Paris in December with Teenagers

1. Entrance to the gardens where you can rent bikes, golf carts is easier and different than into the main palace. Pat from Victoria has written on it if you can find her answers in the archives. I haven't been in 30 years. Someone else please help Kim, here.
2. ET- What do the kids prefer? The motor room may be fascinating. The top or even the second floor could be cloudy, foggy, misty, particularly in Dec.
3. I've gone on the Chocolate Tour by Paris Walks. They researched and invented it. Most of the others have copied but don't have the depth of knowledge. Paris Walks Chocolate Tour was yummy, informative and wove the history of France and chocolate into it.
4. Lido--only you know how your kids react. It's not Vegas with plastic surgery enhanced dancers. The women's bodies are natural and costumes stunning. We have French tv at home, so my boys grew up with this on some Saturday night tv shows. Very un-Kardashian. How many other chances are they going to have to see the Lido? Does the Lido have an age restriction? If it does or not may be your answer.

Many years ago (so I don't know currently) a Parisian friend who entertained foreign businessmen told me that the Lido was very touristy and the Crazy Horse was much better.

I loved the Chocolate Walk. The only one while you're there is on Dec. 30 at 10.30 a.m. You need to book in advance (it fills up). It isn't cheap at €32 each. By the way, the chocolates are mostly dark chocolate, that's the French specialty. Here's a link to their December program. You may find something else that suits your group (instead or in addition) http://www.paris-walks.com/cariboost_files/2014_20December_20Walks.pdf

Also look at the Fat Tire bike and segway tours.

The Science Park at La Villette would suit kids & adults. You can reach it by Metro.

Thanks so much for the replys! We'll definitely look into all of your suggestions.

One more question - I'm seeing mixed opinions on the crowds at Versailles in December. We are planning to go New Year's Day. Any thoughts on the crowds right after Christmas? I just hate to spend the money on a private tour if it will be empty when we arrive!

I wouldn't do Versailles in Winter because its joys are out doors IMHO. YMMV.

A great option for this time of year is the Musee des Arts Forains in Bercy Village; it is museum of carnival arts rarely open to the public but open and with rides and concessions working during the period right after Christmas.

St. Denis is always an under visited attraction, easily accessed on the metro and one of the more interesting things in Paris. It is where the Kings of France were entombed -- the kinds got dumped during the revolution but the tombs were saved as works of art which they are. And your friends won't have seen this. You can see snapshots of both of these in my photo journal in the 'Paris' category if you want to check them out before deciding. www.janettravels.wordpress.com

With kids this age, I would hand them the guidebook, let them plan the trip and sit back and relax -- it is what I have done to my profit when traveling with my kids when they were that age. Personally I would not recommend the science museum at La Villette. Many people seem to like it and I have not been there in years so it may be fabulous today. When we did visit it years ago it was disappointing. We have been to science museums all over the world; that one was not special -- but perhaps it is much better today.

With teens I might offer a few suggestions:

The gardens at Versailles are likely to be more interesting to them than the interior palace. But that time of year is dicey as to weather. They are HUGE and the hamlet "little village" is very remote. But if it is nicer, or even a little covering of snow, they are magical. No lines or fees for the gardens. Personally, I'd hold this in reserve with a yes or no based on weather.

Climbing the tower of Notre Dame might be fun. Get to see the famous (but totally fake) gargoyles up close.

They might enjoy seeing the outside of the Pompidou Center. The inside is modern art and might not appeal to them. The area around it has a lot of street life (at least in good weather).

The sewers tour might interest them. Not nearly as gross or exciting as it sounds, but kind of fun for kids. There is also a catacombs tour.

If art museums bore the heck out of them but you still want to expose them to some culture, try the Orangerie. It is small but filled with some incredible Monet and Renoir works. Spend less than an hour and if they love it, take them to the D'Orsay too.

There is a military museum and Napoleon's tomb at Les Invalides.

A cabaret show would probably be a hit with teens, but might make some parents uncomfortable (especially the surrounding red-light neighborhood).

Do give them options to help in the planning so they are doing some things that interest them.

I did ago to Versailles in December a few years ago and it was late in the day just a few hours before closing. We literally had the place to ourselves, but it was not a holiday. I had been to Paris a number of times and never gone so thought I would spend some time visiting. I am sure the gardens in the summer are lovely, but I really don't need to go back. If it were me I would opt to spend more time in Paris and let each of the kids plan an afternoon/event... and if one picks Versailles, then go.

Some random notes:

Sewer tours are closed on Thursday and Friday IIRC.

We wanted to visit the Pompidou center area but ran out of time. This one stays open late on Thursday IIRC - I also wanted to take a photo of the Stravinsky fountain which is in the vicinity.

Versailles was the highlight of our two-day visit, though it took up until about 4 pm of one day. We obviously could have spent the rest of the day - and more - had we had the time (but we were prepared to leave the rest for the next time, based on time of day). Being from FL, we don't get to experience the fall that folks up north do. So, a walk in the gardens - though time-constrained - was a nice experience. One downside was that the big fountain behind the palace was undergoing renovations (as of within the last couple of weeks), so the gargoyles had been taken down (and with that went one of my photo ops). I doubt very much that they will be done by December end, but what would I know? Also, we encountered no - let me repeat - NO lines at Versailles (Friday morning), Louvre (Friday evening) or Orsay (Thursday evening). I was really amazed! That said, I don't know how crowds in late November compare to crowds in late December.

Since you also referred to arriving early (at Versailles), let me share our experience. My family was notoriously tough to get out of the bed. So, the first day I left by myself to check out the underground. Went from Michel Bizot to Chatalet and back by 9 am just in time to catch the rest of the family just about getting ready. What was ironic is that though both my weather channels had indicated a 10% chance of rain, it was raining in the Chatalet area when I walked out to the ile de cite (sp?). The second day, though I had told the kids that they need to be up and ready errrrrly, they repeated their performance. We were able to leave only around 9 am or so (maybe 9:20 - I need to check the photos to figure out the correct time). We got into Versailles - the Chantiers station not Rive Gauche - and (literally) walked into the palace after a 10-15 minute walk.

Of course, check the weather leading up to your trip and be prepared to go with plan B if weather is a factor. We lucked out and did not have it rain (or snow) on our parade. That said, looking at the last two weeks' weather, it appears that ours was pretty much close to the worst in that time frame - and we still enjoyed out visit. We followed both weather.com and weatherbase.com for two opinions :-)

Douglas: I didn't realize that the gargoyles were fake. I am assuming that, by fake, you mean they were added on to the structure in modern times. Well, that at least helps my sour grapes moment because both days we were there, we were unable to make it on time to Notre Dame as the access to the Tower apparently closes at 4 pm (or so).

I haven't gone back to the map to see what it was, but the museum/building immediately to the west of Orsay looked promising the day we visited Orsay. We were obviously there after closing time so we could not get in - but whatever we saw appeared war-related stuff. Is this the Napolean museum you were referring to?

Norma/Janet: I had the science/air museums (there are two or three of these) in my long list (short list I posted in one of my threads) but I knew there was no way we would've made it to any of them. My idea was to see the unique ones first then go for those that could be seen in the USA itself (at least similar to those).

Hope this helps.

Porcupyn

Douglas: I didn't realize that the gargoyles were fake. I am assuming that, by fake, you mean they were added on to the structure in modern times.

Yes, that is correct. They were added in the late 19th century (old by some standards) and were just fantasy creations. They are not based on any original gargoyles. But still, they are cool.