I am going to be with my three grandchildren (ages 8 - 12) in Sceaux, Ile-De-France, just a short walk to the metro. They will have been there already for 3 weeks doing all the tourist things with their parents. Does anyone have any suggestions of activities we could do? I will be with them for 10 days. I have been in Paris a short time before, speak some French and I am comfortable on the metro and buses.
Posted by
San Francisco/Marin County
9436 posts
There's quite a lot, and Rick has a good amount in his Paris guide, but the two I'm very familiar with (besides Paris Disney) are 1) the Luxembourg Gardens - a beautiful park with a great playground that I think your grandkids would really enjoy. My son loved it there. Not only is it a fun place to play, but they will get to interact with other kids from Paris and all over the world. The LG aslo has donkey rides, a carousel, marionette shows, 2 cafes, tennis, basketball, etc. 2) the Jardin D'Acclimatation in the Bois de Boulogne. It's an old fashioned amusement park for kids - without any "thrill" rides - it has bumper cars, train, trampolines, animals, playground, science hall, and lots of fun stuff for kids.
Posted by
Montpelier
71 posts
If they haven't been already, take them to the Catacombs. It's kind of dark and creepy though. A timid 8 yo might not like it.
Posted by
victoria, Canada
11507 posts
Susan the first time I went to France I was 10, my sister was 8. We stayed just outside Paris with my grandmother for almost 3 months.The first two-three weeks or so of sightseeing were ok,, but I remember eventually complaining I didn.t want to go into Paris all the time. I liked playing at local parks, walking down by river, and especially liked going to an outdoor pool .Since kids will have been there for 3 weeks already I think you are very wise in searching out some ordinary things to do. Perhaps google search for swimming pool near you,, most kids like that for a down day. Also, they do play some movies in english,, look for the VO ( stands for Version Orginale,, meaning usually english) on a kids movie.. thats always a nice quiet afternoon activity if kids are getting burnt out . I also like visit places we could explore a bit, old ruins and such,, but I imagine without a car this may be difficult for you.
Posted by
Los Angeles, California
1986 posts
Its not my style- but some of the cemeteries are interesting. There are also a number of carousels in little corners and parks in Paris in Summer. Can you still swim in the Seine? Isnt there a "beach" near the small Statue of Liberty? Younger kids can sail boats in Tuileries
Posted by
victoria, Canada
11507 posts
Seine is dirty, no swimming there. Beach set up in Paris ( Paris Plage is only for short period of time,, I think mid July to mid or late August) .
Posted by
Portlandia
3313 posts
How about taking them on the St Martin canal boat tour that goes to the Cite des Sciences and then go to the science museum there? There's also an enormous dragon slide nearby.