Reposting this good question buried in another thread (but omitted first and last sentence): <BR> <BR>Author: Regina ([email protected]) <BR>Date: 3/20/2001, 9:14 am ET <BR> <BR>Message: We are taking a 12-year old and 2 13-year-olds to Paris for one week in April. We don't all see eye-to-eye on how to spend out time. I figure that if I distribute the "boring" stuff throughout the week, intersperced with "fun and neat" stuff, we'll all return alive and maybe even have had a good time. So, help me, would you, plan my week? I've done a lot of reading (books, magazines and Fodors), and determined that we should see Notre Dame, Arch de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Montmartre, Champs Elysees, d'Orsay, Centre Pompidou, the Rodin. I also want to visit at least one "palace," one outdoor (flea?) market, take a ride on the Seine, do some shopping, and, the make the kids happy, hang out a lot....I am sure I've omitted some important things. Please add to the list and help me order it so we don't see too many churches, art museums or other "boring" stuff in the same day. Please suggest good places to "hang out" as well as any other "cool and neat" things to do. Can you remember back to being 13? All I can remember is that my parents never asked me what I wanted to do in Paris when I was 13. (I have suggested the sewers but got 3 pinched noses in reply.)....------------------------------------------------------------------------------- <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR>

But are you Regina? I mean - - I don't mind answering this question here - - but it does deserve some thought - - and will SHE know that it has been re-posted here with this title? <BR> <BR>I'll check back - - might be tomorrow. NYPD Blue comes on in 30 minutes... <BR>

No, I'm not Regina. That's why I called myself "officious intermeddler"! If she checks the site, this should catch her eye, don't you think? And if not, the Q and As may interest others anyway. (No one in PARTICULAR needs to feel obligated to answer. I thought I removed references to any particular poster by deleting first and last sentence. Sorry if I missed one.) <BR> <BR> <BR> cmt

cmt - - I don't want to seem like I am playing games, but I think I want to wait until Regina comes back here. This could have an element of dialogue - - and what if she doesn't come back here for two days? <BR> <BR>For anyone else curious, Regina originally posted this in the thread about "Rex changing his approach" - - which I would be happy to see never get topped again. <BR> <BR>She will most likely come back here looking for THAT thread - - and who knows if she will ever see this one? <BR>

I'm leaving in a few days (yikes!), and would love to get any and all input to this thread before I go. Regina, I'll post my notes when I get back - they may be of interest to you and your kids.

I suspect that there is a good chance that Regina will come back in 24 hours or less. Are you traveling soon with similar age kids, Lynn? Post your own particulars - - I'll surely be doing some writing on this tomorrow (off for the day). <BR>

officiously intermeddling again (fun) <BR>Paris with 13 year old <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR>Author: CR ([email protected]) <BR>Date: 3/19/2001, 11:52 am ET <BR> <BR>Message: I will be on my honeymoon in Paris in early May; my 13 year old son will join us for the last three days of the trip. What sights do you suggest that might particularly interest him? I don't think the museums are great fun for a 13 year old, but would love to hear your opinions or experience if you have travelled to Paris wtih teenagers. Thnaks! <BR> <BR> <BR>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- <BR> <BR> <BR>Author: jane ([email protected]) <BR>Date: 3/19/2001, 12:17 pm ET <BR> <BR>Message: We're leaving for Paris Friday with a 12 year old son. I'll post you when we get back. <BR> <BR> <BR>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- <BR> <BR> <BR>Author: Kathryn ([email protected]) <BR>Date: 3/19/2001, 8:05 pm ET <BR> <BR>Message: The walk to the top of Notre Dame to see the gargoyles was a big hit with 2 14 year old girls as was the Eiffel Tower. Short bursts (1 1/2 hours) at the museums worked out very well. Taking the metro was a kick as was hot chocolate and pastry and Angelina's on Rue de Rivoli. If you want to see my trip report, e-mail me and I will be glad to send it to you. <BR> <BR>Kathryn <BR> <BR> <BR>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- <BR> <BR> <BR>Author: marsha ([email protected]) <BR>Date: 3/19/2001, 9:30 pm ET <BR> <BR>Message: How about the new science museum - Cite des Sciences et de l'Industrie - or the Paris Sewers? Paris street life might be the best bet - for example, you might find some kids having a pick-up soccer game at the Roman amphitheater - Arene de Lutec, or he might like the flea market - Marche aux Puces de St. Ouen. Check out the street artists in Montmartre. On the other hand, my 8 year-old loved the Louvre and the Musee d'Orsay - she had done some reading and had at least one thing she really wanted to see at each museum. The Egyptian antiquities and the underground excavations might be more interesting than 18th century French paintings! <BR> <BR> <BR>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- <BR> <BR> <BR>Author: Lynne ([email protected]) <BR>Date: 3/19/2001, 11:26 pm ET <BR> <BR>Message: Marsha, is there any reason why you suggest the Marche aux Puces de St. Ouen rather than any of the other markets? I, for one, am having a little trouble differentiating one from the other. <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- <BR> <BR> <BR>Author: Marsha ([email protected]) <BR>Date: 3/20/2001, 9:38 pm ET <BR> <BR>Message: Lynne: I suggested Marche aux Puces because it is the largest and a little classier (?), and probably the best known. <BR> <BR> <BR>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR>

Just returned with a 13-year-old. You have plenty of ideas already - but..definitely the 400 steps up the tower to the top of Notre Dame. Get a Museum Pass that's good at the Louvre, D'Orsay, Picasso, Pompidou, more...and go to the head of the line. Amazing. Eiffel Tower at night when it's all lit up and less crowded. The ferris wheel in Jardin des Tuileries; my daughter also enjoyed renting the lovely toy sailboat and pushing it with stick in pond though it is a younger crowd. Department stores and looking at make-up! Chocolate crepes. A few years ago we went to the Museum of Natural History near Jardin des Plantes. Interesting. I wanted to see the Mosque and have couscous cooked in an earthenware pot - but we didn't get there. Monet's home in Giverney (1 hour train trip, if nice can rent bikes for trip to his home, or walk & picnic, or taxi). Closed til April I heard, though. Take photos of dogs. Enjoy!

My recommendation for traveling with kids to a new city like Paris, London, etc. is to take an orientation bus tour. There are many such bus tours leaving the Rue de Rivoli area as I recall. In just a couple hours (particularly if jet-lagged) you can get your bearings to this new place. The kids can then spot places/form an opinion about what they'd like to come back to during the rest of your stay which helps them feel some influence over the choices. Beyond this, I would add that a day trip to Versailles might thrill them. Also, in the city, near Notre Dame and San Chapelle is the Conciergerie, which played a big role as a prison during the guillotine era of the French revolution. Kids this age seem to like that sort of gruesome theme for some reason! Also, re: Monmartre area, visiting the Sacre Coeur in the late afternoon before sunset is really 'neat' due to the many locals and tourists gathered on the steps sharing the view over the rooftops of the city, many hanging out with guitars, dogs, etc., plus the church itself is lovely.

Has anyone visited Versailles with kids. I plan to go with my 9 and 13-year-old, and I think they would like it, but wondered if there is a long, boring tour, or something else that would put them off. Thanks*

Specific answer to [email protected] - - some "preview" advice from the answer I am planning to write for Regina and (I think there was someone else) - - Sue? who is leaving soon. <BR> <BR>This comes primarily from our youngest daughter who spent three weeks in Paris (age 11 at the time, in 1995). Yes, she liked Versailles a lot (I should have hoped so, but it was nice to hear her say it). She also liked biking in a "big park" (doesn't remember - - Bois de Boulogne? Jardins de Luxembourg? Parc de la Place des Vosges?) <BR> <BR>She also recommends things that burn up energy - - climbing up (at least) one level (or two) at Eiffel Tower - - I was not aware that there are neat plaques along the way giving little bits of trivia history (I have never done the climb) - - for example, did you know that someone has ridden a mountain bike all the way up ET? You might not want to dosclose this to your kids ahead of time - - let them "find" them. Surprises are fun. <BR> <BR>Similar recommendation for going to the top of Arc de Triomphe. <BR> <BR>I hope Regina comes back - - though I must admit I am feeling a little apprehensive about writing an aswer that plans an entire week in one city. As I said before, I am less a city person, and I have never spent an entire week in one city with our own kids. Very different from the group of fifth graders I accompanied - - they went home to their respective individual (French host) families every night, as did I. <BR>

I'm back! I have enjoyed all these posts. Lots of good info...now the hard part is sifting through it and developing a reasonable itinerary. Looking forward to your notes, too, Rex. Don't worry about the 1-week time constraint. If we don't do it all this time, I'm sure we'll be back! <BR>Thanks, again.