Four weeks in France with young children

Our kids were a bit older, 6 & 8, on our first trip to France. We loved it. I suppport taking them. And again. We have taken five trips in the last six years and I have great memories. Look for parks and fun kid activities. The apartments were a fantastic way to go. The kids met others from around the world in their travels - something they will never forget. Jim

Our kids were a bit older, 6 & 8, on our first trip to France. We loved it. I suppport taking them. And again. We have taken five trips in the last six years and I have great memories. Look for parks and fun kid activities. The apartments were a fantastic way to go. The kids met others from around the world in their travels - something they will never forget. Jim

We took four kids to Germany and Italy for only two weeks a year and a half ago. Our youngest girls were five and two (almost three.) We were on the move a lot more and survived, and I have no regrets. My now six year old is still using the German she picked up on the trip (we spent more time in Germany than Italy and with relatives.) Go, go, go! If you would be comfortable going to a month away at destination at home (beach, mountains, new city), you will be ok doing this with your girls!

We are planning going to France and back to Germany this year, and the girls are excited for another trip.

We took our kids to Normandy and Brittany when they were 4 and 6. And July is a great time for that area. It's not going to be as hot in Northern France as it would be in the Provence. And it's easier on the kids than Paris. Eating out with little kids in a casual creperie is easy on your wallet and fun for the kids. They don't need nor want a fancy 3 star experience.

We had only two weeks. We were driving from Germany and broke up the long drive by spending a few hours in Amiens to look at the cathedral. Our 6 year old daughter was absolutely enamoured with the gory paintings of John the Baptist (you know, the ones where he holds his head under his arm ...) and from thereon dragged us into every little church we came across over the next couple of weeks. Of course, that girl is 14 now and would be mortified by the idea of taking her parents to see a church ;-)

Our first base was a B&B just outside Dol-de-Bretagne, a 13th century Norman farmhouse with great atmosphere. We did daytrips from there to Mt St Michel, Vitre (the castle there had a very unique museum with tons of stuffed FROGS!!! which the kids found very cool), Fougeres, St Malo and Dinard.

The B&B http://www.manoirdelagrandemettrie.com/

The "Frog Museum" http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b7cf07b3127ccec2e1e1e674fe00000010O00AbtG7do2YuWIPbz4E/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D720/ry%3D480/

From there we drove along the Emerald Coast, stopped at Fort La Latte and settled in our 2nd base for another week: a rented house close to a beach near Morlaix. We spent some time on the beach, went to see a tiny little touring circus that stopped in the neighbouring village, and did more daytrips to see the Cote de Granite Rose, Carnac and a few villages with parish closes like Lampaul-Guimiliau.

http://pagesperso-orange.fr/gmp.morin/

On the way back to Germany we stopped in Bayeux to see the famous tapestry. It looks like a cartoon and is thus quite accessible for children.

cont.

While I mentioned that July is a great time to see Northern France it is the time Europeans go on vacation as well and affordable family accommodations book up early. You should make your reservations asap.

Good luck on your trip! My daughter and I found Paris to be one of the cleanest cities we had ever visited, which would matter to me if I was taking small children. I don't have much advice for you, but I do have a question. You say your children are in French immersion schools. Could you tell me how one finds this sort of school in the U.S.A.? Thanks and have a great trip!

Absolutely take your kids. People act shocked when I talk about taking my young kids to Europe, I don't think they realize that Europeans have kids, too. It's not all churches and museums over there. With taking a slow trip, like you'll be doing, you'll have plenty of time to hit lots of playgrounds. I tell everyone that daily ice cream breaks are a must.

I can't talk a lot about France, we've only taken our son to Colmar, which was a great place for a 2-year-old (which he was at the time). We were looking at going to the Dordogne last year, but took a family trip to Ireland instead. I'd still love to spend a week in the area there, though.

Maureen is right. Ice cream breaks work all over the world. This picture was taken in Vitre and definitely a good proof of that:

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b7cf07b3127ccec2e1cf95749a00000010O00AbtG7do2YuWIPbz4E/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

btw this picture was taken in JULY and the kids' clothing gives you an idea of the changeable weather you'd find in Northern France.

In July and August, beaches are created along the Seine. Sand, beach chairs, etc. There are young children everywhere in France, in parks, playgrounds, cafes, etc. You might want some sort of stroller for the 3-yr old. You could take at least one "comfort" item for each child--a toy, blanket, etc. Some French children as old as 4 or 5 can be seen walking around with a pacifier in their mouths.

I don't want to rain on your parade, but the time to book apartments, gites, and cottages for July was January. Of course, not all are booked already, but enough that you will no longer have the best choices or the best prices.

That said, I think it is great that you are taking the children (as we do) and that you prefer rentals (as we do).

Last year we spent 30 days in France including a week-long rental in Provence, Dordogne, and Paris.

The places we stayed in Provence and Dordogne are already fully booked. The Paris apartment;

http://www.rentalfrance.com/index.php?location=huchette

is about 1/2 booked for July.

Mariel, I just googled "French Immersion schools in California" and a long list came up.

Thanks everyone for your replies, at least I don't think I'm too insane!

Mariel, a google search is indeed he only way I know of to find a french immersion school. They aren't too common. We live in New Orleans where some of the French schools are sponsored by the French government. We learned of the schools here initially through friends and put our eldest daughter in a private french immersion school. Our youngest now goes there, and the older one goes to a public charter French immersion school -- public French schools are very rare in the U.S. It's really a wonderful experience.

Be warned, though, French immersion means different things. some are accredited by the French government (as our are) while others simply offer intense French programs!

Bon Chance!

My kids are the same ages as yours, and we had a great time in Paris last year. Before we went, we got "City Walks with Kids: Paris" a stack of about 50 cards, each with a kid-friendly activity in Paris on it. Some were playgrounds; others were museums that had particular appeal for kids. Most of the places were adult-friendly as well.

Another tip: when we go to museums, we go straight to the gift shop and buy some postcards or something else showing some of the works of art in the museum, then while my husband and I are enjoying the art, the kids have a scavenger hunt of their own (at our sides, of course).

I don't think they are too young - but only you know if your 3 year old is the more flexible type. And really, the worst part would be the plane ride, everything else you can do the same as you can here (i.e. heading "home" if she needs a nap, eating early, bed early, realizing that she can't walk all day long - stroller?)

But particulars to European/France travel - I too echo the idea of Normandy because for one thing all the sites are outside. French families are on the beaches and kids are climbing in and out of the old bunkers. They aren't running wild in the cemeteries of course, but some of the things we enjoyed with our slightly older kids were akin to being in a national park instead of a "museum".

WE also very much liked the Dordogne region - LOTS of families there, ALL outdoorsy activities - canoeing down the river, climbing around old castle ruins, very fun and easy on kids - but interesting enough for adults (and my kids thought it was great too).

We also were in Brittany and again, there were lots of family "resorts". We had a family room in a great resort where we swam, climbed and then had set dinner at night, kids too, very fancy but they loved it.

And we did all our family travels in July or August so don't let that deter you. But it WILL be hot and crowded, plan accordingly to do less, not more, when you travel with young ones.

Also, forgot to say - it was WONDERFUL having a self-catering rental for 1 of our 3 weeks, while we were in the Dordogne. We loved staying in a little village, getting fresh bread every morning from the bakery down the street (great chance for your kids to speak French!). I know there are lots of internet rental places but we used this:

http://www.frenchconnections.co.uk/

Rented directly from an owner, ended up staying in a piece of an old chapel in Belves. It was a great way to travel with kids!

We found a very nice rental in Samur en Auxois. BUT, we are concerned that we would be bored for the whole month, especially if we didn't have a car (and we really don't want the expense of a car the entire month) Is anyone familiar with this village?