Traveling in Paris and France with 13 and 15 year olds.

What in your opinion are fun things for bright and intelligent teens to do? What do they like to do beside the ipad and iphone? Have you involved them in the planning? Have each one plan a separate day.

What's the general itinerary other than Paris and France; when are you traveling? What are their interests?

Late July- mid August.
Sports: la crosse, soccer, math, Levi robotics, science, trampoline, gymnastics,snow skiing, river rafting, reading, great sense of humor, artistic.
Very kind.

Should say Lego robotics

suggestions you children might like:
go up Eiffel Tower & be sure to see the twinkling lights at night
For Museums - perhaps limit yourself to the Egyptian collection at the Louvre, and the room of Monet waterlilies at the Orangerie.
Check out the Pyramid plaza at the Louvre and walk down the Tuilleries to Place de Concord. perhaps ride the ferris wheel if there.
Paris Sewer tour
Young people seem to love the Catacombs... though I've never been. Probably should not try if they are claustrophobic.
Stroll banks of the Seine and the islands.

climb stairs to top of Notre Dame - at least go inside the cathedral.
they probably will appreciate the stained glass in Ste. Chapelle too
Take Seine boat ride
Luxembourg Garden
Stroll and shop in the Marais
Versailles -- particularly the gardens, queen's hamlet and Trianons - you can rent boats for the canal, rent Segways or bikes to tour the grounds
There are bike tours of the city also and various walking tours -- Paris Walks, Paris Greeters.
And of course, stop in many cafes and boulangeries to sample the great food!

these might be of interest to boys... though great for all.

Cluny Museum
Invalides Army museum
Though you cannot swim in the Seine, there are a lot of public swimming pools in Paris
and the Paris Plage might be going on when you are there.
and you all might enjoy the Canal St. Martin boat cruise - highly recommended.

When in Paris do not miss the Paris Plages on the Bassin de la Villette near the upper end of the Canal St. Martin. There are so many fun activities for families. It is much more extensive than the scattered activities along the Seine in central Paris. On the weekends there are very inexpensive ferrys that take you up to the big park by the Citi de Science and beyond. In 2017 it should start on about July 21 and last for 2+ weeks. I don't see the schedule published yet. It will also give your kids a lot of opportunities to interact with peers.

Our granddaughters also liked renting bicycles from the public bike stations and riding along the river and canals.

A cooking class? SKiing or snowboarding if in season? Exploring castles or Knights Templar castle ruins? Carcassone and a boat trip on Canal du Midi? Mont St. MIchel? Any interest in World War I or II history and battlefields or the Normandy beaches? Cave art? Get the kids involved in the planning.

Paris Disney. They should be rewarded handsomely if they behave while being dragged through boring museums (from a teenager's pov).

Highly recommend a day trip to Veaux-le-Vicomte, a wonderful chateau with a moat and great grounds to explore. The movie Man in the Iron Mask (recommend watching) w/ Leonardo diCaprio was filmed there. Rick describes it and how to get there in his Paris guide. Speaking of his Paris guide, lots of good ideas in there. I've been taking my son to Paris often since he was 11 yo (he's also bright, fun, funny and nice... and 26 now) and he has always loved everything there is to do in Paris... too many to list. We're going to Paris next month and we can't wait.

Fat Tire Bike tours , super fun and easy( first one i did i hadnt been on a bike for decades !!! They will have a ball , and i liked the one to Giverny Monets gardens best as hou are out in the countryside !