Ideas for Paris with 11 year old girl and 15 year old boy

Well there's always Disneyland Paris.

MaryPat, they're actually going to University Studios and Disney World in October with their mom, so that's off the table.

Sure to be a great, eye popping three days! We took our granddaughters to Paris in 2019 when they were 14 and 17. They too loved the cuisine and trying new foods. They each took a different cooking class, but at the same time, from Cookin With Class which they still talk about.

I love your first 3 locations, the next 3 I would only include if it is high on their interest level, the department store choice may come down to what is most convenient in your limited time. No matter which department store you choose, be sure to go to the top, rooftop deck if allowed and take in the views with a little refreshment. We really like the view at Galeries Lafayette from the back of the opera house looking out at all of the other iconic landmarks. If your grandchildren are familiar with the book/movie, The Invention of Hugo Cabret/Hugo, they will start to spot the beautiful old glass and steel train station windows sprinkled around the city.

For the above reason and our granddaughters interest in several impressionist painters, we visited both the L’ Orangerie and Musee D’Orsay. We always have lunch in the restaurant that sometimes allows access to the roof for incredible views if the weather cooperates. It is the restaurant right before one of the entrances to the main Impressionist wing.

An outlier on your list is the Cite de Science. We haven’t gone there yet with our granddaughters even though one of them just graduated from an engineering program. Never enough time and only one of the two would be absorbed by it. We have been there without the girls and it is a very nice, hands on space.

The activities at the end of your list are all very nice too but you are right that even if you group them logically you can’t fit them all in in a 3 day visit. Get their involvement too in going over the list as I’m sure you’ve been doing.

Mona, that's a great idea about a cooking class. They both love to cook and I did not think of that! And yes, I definitely want to get their involvement. I figured after I had some feedback here, I would sit down with them and discuss all the options. Thanks so much!

I’m not sure how this works in relation to your fear of heights but the Montparnasse Tower has an observation deck with a 360 degree view of Paris including the Eiffel towel that’s supposed to be magnificent. Perhaps they could go up together (could you ride the elevator up?). Maybe someone who has been to the tower could offer detailed info. May be a nice as alternative to going up the Eiffel Tower.

Note Dame will be open to the public by then.

If you do the Louvre, I would strategically pick out in advance, a very small number of works of art that are most important to you to see; to make it short and sweet. Or with ‘d’Orsay go first thing and just go up to the 5th floor impressionists. We also loved the gardens at the Rodin museum (The Thinker and other wonderful works of art are out there and the garden is beautiful. We never visited inside as we ran out of time having chosen the garden first.) It also has a nice view of the top of the Eiffel Tower. But your time is limited and l’Orangerie is really small and manageable. It’s in the Tuileries so you can experience gardens there instead of Luxembourg Gardens with your limited time. Take in a view of Place de La Concorde and Arch de Triomphe from the edge of the Tuileries.

Mardee, I'd add one of Paris' famous cemeteries. Cimetière de Montmartre would be a good one as you're already planning on visiting that area. I can't imagine that it wouldn't be visually engaging for both of the grandchildren.

https://parisjetaime.com/eng/culture/cimetiere-de-montmartre-p956
https://cdn.paris.fr/paris/2022/06/13/c385bca27b18486f4eb81a0bff1b7dcc.pdf

Yes, I think you could manage the Arc de Triomphe much better than the Eiffel as you could stand well back from the edges so as not to have to look straight down. Keep your eyes in front of you during your climb up/down the spiral staircase. Here's a little video from a young man who documented his visit so you can see what's involved. :O)

https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=Vedio+of+climbing+arc+de+Triomphe&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:4a7b10ba,vid:ZK3sDWT5J70,st:0

I have been up the Montparnasse Tower and recommend it highly. They say it has the best view because it doesn't include the Montparnasse Tower. The elevator ride is a whole lot, so if you have issues with moving too fast, wait at the bottom. At the top, though, there is an indoor lounge area where you can wait while the kids go out on the observation deck. We did it in December, and it was COLD, but it was so worth it. And not crowded.

Another thing I recommend for kids is Bustronome, which is a double decker bus that travels to the major sites, very slowly, while its passengers are served surprisingly nice food. It's not cheap. They have lunch and dinner trips. We did it on Xmas Eve as our big holiday meal, and the photo of me and my son with the twinkling Eiffel Tower in the background is still the lock screen photo on my phone, nearly six years later. Fabulous time!

I think you're trying to pack WAY too much into your very limited time. I think your choice of the Orangerie is a good one. The scale of the water lilies and the purpose-built room are really unique. If you had even one more day, I'd say take them to Giverny, too, so they can see the inspiration. If the Orangerie is your choice for one sight to visit inside, maybe the kids can agree on one other from a list you provide. The rest of the time should be spent getting to/from these places, the long way as appropriate. I don't know where your grandkids live, but kids who live in cities without subways generally like to ride the subway (even if they are 15 and don't want to admit that it's kind of cool).

definitely put Eternelle Notre Dame which is a VR experience where you walk around Paris in the 12th century as Notre Dame is built for 45 minutes -- truly wonderful and kids particularly love it. You carry a somewhat heavy backpack with the gear so 11 is sort of the lower age -- There is a site for this right at Notre Dame in the underground. https://www.eternellenotredame.com/en/

Depending on what else you have visited, the castle at Parc Vincennes on the edge of Paris on the Metro 1 is an old fashioned fortress; it doesn't take long but I think lots of kids would enjoy it. We got a very good cardboard build your own castle at the bookshop which my young grandson loved putting together.

I would bag the Science and Industry thing unless you have not access to such things near where you live --

My husband is afraid of heights and he went to level two of the ET and then stayed at the center while the rest of us went to the very top. but if you can't you cant

At Luxembourg Gardens do in the late afternoon when the guy with the rental model boats is likely to be there so the kids can sail one on the pool -- it is cheap and a lot of fun.

The Catacombs is in high demand (inexplicably, when we went 20 years ago there was virtually no one -- we had trouble finding it because there were no lines). and you must book on line and I think it is 7 days out -- but check the web site carefully for this.

for teen shopping; she might actually find more things to buy at the big mall at Les Halles. I hate the place but it is a teen magnet for all the shops that cater to moderate and teen shoppers. Galeries Lafayette is one well known brand after another and pricey and nothing she won't see at home.

My granddaughter at 12 loved the Louvre best of museums we went to. She particularly enjoyed the Egyptian exhibit which is excellent and also the Assyrian Gate replicas and the original Hammurabi code which she had read about in school.

Could you do this? You wouldn't need to go anywhere by the edge, but they could. I didn't buy anything there, but I could have;)

Would the second floor of the Eiffel Tower be doable for you? It still has a good view. We didn't do the Arc de Triomphe because it didn't seem high enough to make it worthwhile.

We did a HOHO for the first time ever on our trip to Paris. I didn't think I would be a fan, but it was a great way to get to all the areas we wanted to explore more. I thought we would take a cruise, but once we got there, I found walking along the Seine suited us better.

I don't know if these are available when you are going to be there, but we sat and watched these boats for about an hour.

Vedettes du Pont Neuf is a river cruise company we've used several times and have always had a good experience. We never had to have a reservation. You might want to google them to see if that is still the case. The evening cruises with the city all lit up are really neat.

You might want to have each grandchild pick out one or two things they really want to do / see. Having them involved in the planning will add to their sense of it being "my trip" and more enjoyable.

Just an FYI on the Arc, they do have an elevator but do not advertise it. It takes you up to the floor with the gift shop. From there it is just one staircase to climb. Ask the person standing at the metal detector.

Also at the Tower, maybe book a special lunch there. I believe it is on the second level and they can see some of Paris from there.

Vedettes de Paris has a bilingual family cruise geared to children with a live speaker asking and answering questions with the children. My granddaughter loved it.
https://www.vedettesdeparis.fr/en/vdp-cruise/paris-with-kids/

Hi! Just quickly want to echo janettravels44 with her excellent Les Halles suggestion. Yes, it is a Westfield Mall. But also yes, it is crammed with other tweens and teens and is just perfect for an afternoon of window licking (instead of window shopping the French say lèche-vitrine… ;-) and possibly even meeting some local kids.

The streets around the mall are also very tween/teen friendly, with funky street stalls and little shops with vintage clothes and hats and tshirts, music stores, gimmicky fun collectibles, and stalls for baguette sandwiches, falafel, pizza, and the like.

The people watching, skate-boarding, and teen hang-outing on the plaza in front of Centre Pompidou might also be a fave for your grands.

For art in Paris that isn’t in a traditional museum, you might check out 59 Rivoli and AFTERSQUAT. Both are at 59 rue de Rivoli and are seriously cool and funky. Artists rent small spaces in a shared building where they create, display, and sell art. The variety of styles and media are wild! This place has been evolving since we first visited a few years ago and I highly recommend it: http://www.59rivoli.org/accueil/

I'm with you on the heights thing and no, I can't go to the 2nd level. I have in the past and even walked down but would nope out of that now.

Consider doing the boat tour when everyone is tired and needs a sit down for a bit!

Someone else mentioned to plan carefully if you go to the Louvre and just pick out a few things to see. The Army Museum is HUGE as well. I'd have the grandson decide what era he is interested in and head for those areas. Otherwise it's too big to cover in one visit and you'll be exhausted!

https://www.musee-armee.fr/en/your-visit/museum-spaces.html

And look! I was looking for a map and came across this. Looks like fun! Might be too young for your older grandchild but the younger one might have fun with it.

https://www.musee-armee.fr/fileadmin/user_upload/Documents/Support-Visite-Livrets-Jeux/livret-jeux-39-45-GB-ok.pdf

https://www.musee-armee.fr/en/collections/downloads/games-booklets-general-presentation-of-department.html

KD, I could not do the Montparnasse Tower observation deck, but it's possible the kids could. Unlike the Eiffel Tower, which specifically says no kids 13 or under without an adult, it doesn't look like they have same restrictions. I'll ask the kids and see how they feel about it. Thank you! And yes, I am very psyched about seeing Notre Dame! I saw it back in 1999 and loved it! The gardens at the Rodin museum are a nice idea as well!

Kathy, that's a good idea about cemeteries. I had consider Pere Lachaise, as I went there in 1999 and loved it, but the one you mentioned sounds easier to get to, so definitely a possibility. Thank you! I viewed the Arc de Triomphe video and I could definitely do that. It's just the ones that are wide open that I can't stomach. Sigh.

G3rryCee, I don't typically have a problem with elevators unless they're glass. I'll check out videos on the obs. deck and see how they go. With regards to the amount of stuff, the places I have listed here are just possibilities. I know that there is too much for us all to do in 2 1/2 days, so I'm trying to narrow it down (I think I mentioned that). :-) I definitely want to allow room for sitting in cafes, wandering through streets and visit gardens and so on. And I think I read about Bustronome; in fact it was probably your post. I will check that out! Ha, yes to the Metro! They will think it's cool, I'm sure. They live in Duluth now but most of their lives has been in the Twin Cities, which has a light rail system (no subway, though). Thank you!

Janet, I will check out the Eternelle Notre Dame—that sounds pretty cool! My granddaughter is tall for her age, so she would probably be okay with the backpack. And that's a good idea about the City of Science and Industry, especially since they both want to go to the Science museum in London. With regards to the Eiffel Tower, I'm not sure if I could make it to the second level. I have a strong feeling I could not. The problem is that it's all open. I don't think I could make myself go up the stairs and definitely could not get in the glass lift. Good idea about the timing for Luxembourg Gardens! I'll check with them about the Catacombs. My grandson liked the idea, so I hate to just give it up. And that's a good idea about the mall. She would probably enjoy that more. I will also check with them about the Louvre, and ask which museum they want to see (maybe show them some photos, etc.). Thanks!!

mnannie I could definitely do the Galeries Lafayette rooftop! I've been to rooftop bars before and I'm fine, as long as they're closed in (no glass walls, etc.). I just stay away from the edges. See my notes above about the 2nd floor. I don't think I can. I'm still trying to decide on HOHO buses or cruises or both. One thing I thought about was doing a Seine River cruise at night. That way it wouldn't take time away from daylight only sites, and might a pretty cool experience for them (and me!). Thanks! With regards to the Luxembourg Gardens, Janet mentioned those boats, too! I think those sound very interesting and I'm definitely going to make time for them. Thanks for the link!

TC, Vedettes du Pont Neuf sounds great! I will definitely check them out - thank you! They are already involved in the planning and we are periodically having short little meetings to talk. I've started a trip on Wanderlog and added all the potential activities so they can see them (they have access to it, too).

Barbara, thank you for the info about the lift at the Arc. Good to know! Lunch on the Eiffel Tower sounds grand, but I just don't think I can make it up that far. That's the level that Celine Dion sang during the Olympics, right? If so, I know there's no way I could get myself up there.

Elizabeth, that sounds wonderful! I will look into that. Thank you very much!

Mardee, how about a 2CV Tour on your first night in Paris at twilight? It's a great way to get an overview of Paris and something quite different. https://2cvparistour.com/ You can customize the tour within the time frame you select.

Volva, thanks for also recommending Les Halles! I think she would love that. And I love the art venues at 59 Rivoli and AFTERSQUAT. I know my granddaughter would love that, as she really enjoys art, and even my grandson would be into something that was cool and funky, lol! Thank you!

Pam, thanks! Sometimes I feel like an idiot because of that fear, so good to know it affects others. That's a very good idea about the boat tour. They'll probably have more energy than me, but at some point, they'll wear out. I like that idea. Oh, and VERY good to know about the Army Museum. And that map and other website is great! He's especially interested in WWII so maybe we could focus on that. Thank you so much!

Horsewoofie, wow, how cool! I will definitely check into that. I know my grandson would love it, and probably the granddaughter. Thanks!

Well, truth be told, when I go to the Army Museum I just head for the WWI and WWII galleries. It's an older fashioned museum with static exhibits although they have some very cool film reels from WWI and WWII airplane cockpits. PLUS in the WWI gallery they have an old Renault Taxi cab that they used to transport troops to the front line in a crunch. The taxis actually picked troops up from right outside in front of Les Invalides.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renault_Taxi_de_la_Marne
https://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/16/automobiles/100-years-later-celebrating-the-taxis-that-saved-paris.html

And never worry about having height fears. Just think of all the solo travel you do! Not many would undertake the driving itineraries you do and think about all the women who DON'T travel solo!

Mardee, if either grandchild is interested in fashion, what better place than Paris to see a show. When my granddaughter (12 yo) and I visited, Galleries Lafayette, had a fashion show on Fridays and since you will be there in April, very likely they will be showcasing their Spring line. We both had such a wonderful time there at the show and then picked up lunch from the food court and enjoyed all the great views from the rooftop deck.

Edit : oops, I see you will not be in Paris on Friday.

Pam, very good to know about WWI and II. I know Bjorn would love that! Thanks for the links, too! Also thanks for the pat on the back—that made me feel better. In truth, no one has ever tried to make me feel bad about it (well, except one sister who thinks I need therapy). :::me rolling eyes::: But nice to have the affirmation! And I guess we all have our fears and weak spots.

Linda, no, sadly not, but I will save that for next time. I told my granddaughter that maybe we could come back when she is in high school. Thanks!

Mardee,
The recommendation for a 2CV tour the first night would probably be a real thrill for both of the grandkids. And yes, do a Vedettes de Piont Neuf nighttime boat ride one evening also. They only take about an hour, so are a good rest after a day of sightseeing. The Invalides (army museum), where Napoleon's Tomb is, is not too far a walk from the Eiffel Tower, so an easy morning excursion, unless you plan on going up the tower, then you have to factor in time in lines. To me, a walk around the tower would suffice, and give the kids something to plan to do when they make their own personal trips when older. It is magnificent from the ground, both close up and from afar! Also, the Rodin Museum gardens are not too far from the Invalides, which you mentioned. Re the Invalides, there are lots of suits of armor and weapons, which could interest both kids, as well as all the marble at the Little Corporal's tomb!

I leave the shopping recommendations to others, but no matter the age, Ste. Chapelle makes everyone gasp. Perhaps you could combine a visit there with a visit to Notre Dame? The Orangerie could be this same day. I agree that the Louvre and Orsay are too much to do in your timeframe, in order to do them any justice. Shopping and cafe rests can fit in between sights you see.

My suggestions pretty much take up your time in Paris, accounting for time to walk or metro between locations.

When we took our kids to Paris, the things I have mentioned were hits with them. We did have more time, so went to the Louvre and the Orsay, as well as the Galeries Lafayette and the Sacre Couer Basilica in Montmarte, all of which they liked. Of these, I think looking at Paris from Sacre Coeur would be my first choice...best bang for the time-buck. Not ancient, but the mosaics with all the gold really impressed the kids!

Whatever you choose, you will all have a wonderful time! (And, like you, I have acrophobia. When younger I bit the bullet and went to the top of Notre Dame, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, etc. It was hard and terror-inducing. I am glad I did it, but never again! The agony is not worth the FOMO.)

Of course we are all adding more and more things to what is two days in Paris. The key here will be limiting those choices. Identify one thing in the morning and one in the afternoon and then have some 'if we have times' near those. Less is really more and rushing from one thing to another is no fun. I'd do the Seine cruise at night and wherever is convenient. You just walk up. Build the schedule around the things you have to reserve.

So many wonderful ideas mentioned here… I would simply add that the Cluny Museum (Museum of the Middle Ages) was interesting for our kids who were similar ages to your grandkids when we visited Paris.

It’s a smaller museum, near your hotel in the 5th, and in this manageable space you can see stained glass from Sainte Chapelle up close, the heads that were knocked off of Notre Dame during the revolution and later found buried in somebody’s garden, and be in the Frigidarium from ancient Roman baths. There were many interesting things to see in such a relatively small place, including the splendid Lady and the Unicorn tapestries and a narwhal horn, among other treasures.

It was a pleasant visit for us.

Have a wonderful trip!!

Laurie

When I took my daughter to Paris at age 14 30 years ago, the Cluny and climbing the Towers of Notre Dame were the two things she wanted to do and the Cluny is even better since the renovation. But we had 10 days.

TWO DAYS. I'd make a short list from this thread and then sit down with the kids and let them each choose their favorite two things and there you are.

Judy, thanks! I don't' think we will be going up in the EF, so we will definitely have extra time. And armor and weapons sound like they would be appealing to my grandson, lol! And that's a good idea about combining all the places on the Île de la Cité like Notre Dame and Ste. Chapelle, which I definitely want to see.

And I had to laugh about you going to the top of Notre Dame and the Leaning Tower of Pisa. When I was younger, I went to NYC to visit friends and they convinced me to go to the top of the World Trade Center. I caved but when I got out of the elevator and felt the building swaying, I panicked and crawled into a fetal position next to the elevator and didn't move until we left. That taught me to trust my instincts. :-) I know what I can do and what I can't.

Janet, ha, yes, I noticed that I now have many more options than when I started! And don't worry, we will definitely be narrowing this down. I met with them once to talk about London and now we will meet to talk about Paris. I know it's hard for them to visualize without having any context, but I show them photos and explain. And I have no problem cutting back once we're there. I plan an itinerary but as far as I'm concerned, it can always be modified (and probably will be). :-)

Laurie, the Cluny Museum sounds very nice! Thanks for that mention. I will add it to my list, lol! Seriously, it does sound really lovely and that fact that it's close makes it easier to get to. I paid more money for this hotel than I ever have, but I really wanted a location that was central to a lot of places. Thanks!

TWO DAYS. I'd make a short list from this thread and then sit down with the kids and let them each choose their favorite two things and there you are.

Janet, that's a good plan. I mentioned just before that we are meeting, and they definitely have input, but I like the idea of having them each pick two things. We will actually have 2 1/2 days as we're taking the Eurostar in the morning, and should be able to spend some time that afternoon seeing some places in the neighborhood. In fact, I was thinking about going to Luxembourg Gardens and looking for the boats, stopping someplace for lunch, maybe walking to one or two sites and then doing either the river cruise or the 2CVParis tour that evening.

At least we don't have worry about jet lag. :-)

Mardee, first of all what a wonderful grammy you are! This must be even more exciting for you to know that you are going to make history and lifetime memories for your grandchildren.

What have they said they want to do? I know that if I were to take my grandsons, I'd sit down with them and watch some sort of Youtube video of Paris--maybe a Rick Steves one. Then, I'd get their input/impressions.

If you do go up the Arc de Triomphe, try to time it so that once you are at the observation deck--it's plenty wide so that you don't have to stand near an edge--the Eiffel Tower lights up! There is a perfect view of it from AdT.

The HOHO and any Seine River cruise might also be hits. Maybe visit Berthillion on the Île Saint-Louis?
The kid in me enjoyed Le Passe-Muraille in Montmartre (man passing through a wall) They'd enjoy the story that goes along with it. Just a few-minutes walk away is the Wall of Love. Of course, walking up the stairs to Montmartre is always a treat as is the view from the top. Then there is Sacre Coeur. . . Maybe they'd also like to walk DOWN the stairs of the Metro at the Abbesses after having gotten lunch on the rue de Abbesses.

Do they like planes? The Musee de l'Air et de l'Espace is a little out of the way in N Paris (at Le Bourget airport) but I think worth it. 2 Concordes are there too. https://www.museeairespace.fr/en/https://www.museeairespace.fr/en/

I would definitely recommend one of the Seine cruises. Do it in the evening so you can see everything lit up and it won’t interfere with day time activities. I suggest you do not do a dinner cruise. Our first few trips to Paris we would do the cruise in the evening, kind of as a farewell to Paris. We haven’t done it since, so we may need to remedy that this year.

Lindy, it is exciting! That's a good idea about YouTube. We're schedule to have a meeting this weekend, so maybe we can watch a few then. And I definitely have Berthillon on my itinerary (along with many other pastry, bread and chocolate shops, lol!). Montmartre is a must as well, and that's a good idea about the Metro at the Abbesses! Thanks!

skunklet1771, that would be a lovely idea, but I doubt my granddaughter would be interested. My grandson likes them but with the limited amount of time we have, we're going to have to agree on a lot so I'm picking the battles. :-) But thank you so much for the idea!

Andrea, we will definitely do an evening cruise down the Seine. And we probably won't do a dinner cruise. I would rather they be able to focus on the scenery during the cruise. Yes, you should remedy that this year—and let me know which company you use!

If you want something a little unusual, try the Sewer Museum!

Ha ha, I did see that mentioned in the RS guidebook, so I've got it on my list, but I'm still not sure about that. I will bring it up to them and see what they think. It definitely sounds interesting!

Mardee, Re cruise on the Seine, you can't go wrong with Vedettes de Pont Neuf.

Good to know, Judy! Thanks!

The Arc de Triomp is lovely at the top - great views of the Eif Tower & most of Paris; and really fun to watch the 12-lane deep traffic roundabout below . . . challenge your grandchildren to take a time-lapse video of the vehicles below - really fun. If you can handle the walk up, it's a beautiful circular marble staircase, fun to ascend & decend (and again, get a fun video of the people below you). Our daughter also loved roaming around the beautiful gardens at the Rodon Musee early in the morning (first entry) - fun place to be outside, run around a bit, discover interesting statues (some to mimic) around every corner. We had it to ourselves while everyone else made for the musee building (Rodin's home). We also challenged our daughter to pick out our lunch spot each day, depending on what neighborhood we were in - she made some great finds. Tuilleries Gardens is a nice spot for a rest & a nap in the hundreds of green chairs available. Petit Palais musee is free to entry & has nice bathrooms just downstairs from the entrance, if you are passing nearby - plus a beautiful courtyard garden, also with resting/napping chairs.

Mardee, I always recommend the Vedettes cruise in the evening. They have live commentator and if it's a little cool you can buy hot cocoa at the dock to bring on board.
I also have issues with heights -- I once got dizzy looking at a photo that my friends had taken from the top of the World Trade Center!
There is a plexiglass barrier at the Galleries Lafayette roof but you can stand well back from the edge and probably be okay.
If you have more time in London perhaps you could do some of the WW2 related things there and free up some time in Paris for more typically Parisian activities and sights. It would be a shame to miss the Impressionists in the Orsay.
I would encourage you and kids to pick no more than 3 things a day and take the time in between to stroll the streets a bit and stop at a cafe for a meal or a snack or beverage.
I was over 40 before my first visit to Paris (and London) so your grandkids are lucky! And hopefully they will return many times!

meapeak, I should be able to handle the staircase. I mostly have a problem if the stairs are outside (like at the Eiffel Tower). :-) I've heard good things about the Rodin gardens, and I would like to stop there at some point, as I think the kids would like it. The kids will definitely be involved in restaurant finding. They both love good food and have been exposed to a lot of different types of food, so I think they will have fun looking for restaurants. And that's good to know about Petit Palais! That sounds like a wonderful place to visit! Thanks for all the tips!

SharYn, the Vedettes cruise does sound lovely! Bets mentioned it above, and it sounds like the kids would love it. Ha ha, glad I'm not the only one nervous with heights! My legs get shaky just seeing someone up high on TV. Ugh! I think I'll be fine at the Galleries Lafayette—I've been up on rooftop bars before and didn't have any problems (as long as I stay away from the edge). :-) And thank you for your thoughts about the activities! I'm going to keep meeting with the kids and fine tuning things before we go. I want to make sure our time is not only productive but a serendipitous experience. So I'm not going to plan too many things. I love the Orsay and would love to see it again, but I know it can get terribly crowded so we'll see. My grandson is not interested in art museums but he may just have to suck it up. And I do think he would like the impressionist art.

Mardee,
Just in case you are interested, look up the story behind the Rodin sculpture, "The Burghers of Calais". It will make it very meaningful for all three of you when you see it. (It's my very favorite of all his wonderful sculptures!)
Amusez-vous bien!

Judy, thanks! I have heard of it but did not know the backstory. What a wonderful tribute to those six brave burghers!

That's a lot to do in the few days you'll have in Paris. Yes. Keep to the highlights the kids are interested in. When my daughter visited Paris as a teenager I did a scavenger hunt for the Louvre and the Rodin museum. Not too hard to find on line, but I made it myself with the major works of art. The museum website tells which room the artwork can be found(to give you hints) and a little history of the artist. We were able to hit the highlights without exhaustion. We also did a form of scavenger hunt like "challenge" to find the best crepe, best chocolate chaud. That might appeal to their foodie/culinary interests.

I've been to Paris with kids including my teenager, so here's my thoughts:

This is a busy itinerary and you might have to make a few cuts, but you might be able to make it all work. The Louvre takes a long time so I agree with seeing some impressionist masterpieces instead. Personally, I like the Orsay better (beautiful setting and iconic, instantly recognizable works) but L'Orangerie is also great.

I'd also skip the City of Science and Industry. The lower level has a great hands-on area for kids, but your grandkids will have outgrown this. It's also a bit of a trip out from the center of town. The museum of Arts and Measures is a quirky museum that may have more appeal to teenagers. A visit is easily less than 2 hours.

The Army museum is underrated, so I agree with going.

Samaritaine is a great department store, recently renovated, also expensive.

Have a great trip!

If your mobility will allow it, I'd consider doing a bike tour on day #1 to see the highlights. Fat Tire offers a great English language tour. Younger travelers would enjoy it.