I posted earlier this winter asking for tips on Paris with my one-year-old. But since then, my brother's family has decided to join us, and their daughter is three. Any favorite spring activities with a preschooler? We think she'll love Giverny, the parks, and a boat ride on the Seine. But we'd love to hear anything you might have enjoyed.
Thank you!
Posted by
victoria, Canada
11507 posts
I think you have it well covered.. parks, and boat rides ( Giverny is not really going to thrill a three year old.. there is no place to run,, its crowded and you generally just file along in a crowd.. yes.. very pretty.. but not a "park" where she can play. Still a nice day out of city I suppose.. and you cant plan everything around the kids..
There is also a visit to Jardin des Plantes in Paris.. theres a small zoo and a labybrinth..
Posted by
Chicago
8050 posts
A perfect spot for a 3 year old and the one year old might enjoy it too is the Jardin d'Acclimatation in the Bois de Bologne. It is an old fashioned amusement park well designed for pre-school age kids. Elsewhere in the Bois de Bologne you can rent rowboats and picnic. You can see our visit here:
https://janettravels.wordpress.com/2010/05/29/monday-in-the-bois-with-ed/
If you are in Paris in late summer, there is usually a small carnival in the Tuilleries and you can also rent model boats to sail on the fountain pool. The Tuilleries is a nice park with food services and pony rides and playgrounds. Because it is adjacent to the Louvre, it is a good place for one parent to take the kids when they have had enough of the Louvre while the others spend more time in the museum.
Posted by
Long Beach, California, USA
3391 posts
Luxembourg Gardens has some things she would definitely enjoy! There is a traditional, French puppet show several times a day, a carousel, a pony ride, and two nice play areas for kids. My favorite thing for small kids are the little sailboats in the Grand Basin. For a small fee you can rent boats from a little cart and the children can send them across the water with a stick, run to the other side, and send them across again. Lots of fun! When my son was 7, and we were in Paris for a month, we loved going to the park and spending time there. The three year old will love it!
Here is a link to all of the puppet and marionette shows in Paris in case she likes it and you want to take her to others as well.
This is a link to another part of the same website that has loads of information about taking children to Paris, even where to rent gear so you don't have to take it along on the plane!
Have fun!
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
Lonely Planet guides have good suggestions for kids' activities.
Posted by
OP
3 posts
Thank you for all the suggestions!