sjcflorida

My family and I will be traveling this route next month and would like any advice on maximizing our road trip, which will only consist of 6 days We have two boys, ages 8 and 6, so we are trying to make it exciting for them as well. Their only requests for the trip are the Chocolate train and the Eiffel tower. We plan on driving directly from Toulouse to Montreux, Switzerland. We will overnight there, then take the Chocolate train the following day. Any family friendly restaurants to recommend? The next day we will leave Montreux and make our way towards Paris. I would like to stop somewhere between the two cities for the night, possibly a quaint village? We will then make our way to Paris on day 4. My husband and I have visited there many times, and realize 48 hours is barely adequate, but it's amazing what we can squeeze in when in a time crunch. My boys will be happy to see the Eiffel tower and the Louvre, and we should also have time to stroll the Champs Elysees. Would greatly appreciate family dining advice in Paris, as well as any stops we should make heading south back to Toulouse.

nytraveler

I would think kids that age would much prefer a boat ride on the Seine and/or a close up of some Notre Dame gargoyles than much of what they will see in the Louvre (unless you have picked out a couple of departments - ancient egypt?? or ?? - they would like).

StCirq

I can't imagine kids that age enjoying anything about the Champs Elysées, either, unless they like car dealerships.

PalenQ

Though not on the direct route to Montreux a short detour could take you via Chamonix and its awesome glaciers that tumble down right near to town - a short stop for a stroll to the ice could break up a long day

And the road Chamonix to Martigny, on the Rhone Valley is awesomely scenic - so if kids have never experienced high mountains before that is a chance and that route may not take a whole lot longer but would be oh so more scenic - a stopover in Chamonix would be neat - toy-like mountain trains, thrilling aerial gondolas, etc. Martigny is not far up the Rhone Valley from Lake Le Man and Montreux.

Cathinjoetown

That's a fair amount of car time over six days but doable, as they say.

The "fastest" route from Toulouse to Montreux (according to viamichelin) is along the coast, then heading north. It could be incredibly congested in August. Avoid Saturdays. It's indicated as around 8 hours, add at least two hours more to that. www.viamichelin.com

Kids are welcome in almost any restaurant, if you want to go upscale, lunch would probably be best. Only you can judge how long they can sit still. When our grandkids visit we find a big lunch works best, preferably some place with outdoor seating. Dinner is then a small meal.

Young kids might enjoy the Luxembourg Gardens with several activities aimed at kids, the water sculptures outside he Pompidou Centre. agree with St. Cirq on a boat trip or even batobus, which functions more as a water bus along the Seine, stopping at major sites, Notre Dame, Eiffel Tower, etc. www.batobus.com

sjcflorida

Thanks everyone! Great input!

suze

La Rouvenaz is a hotel and popular Italian restaurant, Rue du Marche 1 in Montreux. http://www.rouvenaz.ch/en/