beloved citizen and Founding Father, Benjamin Franklin, who wore many hats but most notably as a scientist and inventor. When we go to Philadelphia to visit family in the suburbs, my children always insist on visiting the Franklin Institute.

    Visitors can easily spend an entire day at this center because there is so much to do. The Institute has special exhibits that rotate regularly. For example, we have enjoyed exhibits on Pompeii and the Terracotta Warriors. There is an IMAX theater, a planetarium and many interactive exhibits. For example, there is a giant human heart that visitors can walk both around and through, while exploring the different parts of the organ. Even though the Institute is very popular, it never feels crowded because it is so large. It’s easily one of the best science centers we have ever visited.

    Recommended by Shobha George from Just Go Places Blog.

     

    #6:  Luray Caverns With Kids (Luray, Virginia)

    Luray Caverns is basically the Geology Hall of Fame. Located in the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia, Luray is the largest and most visited caverns in Eastern America. This one of a kind attraction combines geology, chemistry and even music. Admission tickets include a guided tour, which departs every 20 minutes after 9 a.m., and access to the The Luray Valley Museum, the Car and Carriage Museum and Toy Town Junction. Families can also buy additional tickets to the Rope Adventure Park and Garden Maze. The guided tour leads visitors through well lit, paved walkways to view and explore towering stone formations and natural wonders. Our family stopped at this one of a kind center on a road trip to Georgia, and I literally had to drag my kids out of there. My science and history loving children were in awe of the enormous chambers filled with towering stone columns, draperies and crystal-clear pools. For visitors looking for a unique science museum that offers hands on and experienced based learning in a stunning environment, Luray Caverns should be on your East Coast itinerary.

    Recommended by Ruth Mendes from Have Kiddos Will Travel.

     

    #7:  Magna Science Adventure Centre With Kids (Rotherham, England)

    We love the Magna Science Adventure Centre in Rotherham, Yorkshire. It’s based around air, fire, water and Earth with different exhibit areas for each. The Centre is set in an old steel works, and the space is massive and actually a little spooky. There is a big melt every hour with fireworks and other sounds to demonstrate how they used to melt the steel. Each of the pavilions has different interactive displays for young and old to play with and explore. Our particular favourites are watching a tornado of fire ignite in the fire pavilion, playing with pretend rocks and blowing holes in rocks in the Earth pavilion and shooting water canons at targets in the water pavilion. There’s also one of the biggest playgrounds I’ve ever seen that has a splash park in the warmer months. The added cherry on top is that once visitors have paid for one visit they can return as many times as desired for the next 12 months without charge.

    Recommended by Suzy McCullough from Our Bucket List Lives.

    #8:  National Science and Technology Museum Leonardo da Vinci With Kids* (Milan, Italy)

    The National Science and Technology Museum Leonardo da Vinci is the biggest science museum in Italy. The outside of the 16th-century monastery that houses the museum is nothing to look at, but the inside is amazing. The Museum has a huge collection of sixteen thousand technical scientific objects, dating back to the 19th century. There’s a gallery with drawings by Leonardo Da Vinci and 130 scale models that are based on his sketches. Furthermore, the Museum has exhibits about energy production, communication, computers, iron and steel industry and space travel. The transportation section takes up a large part of the museum, with various (parts of) ships, a collection of locomotives and train carriages, numerous airplanes and even a full-size helicopter. Our son was also really impressed by the huge military submarine Enrico Toti that sits in the garden. We only spent a morning at the museum with our toddler and did not nearly have enough time to see it all.

    Recommended by Lisa van den Berg from Flip Flop Globetrotters.  Find out more from Lisa about things to do in Milan with kids.

     

    #9:  Nagoya City Science Museum and Electricity Museum With Kids (Nagoya, Japan)

    The Nagoya City Science Museum in Nagoya, Japan houses the biggest planetarium in the world.  The 30 minute planetarium show about the galaxy and constellations, featuring a highly realistic starry sky, will leave the viewers in awe even though it isn’t dubbed in English.   Visitors will also enjoy various exhibits such as the Tornado Lab, Deep Freezing Lab and Electric Discharge Lab.

    For Nagoya visitors who love science, the Electricity Museum is a family-friendly attraction in Nagoya, Japan where kids and adults can enjoy learning how electricity works and its importance to the people of Japan. We toured the museum through the Nagoya Sightseeing Tour Bus, and the entrance ticket is free for everyone. It offers hologram images where visitors can see the pioneers in Japanese electricity and there are interactive tools on display and a science plaza where kids can experiment and be familiarized with different science laws. The main attraction of this museum is the OHM Theater where guests can participate in quizzes and competitions as video game characters on their impressive 29-foot screen.

    Recommended by Catha Buti-Uy of Team Uy Travels.

     

    #10:  Oregon Museum of Science and Industry With Kids* (Portland, Oregon)

    The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (“OMSI”) in Portland, Oregon, is not somewhere visitors might think of bringing a child, and we worried whether our son would enjoy it. We wanted to visit the special exhibition OMSI had about Pompeii, but we were delighted to find lots for kids to enjoy. We were totally blown away by it. The Science Playground was by far our son’s favourite section.  Designed for kids ages 0-6, there were water tables, sand pits and lots of different sections for free-play, learning and discovery. The Planetarium was also a hit with our young son, and the rest of the museum was filled with different exhibits for children of all ages. One thing we missed during our visit was USS Blueback, the submarine that was featured in The Hunt for Red October and now permanently docked beside the museum. I was gutted to learn that we had missed it, but it’s a perfect excuse for a return visit!

    Recommended by Catherine from Passports and Adventures.  Find out more from Catherine about the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry.

     

    #11:  Perot Museum of Nature and Science With Kids* (Dallas, Texas)

    The Perot Museum of Nature and Science is not merely a science center. This awe-inspiring, 160,000 square foot structure is a state-of-the-art experience intersecting the worlds of engineering, science, architecture, nature and sustainability. With eleven permanent exhibits, six learning labs and one traveling exhibit, the sprawling six floors deliver excitement. My fourth-grader loves the Rose Hall of Birds where visitors can build and fly their own bird. The Leap Frog Forest enchants my toddler as kids of all ages can crawl, jump and play life-size leapfrog. Both kids agree that the top attractions are:

    • Sports: Practice an athletic move then film yourself in “Motion Lab” or challenge a T-Rex, Dallas Cowboy or cheetah in a timed race at “Run.”
    • Life Then and Now: Build your own dinosaur then send it to battle.
    • Engineering and Innovation: Lead pre-built robots on missions or program one yourself using visual coding stations.

    But, don’t forget to squeeze in some other special engagements. Marvel at the Perot Dinosaur, a new species found by Perot Museum Paleontologists. Crack open an Amethyst Geode that stands 5 feet tall. Visitors can also get their groove on at Harmony Park, watch a 4D Film at the National Geographic Experience Theater or view a real brain and stem at “Being Human.”

    Recommended by Brandy from Kid Allergy Travel.

     

    #12:  Science World at TELUS World of Science With Kids* (Vancouver, Canada)

    Science World at TELUS World of Science is one of the best science museums we have visited.  Not only does it stand out in terms of location and architecture, but it also has diverse displays, hands-on experiments and award-winning playgrounds.  Most displays are designed to be intuitive, and children and grown-ups are encouraged to try things out and have fun while exploring the museum and learning. Kids can try to weigh a hippo, climb on a rotating climbing wall and crawl through a beaver lodge. There are regular live demonstrations throughout the day, and we planned to visit for 2 hours and end up staying for 4.5. Science World is one of Vancouver’s must-do kid-focused tourist attractions.

    Recommended by Jules from Shades of Courage.

     

    #13:  Scienceworks With Kids (Melbourne, Australia)

    For parents of children constantly asking “why” about everything, Scienceworks in Melbourne feeds the curiosity of young minds.  Offering a wide range of kid friendly exhibits with hands on activities, and live demonstrations, this child-focused museum makes learning about science fun and exciting.

    For little space lovers, the planetarium teaches kids about planets, constellations, and their home planet Earth through a kid-friendly animated film. With reclining seats and a domed roof, visitors can sit back and enjoy the show.  Kids also love the “lightning room” which is a 120-seat auditorium that presents demonstrations to teach children about electricity.  Learn about dinosaurs, the ocean, bugs and insects, and much more.  For those visiting Melbourne, Scienceworks is a great day out for the whole family.

    Recommended by Chontelle from Mum’s Little Explorers.

     

    Best Science Centers For Kids

    There are so many of these best science museums in the world that are now on our travel list.  For more amazing museums for young scientists, check out the Best Natural History Museums in the World!

  • Paris With Kids: Five Fun Family Activities

    Paris With Kids: Five Fun Family Activities

    Guest Blogger: Vanessa and Sergio are high school sweethearts from Austin, Texas who love traveling the world and experiencing new cultures and traditions with their daughter. To keep up with this international trio, follow along on Instagram or visit their website, TravelChicFam.

    Our foodra truck ride outside the Musee d’Orsay!

    Paris, France has always been a favorite city of mine. This one city holds the best of the best in art, culture, breathtaking sights and French cuisine.  As the cherry on top, it’s also bursting with romance and, for those traveling with kids, children’s parks perfectly situated through the entire city!

    While pregnant with my daughter, I thought traveling would no longer be possible, but I was wrong! After a year of not traveling, I began experiencing “traveling blues” and decided to plan our first family trip to take place when my daughter would be 20 months old. I excitedly and anxiously began planning our 10-day trip to Paris: flights, transportation, hotel, sites and destinations, family photo shoot, and so much more! Before having a baby, we would have likely booked two or three cities as part of one vacation, but decided to stick to one city for our first family vacation and see how baby girl would travel. As an added surprise, traveling with a child reminded us to slow down, to visit family friendly sites, and to value each moment, laugh, and experience. We also took as many photos as humanely possible so that we could document the experience. Our visit to Paris with a young child was not without challenges, but overall the experience was amazing and life changing. I can confidently say that my now three year old absolutely loves to fly, thrives when she spends quality time with her parents, and enjoys the different sites and children’s parks that we build into our adventures.

    Without further ado, here are my Five Fun Family Activities for Paris With Kids!

    #1. Disneyland Parks

    In the many months I spent planning our trip to Paris, I knew that the one thing I wanted to do was to plan a stop at one of the most magical places on Earth: Disneyland Paris. It was the least we could do for our 20 month old, after dragging her to a different country.  We were visiting in early September, which is considered off-season, so the crowds were minimal and wait times for rides was short.

    Disneyland Paris is comprised of two parks: Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park. You can pay to visit one park or both parks. For this occasion, we chose to only visit Disneyland Park as our daughter loves princesses, and we knew that the big mid-day parade would be taking place at Disneyland Park. We arrived around 11am and were able to easily purchase tickets and ride a number of rides, including Dumbo the Flying Elephant, Le Carrousel de Lancelot, Alice’s Curious Labyrinth.  We also visited Sleeping Beauty’s Castle, La Tinier du Dragon, Liberty Arcade, and Discovery Arcade. We made sure to stop and watch the famous Disney parade with all the princess characters, and we ate lunch at Au Chalet de la Marionette, which had a decent selection of food for adults and children.

    By the time we left the park at 7pm, we were beyond exhausted. Although we wished we had seen the fireworks, we had a great experience and of course, left with Minnie Mouse ears, a Mickey Mouse balloon, Disneyland souvenirs, and a number of chocolate treats. If I had to do it all over again, I wish we could have arrived a little earlier so that we could visit both parks and stay for the fireworks, but given the one hour distance from our hotel to Disneyland and my daughter’s age, we were just thrilled that she had an amazing experience.

    Pro-Tip: We took a taxi from our hotel to Disney, but you can also take the Metro. We chose a taxi because it was much faster and easier for our little family. Prices vary, depending on location and transit time, so be sure to price check all your options.

    #2: Jardin du Luxembourg

    The Jardin du Luxembourg is a true gem located in the center of Paris. It covers 25 hectares (over 60 acres) of land filled with beautiful gardens, open-air cafes, puppet shows, rides, slides, musical performers, and sailboats in the pond by the Luxembourg Palace. On a sunny day, you can grab lunch and relax on the green or in one of the many chairs sprinkled throughout the park as you watch your little one run around to release some much needed energy.

    Our favorite activity was the miniature sailboats, which are available for rent or purchase if you don’t happen to have your own to bring! There were many vendors located along the pond and we rented a miniature sailboat that came with a large stick, to use to push the sailboat out and onto the pond. My daughter could not push the sailboat on her own, but my husband was happy to oblige and help maneuver the boat. He had just as much fun playing as all the kids. This is a must visit family friendly park for all to enjoy. By the looks of the native French speaking crowd around us, this is local favorite and so a great way to experience real Parisian family life.

    #3: Parc Zoologique de Paris

    The Parc Zoologique de Paris a great place to visit with children, especially if they love animals. Admission is pricey at 20 € per adult / 15 € per child (ages 3-12) but well worth it. The zoo’s landscape is designed to showcase the animals in their native ecosystem and is home to around 180 species and over a thousand animals, including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and invertebrates. During our visit, we saw a variety of birds, monkeys, fish, jaguars, zebras, and giraffes. And, judging by the crowds, this is another spot that most local Parisians take advantage of with their families, and we were again fortunate to have no trouble with crowds.

    #4: Musee de l’Orangeries & Musee d’Orsay

    When one thinks of a museum in Paris, I’m sure the Louvre comes immediately to mind. The Louvre is amazing, but also full of tourists and crowds. Although definitely a place that everyone should visit at least once in their lifetime, I was not sure that it was the best place to take a baby or toddler. For this special trip, we decided to visit the Musee de l’Orangerie and the Musee d’Orsay, which showcase fantastic works by Monet, Van Gogh, and many others, but without the tourist appeal of the Louvre.

    We visited the Musee de l’Orangerie first, where we viewed Claude Monet’s famous painting of the water lilies. The mural and all sides of the walls were so incredibly breathtaking, I had to stop and just enjoy the experience. While I was busy being awed by the beauty of the art, my daughter paced all the rooms of the museum with her daddy. We then went upstairs and enjoyed a quick bite to eat before heading to the Musee d’Orsay.

    At the d’Orsay, we saw Ballet Rehearsal by Edgar Degas, Blue Water Lillies by Claude Monet, Self Portrait by Vincent Van Gogh, and countless others. The museum is large, but we had an idea of what we wanted to see before arriving, which helped make our experience more manageable.

    Pro-Tip: It is 9 € to visit one museum, or 16 € to visit both, so we chose to visit both and save some money.

    #5: Eiffel Tower

    Last, but definitely not least, the most iconic site of all, the Eiffel Tower. Although you can pay to go up to the top of the tower, I personally think the best view is the free one from the bottom. There are two children’s parks at the North side of the tower that are fenced in for security and, happily, there are vendors nearby who sell an assortment of snacks and gelato for the children (and adults!) to enjoy a tasty treat.

    Picnicking on the grounds of the Eiffel Tower.

    While viewing the Eiffel Tower, we spied a carousel across the street, which many children enjoy riding, including my daughter who rode it up to four times! On a beautiful sunny day, be sure to take some time to have a picnic on the green near the Eiffel Tower. It’s easy to pick up a baguette or a tasty sandwich and a bottle of wine and enjoy the beautiful view, while the little ones stretch their legs running around outside. We have a wonderful time and will cherish our memories forever.

    Riding the carousel… for the fourth time!

    Final Thoughts?

    Paris has so many different things to see and do, but these are truly my top Five Fun Family Activities to take advantage of in Paris. As I continue to explore the world with my daughter, I learn more about her personality and try to incorporate her interests and wishes as well. My goal, as a mommy, is to take my daughter to one new country a year. Our first was Paris, and we also have Rome and Barcelona on the agenda. Traveling with a child has its challenges, but seeing their smiles and the memories we create as a family are priceless.