Hi ! My husband, I and our 2 year old are planning a trip to Paris in June (2nd week). We will be there for about 8 days and want a relaxing (hard with a toddler!) and a medium-paced vaction. What we're interested in- 1. Sight seeing but not too much touristy stuff 2. Budget friendly-kid friendly things to do 3. Musuems but not too much 4. French countryside
5. Wine! Can you suggest an itinerary that fits these preferences? We want to stay in Paris but are debating whether to stay there for the entire 8 days or split our time between Paris and countryside. Also if you're suggesting outside Paris , can you recommend accomodations as well? We're looking for budget friendly accomodations! :)
Posted by
Omaha, NE, US
53 posts
Our kids (4 yrs old at the time) loved the Luxembourg Gardens in Paris. There is so much to see and do there! Pack a picnic lunch and you could spend several hours or all day fun things for the kids and great people watching for you and hubby. Don't miss the old wooden carrousel near the playground. For trips outside the city, we found having a car with kids makes things so much easier. We kept picnic supplies (i.e. paper towels/plates, bottled water, plastic silverware, etc) in the trunk and managed to hit plenty of farmer's markets to buy food. Plus if they got tired we could just go back to the car and they would nap in their car seat while we drove to either the next destination or just enjoyed the scenery. When they were younger it also meant we didn't have to haul around a day's worth of supplies in the diaper bag. We could just keep extra diapers and wipes in the car and carry one or two in our bag. Bon Voyage!
Posted by
San Francisco/Marin County
9436 posts
Luxembourg Gardens are my top choice for a 2 yo. Wonderful playground, Marionette shows, donkey rides, the carousel Julie mentioned, cafes, bathrooms, music on weekends... my favorite place in Paris. In the Bois de Boulogne (the park on west side of Paris) is the Jardin d'Acclimatation... a wonderful, old fashioned amusement park perfect for a 2 yo. Train through the park, animals, 2 yo friendly rides, a guy that makes balloon animals, lots of fun things to see and do.
Posted by
OP
san francisco
10 posts
Hi Julie and Susan, Thanks so much for your recommendations! They were very helpful! Julie - did you do day trips from Paris? Any recommendations for interesting places to see around Paris and return the same day? Your recommendation to rent a car is noted, just wondering where we can go..
Posted by
London, United Kingdom
4684 posts
Paris is too far north for wine growing. The nearest wine area that can be visited as a day trip is Champagne: search on the board for Rheims or Epernay.
Posted by
Aurora, Il, USA
198 posts
There are lots of day trips one can take from Paris, but with a toddler in tow, well you're a better judge of what would work than I would be. However, this is a website and book called "An Hour from Paris" that has many ideas about day trips. Also, you could train out to Giverny and see Monet's gardens, which should be pretty in June.