Paris: Shredding apart the itinerary

Don't worry if you are too tired for the Champs Elysee - that was a 'must stroll' on our first trip to Paris and - well - very underwhelmed - it seemed to be mostly stores selling tourist junk spreading out onto the sidewalks and making it hard to walk. I rem getting about halfway up and wishing we had taken the metro. (I see you are staying in that neighbourhood tho, so it would be a good way to pass some time if you just want to relax).

After visiting Sacre Coeur twice - I don't know if I'd recommend going up in the evening. It is pretty busy during the day (and full of 'petition girls' and 'friendship bracelet' people, so watch your surroundings/belongings). Our 2nd visit we went up in the evening (mind you, it was a Saturday) and there were a LOT of people sitting on the steps drinking beer/wine (and people selling bottles of beer/wine) and lots of broken glass from the discarded alcohol bottles. Maybe a Tues wouldn't be so bad. But you may want to make sure (especially with a child) that you aren't up there too late in the day, otherwise, it's a beautiful cathedral and some lovely views of the city.

And do watch out for the 'petition girls' - they are everywhere. Ignore them. Don't sign their 'petition'. We saw a few running around the Tulleries last year harassing people.

It looks like you have done your research! I assume these are your top site picks for Paris based on your likes and dislikes and it looks like a nice time for you all. Your pacing looks okay to me and there's time built in for wandering a bit and coming across things, which is part of the fun of Paris.

It seems like you're planning on sticking together the entire time...but I would caution that a 10-year-old might lose interest in the Louvre before 4-5 hours is done. You might want a back up plan for that trio for a bit.

Do some googling about the Louvre for children - there are some great ideas on how to keep the child engaged. Definitely plan a cafe stop midway through.

I was also disappointed on the Champs Elysees (sp). Totally gentrified and touristy. But then so are so many other parts of Paris that the tourists frequent.Do remember that everything takes time what with the crowds and traffic and a senior in your group.

I'll add my voice to the anti- Champs Elysee argument. When I made my first trip to Paris in '91 it was a still a wonderful stroll, despte the outlier of American "culture" - a lone Burger King. By my most recent visit (Oct 2015) it had become a nightmare of touristy shops, massive crowds, bumper to bumper traffic, scooters swerving all over the place, etc. The thought of strolling the Champs is about as appealing as "strolling" a U.S. Shopping mall on the day after Thanksgiving. See the Arc d'Triomphe and be done with it.

The catacombs are ok for a second or third visit to Paris, but I wouldn't go out of my way for thousands of skulls and bones dug out of the cemeteries in the late 19th C. A ten year-old might like the idea, but it's another thing to be face to face with the real thing. Why don't you use this time for a boatride on the Seine or a visit to the old Concergerie chateau where Marie-Antoinette was imprisoned.

I will second the idea of a boat ride on the Seine. Its a great way to see the highlights of the city. Even better, go at dusk and see it all lit up beautifully. Enjoy your trip.

It doesn't seem to me that you're building in time for waiting on lines (at the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, Catacombs and the Louvre).
Prepaid tickets let you avoid the line for buying tickets but you still have to wait on a security line at the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre. I also wonder if you'll be able to carry a picnic hamper up in the Eiffel Tower?
I have read contradictory things about waiting in line at the catacombs. Some tours advertise that they do away with waiting in line. I've also read postings in which people were very annoyed to find out that their prepaid tickets didn't prevent them from waiting in the same line as everyone else. We waited (without prepaid tickets) for 3 hours to enter the catacombs when we arrived right around opening time.
You don't need tickets for Notre Dame but the line to get in can get very long around mid-day. We went up in the Notre Dame tower when it opened and were astounded to look down at how long the line was to enter the cathedral. It folded back on itself several times and discouraged us from trying to get in once we descended.

We loved our ride on the Siene! Didn't take it until our third stay in Paris, but the narration was good and the photo opps were excellent.

Kids might get a bit bored at the Louvre, and even adults at 4-5 hours. You might consider something like this Paris Muse tour. They do a great job and it is PRIVATE for your group. Or look at their other Louvre offerings.

I don't understand the Eiffel Tower plan. It's about a mile from the Trocadero metro station to the mid-way point on the Champ de Mars (you cross the Seine and walk passed/under the Tower). Are you planning to go up to the Palais de Chaillot on the way for a good view of the Tower? The Tower lights begin to go 10 minutes or so after sunset and it takes 15 minutes or more (?) until it's fully lit.

We did enjoy our Seine boat ride as well last year. We used Vendettes du Pont Neuf (I hope I spelled that right). We were there in late Sept and went just as the sun was getting low and everything was bathed in a nice golden glow on the return trip. It was about an hour.

What time of year are you planning on visiting?
How "senior" is your mother, and does she (or anyone else) have any mobility issues?

There is no shelter on the Champ de Mars, so if it rains or is chilly, your picnic will be a wasted effort. Place de Trocadero is across the river from the Eiffel Tower - and while there's a good view of it from there, there is very little grass to sit on and no shelter at all. Most people end up sitting on the steps of the Trocadero fountain. People do take champagne and other food items in backpacks, when they go to the top of the Eiffel Tower. A picnic basket might be more than you want to carry, though, so I suggest a plastic totebag that you can throw away.

Is everyone in your party a dedicated art-lover, and will everyone be interested in seeing the same artworks? I think 4 hours or more is an awfully long time to spend in the Louvre, even for art majors. The Louvre is truly enormous, and you won't be able to see even a fraction of what the museum has to offer in 4 hours. I would concentrate on finding out where the things you want to see are located, and either head there as a group or split up and meet at a designated area later on. You can Google the official Louvre website to find out where particular pieces of art are located and how to find them.

The public parcs in Paris close at dusk - the Tuileries might be closing by the time you get out of the Louvre. Might want to visit it beforehand, if it's high on your list of priorities.

Walking tours - no matter how interesting - get tiring after about one hour, especially if you're not used to walking long distances at a stretch while at home. If there are no rest stops programmed during the tour, I doubt everyone will be able to finish it in good shape. If this tour is not already booked, I would look for another that's no more than 2 hours in length. Your feet will thank you.