Overwhelmed

You are trying to do way too much on certain days in my opinion.

Prioritize your museums and take about half of them off your agenda - or make them optional, depending on your time and energy. (Or spread them out over more days.) Personally, I'm not a "museum person" anyway, so I would do even fewer myself. But even if you love museums, I fail to see how you can absorb so much every day and still enjoy them and not be exhausted. I did a five hour march through the Louvre on my first visit to Paris, and by the end it all looked the same to me and my feet were wiped out too! Pace yourself.

Just make sure you've checked to see which days the museums are closed so you plan around that.

Assume you'll be back. And try to enjoy yourself more than trying to squeeze in absolutely everything. Assume it won't rain EVERY day or every hour despite the weather forecast. Look for a break in the weather at least once, even for a few hours, and try to go walk and explore Paris outdoors a little and take in a park or two as well. A Seine cruise at night might be fun too if you can find a clear night.

Just because rain is predicted doesn't necessarily mean that it will. Weather predictions for a month out are unreliable at best. But it's good to make an indoor plan. Your guidebooks should be of help.

Some ideas
Department stores, covered passages, colonnaded areas like the Palais Royale combined with the rue de Rivoli, the colonnaded Place des Vosges, covered markets like Le Marché Couvert Beauvau and Le Marché Couvert Saint-Quentin

It seems to me like you have a lot on some days and none on some, where you could perhaps move some of the full day activities to the empty days. Especially in a place where you will be walking for hours (are we talking down-pour or 'just' rain? If just rain, get a few umbrellas when there and go out in it!), I think 3 activities per day is plenty. I like to plan on two, and have a third in mind if we have the interest and stamina. So in my case, I would plan to walk to the Orsay, visit there for about two+ hours, then have lunch, then walk to another site, visit there for 2+ hours, then have a coffee, maybe go to the third site, and then have dinner. To plan on two museums and the Eiffel tower and Torcadero in one day is a lot. Consider too that even with passes, there are lines, even if shorter. And getting from one site to another can take 20-30 minutes (all waling or walking+metro). I don't have more to add in terms of ideas of what to do, but rather, just want to let you know how full your days will be just by being there, and how much your sense will be stimulated and how much less you will end up doing per day than you think while still seeing so much just by being there and walking from place to place
Edited to add: the Louvre is enormous. People spend hours and hours there (days, return visits...). That is definitely something to do with one other activity that day

Why not take a free tour of Paris any day when it's not raining too much?
Just Google "Paris free tours". One by Sandeman goes everyday from the St. Michel fountain across the river south of Notre Dame. Another company leaves from the Charlemagne statue (on his horse) outside of Notre Dame.
I've taken them both, both are good, and last about 90 min.

We were there this last June (our first time)
First: Good with the museum pass... now the tough part ... get those teenagers up early and get to the Louve and d'Orsay when they open. The museum pass gets you in at a special door. But before you do these museums or even some walking tours.. download Rick's App and then download his audio tours of many areas of Paris and the museums. We did this for 3 tours. Like in the Louve and d'Orsay. The kids will love it. You'll see the museums in a very efficient way. We actually booked tour that we were able to eat dinner in the Eiffel tower ... so that checked that off.
I know you can find a cooking class.. they are out there.. I would also recommend a food tour that we took in Montmartre. One family on our tour had 2 early 20's kids and they loved it. We ate macaroons and so much else.
But please take time to just sit and take in the ambiance of Paris...
Happy Travels.

Don't worry; this is going to be fine. You know where you're going and have a lot of ideas already of things you'd like to do. Although March, on average, is pretty rainy in Paris, wunderground.com shows that 2016 and 2017 had just one day classified as "rainy" during your dates.

You'll have quite a lot of time in Paris, so I think it would be very helpful to stop by one of the local tourist offices (addresses should be in your guide book) to check on special events and smaller museums that might especially appeal to young women. Maybe something related to fashion? Most folks enjoy visiting at least one market. If you know where and when they are (food markets are often closed on Monday), you can incorporate one or two as you move around the city to see other sights.

If you don't solve the macaron-class challenge before you arrive in Paris, the T.O. have also be able to help with that. You'll be able to pick up paper maps for anyone who wants one.

I just Googled "macaron class Paris" and got lots of hits. How about dumping the task of prioritizing the options on your 17-year-old daughter? Point out to her that location, as well as price and reviews, is important.

I was in Paris in March 2016 and 2017.
There wasn't that much rain; except the day I took the free walking tour!
The rest of the time was chilly, sunny, windy, and the occasional short downpour.
You will have a great time!
The girls might want to go shopping.
The big department stores are gorgeous, but have eye watering prices; but clothes for their age group can be found at C & A's, a medium priced department store.
Ride the Metro and the buses; and don't forget to go to Montmartre and wander around.
You have way too many things planned for each day.
I think you'd have a whole lot more fun if you picked just one major thing to do each day instead of four.
Don't rush: Paris is to be savoured! and don't forget, you can always come back!
Have a wonderful trip!

Buy a 6 day Museum Pass. It's only 12 euro more per person. You can then spread your museum visits over more days. It really is worth it.

What Karen said (6-day pass).

Do not stress. Yes, it is good to have some tentative days mapped out, but you know its going to change when you are there.

The main thing is that you are in Paris and almost anything you do will be at least good. So just have your list of things to do, and be prepared to say to your family, Hey, how about [this] next! as needed.

For learning to make macarons, I recommend La Cuisine Paris. It should be an easy walk from where you’re staying and the classes are great fun. You’ll each go home with a box of macarons made in class, as well as the ability to make them at home. You’ll need to sign up for the class ahead of time (now!) on their website.

Yes on the 6-day pass -- you could take the Louvre in multiple smaller doses.
Does the 20-year-old share her sister's desire for Disneyland Paris ? Otherwise, moving it to a non-weekend date might be more restful (assuming it's like the one in Anaheim) Same with Versailles.

My advise is to not over think it. The best thing about Paris is just being there. Get those girls involved making plans. They will hit the ground running, leaving you to go with the flow or leave you at a cafe sipping a glass of wine and watching the world go by. From the sound of things, that is what you need right now, anyway. Have a wonderful time.

The Eiffel Tower is not included on the Museum pass so you could possibly move that to a non-museum pass day.

At the age of your girls, I would let them dictate the pace and just enjoy being with your girls. You can always go back alone another time to see more of what you want to see. I would not recommend being the person to get them up and moving in the morning too early, enjoy their schedule, pace and their presence. You'll be surprised! Be aware of what is there to see and perhaps you could have each one pick the sites they want to see and just see how your days flow. You don't need to plan the days for them, just have a list of what you/they might want to see. I always found that worked best with my daughter...I let it be her trip. It was a different type of visit in some cities, but great memories resulted. It helped her learn how to travel as well. Paris is just a wonderful city to be in.

Wray has it right. Let them set their pace, and you fit yourself into it. That does not mean you have to be as busy as they probably will be. If they are not early risers, or if they take ages to get ready, you can get up and have breakfast and a stroll around the neighborhood. Then go wherever they want to go. Head back to the hotel if you've had enough activity. Meet up for dinner. Let them go out partying, while you have another quiet glass of wine. Repeat daily. This worked well for our family.

Try to take a Paris Walks tour together. Or alone if they're off doing the sewers or something. You don't have to book it ahead, and you can go on one that you don't think is particularly interesting. It will be. (I am not a Hemingway fan, but loved that tour.) They're a great way to explore a neighborhood.

There is just SO much to do in Paris that it is overwhelming. But often the best part is just doing nothing much. So give yourself the ability to do nothing. Don't overschedule. Have a game plan, with top sites and second tier sites. Be willing to drop activities.

Have a meeting or two with the group. Each person should pick 2-4 "must do" things that you should all try to accommodate. And you should all give thought to "what is my idea of Paris?" It may be cafe sitting, or dancing all night long, or shopping. Narrow your focus so that you can do those things, and don't worry about what others think of your plans. It's your trip. And don't worry about the weather.

Thank you all very much for your responses! With each one I have felt a little weight go off my chest :)

I got some birthday money from my husband to visit the Loire Valley - too complicated, and probably not as much fun with the girls as it will be someday with him. So I'm going to happily buy everyone a 7 day museum pass and just relax. We'll just hit whatever neighborhood is calling our name that day, keeping in mind that some things are "first thing in the morning" kind of places.

I am not a "relax" kind of person....thanks for helping move me in that direction :)

a German general is reported to have said "No plan survives contact with the enemy.". Seems to hold for trips too ;-)

It's a smart idea to do research and map out sample itineraries like you've done. But in my experience its not so easy outside of a tour group where they have reservations and a fixed itinerary to keep up with a plan. And, to be honest, that's part of the advantage of going on your own. If the group itinerary says "Orsay 1-3pm, then walking tour to Place de la Concorde that is what you are going to do. If you love the Orsay you're still leaving at 3. If you hate it then you need to kill 2 hours because the group meets for the walking tour at 3. On your own you can adjust on the fly depending on interests, weather, how you're feet are doing, etc.

Personally I think that 2-4 sights a day is a good starting point for planning. You want to try and pick ones in the same part of the city. You can certainly visit (as in take a picture) of many more, but when you add it time for getting between sites, extra time because you're not a resident and can't walk directly and without hesitation point-to-point, time in line, time for lunch, stops for coffee and the bathroom, then its hard to really visit a bunch of places. So when I look at your plan for many of the days it seems ambitious.

As for rain, I would not trust forecasts that far from now. It's Paris, you'll probably have several days of rain. But you'll likely have some dry days and this is an example of why its good to be flexible; the indoor places will be there the next day but the weather might change. On a nice day going to a park, a walking tour, visiting one of the many outdoor markets, these are fun experiences.

I'm also a big fan of the Paris Walks tours. Print out their itinerary, you just show up for the ones you want to go on.

For parting advice I'll add that as an outlook is to try to make choices that are satisficing instead of perfect. Yes, it is a real word. One link is https://psychcentral.com/blog/the-perfectionists-guide-to-making-decisions-the-art-of-satisficing/ I drive myself crazy trying to make the "best" decisions but after several trips I've come to the conclusion that in retrospect there are always things I would have done differently (more time some places, skip others, splurge on a great meal) but its just about impossible to know ahead of time without doing the entire trip as a trial.

Hi MC, I'm a planner too so I understand your desire to plot out every day so you make the most of your time. You're on the right track, you've done your research, and asked the right questions. Time to relax and start packing! Paris is bursting with beautiful architecture, scenic spots, and history. Enjoy your vacation and please post a "trip report" when you get back. I'd love to hear about the macaroon class!

A Museum Pass is only to be used on consecutive days - if you can stand to go to museums that frequently, you might as well do it. But, I think you might be overdoing it, and will soon tire of them.

The apartment situation has changed in Paris. You have to look for the 13-digit registration number on the website - AirBnB is OK. Otherwise it's an illegal apartment.

You have to remember that a hotel will keep your baggage, while an apartment may not be able to. This means that you will have to haul your belongings around from cafe to cafe in the rain.
Not fun.

I'd go for an apart'hotel, where you will be assured of a 24-hour desk staff that will answer any questions you might have. Here are some legal apart'hotels:
Le Roi de Sicile
Hotel Residence Henri IV
You might book 2 or 3 rooms, because you will have bathrooms and a kitchen.
It's unclear how many are in your party, or how much your budget is.

When my husband and I travel, we enjoy doing a museum or historic site or two in the morning into early afternoon. Then we have a leisurely lunch at an outdoor café (weather permitting) in a different neighborhood each day, then continue on, wandering the streets, taking in the architecture, ambiance and vibe of that particular neighborhood. We dine in neighborhood joints in the evening, maybe find a music venue, shops open late, or an art gallery, then do another leisurely stroll back to our hotel. We feel like this is the best of all worlds, and it is a strategy that can apply to almost any location.

I agree with some other posters that you may find your "museum" days overloaded. Yes, there are lots of world-class museums in Paris, but in trying to visit them all, you may find you are short-changing certain museums, and exhausting yourselves. When I take people to Paris, we typically choose one museum per day, and 1 other major site/destination, planning to visit one in the morning, have a lunch and wander, and the second in the afternoon. The magic of Paris is in wandering the streets, so you want to be sure to leave time to do this. It'd be a shame to over plan for rain, and then find yourself indoors during sunny spring days. And if it does happen to rain, Paris takes on an extra level of romance (just google "paris in rain" and you'll see what I mean!). Just pack your umbrellas and don't let it deter you--if you get chilly or wet, pop into a cafe and enjoy the people watching while you dry out :)

Also, an above commenter suggested the grand department stores and covered passages--absolutely keep those in mind for especially rainy days!