We are in very early stages of planning a trip to Europe for next May/June. We plan to travel for 3-4 weeks & have 3-4 home bases as we'll have our 2.5 & 8 month old so don't want to move around too much. Ideally looking for a location that would have options for day trips & we prefer outside activities, walking, hikes, parks, castles, water fun depending on weather, etc. We tend to enjoy smaller towns & places off the beaten path, which we also think may be better with young kids. We also love wine & local bakeries/coffee. We know this will be drastically different than previous trips. I studied abroad in 2007 in Toulouse & spent a long weekend in Paris & have wanted to go back ever since. Considering flying either in or out of Paris, but very open to recommendations. We'll be spending at least a week near Geneva (probably in Lausanne). Ideally thinking train travel as we don't plan to bring car seats. We've traveled quite a bit within the states but never internationally with our kids (2nd is just 7 weeks). Any recommendations for cities we should visit? Places to stay? Activities with kids? Travel tips with young kids? Handling jet lag(8 hr time change I believe).
Posted by
45 posts
I took my oldest to France when she was 2, and it was wonderful. In France, there are lots of carousels all over the place, especially Paris. There were also plenty of neighborhood playgrounds wherever we went, so we were sure to stop at least once per day at some sort of play area for her to run around. I think you would have a good time pretty much anywhere in France because kids that young just want to be with their parents, but here are the places I went with my little one:
Paris - walked around Sacre Cour, Louvre (just the outside), Tullerie Gardens (nice playground), the area around Notre Dame (lots of swings), area around Eiffel Tower (carnival set up with rides), lots of riding the subway, went into lots of cathedrals, one day at Disney
Normandy - walked the D-Day beaches (kid loved running along the sand) , American cemetery, looked for snails in the gardens near our B&B, visited various port towns, Mont St. Michel (spectacular, but many, many steps - tough with little ones)
French Riviera - Monaco, Antibes (little sandy beach) , Cannes (nice sandy beach), St. Paul de Vence, Nice
We are planning to go back to France this summer with my daughter (who will be 8) and her 2 year old twins brother and sister. This time we are thinking of doing Disney for a few days and the Loire Valley for a couple of weeks.
Posted by
Vancouver, BC
297 posts
I took my 6 month old to Europe at that time of year with a baby wrap, MacLaren umbrella stroller and convertible back pack. I think Paris is perfect for kids - even better than London because there are so many parks and playgrounds dotted all over.
First, don't stay in Montmartre! It's gorgeous but obviously hilly! I'd stay somewhere central, preferably with an elevator. I'd bring a stroller for the older one and wear the baby. Or umbrella strollers for each. (Not sure you can store strollers at all sites like Eiffel Tower . . . ) You often get to the head of the line with a baby - I got waived forward in a long taxi line at a train station and Louvre where you can use the fancy hydraulic piston lift under the pyramid! Also, use the buses for shorter trips to avoid the Métro stairs. Just wheel into the back door and punch your carnet ticket (or swipe your pass? I didn't use the bus the last trip with a Navigo so not sure) - makes way more sense than trying to get in the front door and turning a corner with a stroller!
The 2.5 year old will likely enjoy the Jardins du Luxembourg, the Eiffel Tower (do the stairs), Trocadero, Batobus, Pompidou, Jardin d'Acclimatation (hokey but fun), Jardins de Tuilleries (tucker them out, stick them in a stroller and head to the Louvre). Paris is full of little playgrounds tucked in corners - two in the Champs de Mars. The age range suitability varies but is often clearly marked. I ducked into playgrounds to feed my daughter and they were the perfect antidote to "I'm tired" when she was 4.5 years old.
Second, don't stay in a hill town. It's hilly. We stayed in Haut-de-Cagnes. Lovely place but not when pushing or carrying a kid up and down the hills. The south of France is lovely that time of year but some places are best avoided. We happened on to the film festival in Cannes and Nice during the Monaco Grand Prix. Mayhem.
Okay, I realize I did so much "wrong" but still had a wonderful trip! Enjoy and keep going back!
Pick places you want to go. There will be lots for your 2.5 year old to enjoy. After all, wherever you go there will be young families with kids who living their lives and having fun.
Posted by
Alaska
49 posts
We were in France/Germany with our 20 month old son last summer. One of our favorite things was visiting the SNCF railroad museum near Colmar. Most of the signs are in French, but the sheer number of engines and trains kept our little guy enthralled.
Rick Steves' book doesn't mention it but Basel was cool, too. Their town hall has a really neat mosaic roof. These roofs were also common in Colmar.