Myra, you've inspired me... I'm now working on my TR to London and Paris - I know you know the highlights, but it is always a good record to remind me.

We need to encourage other friends that traveling with kids CAN be fun and they like to travel and it is worth.

that's my personal PSA for the day!

Yay Surfmom! Your TR will inspire other parents to travel with kids, because - amazingly - it is fun. We're already talking about where we'd all like to go next.

Your advice was a huge help; I'm glad you'll now share it (and pictures?) with the masses.

p.s. Baseball season is almost here. Ready for a rematch? :)

Finally! The 3rd installment of our very long, 3rd day in Paris.

After their stellar behavior touring the Louvre, we ended the day playing in a few different parks, met a man who fought in the American Legion during WW2, and tried to outrun a thunderstorm...

<b> Paris parks and Thunderstorms </b>
http://bit.ly/fb4UjD

I can't wait to start writing about what comes next. The Pompideu center gave my kids a lesson on a woman's anatomy that they'll never forgot. Hopefully, that will be done next week.

Thanks for sticking with me!
~Myra

Thanks for the latest installment! I had just read surfmom's TR which at the moment is just above yours and saw your comment to her. I was going to tell you to hurry up with day 3 and there it was--instant gratification! thanks!

Lovely to read this installment Myra.

Looking forward to the next one!

Loving your trip report!!!! Aren't Parisian playgrounds fantastic?!?!?! We took my older daughter to Paris when she was 2, and the first day we took her to Gallerie Lafayette and let her pick out a new toy (baby doll and umbrella stroller)-- so she was excited to play with her new toys every night. But after 7 days, she got really punk-- she even threw up, we took her to a doctor, and there was no discernible illness-- we have always wondered if it was jet lag/homesickness. But I agree, none of the travel websites talk about this-- which I am guessing is much more common than is talked about!!!

Sorry this has taken so long, but I do promise to finish. I've been derailed by a serious family illness (not the kids). And after many hours spent running back and forth to the hospital, dealing with worry, anxiety, stress - I'm beat. My creative juices have run dry.

Looking forward to the day that I can have my life back, and get back to reliving my Paris trip.

~M

I'm in the process of planning our first trip to Paris/London with 4 kids this summer. I'm enjoying your stories, very insightful and humorous. I love your travel blog and now my 15 yr. old daughter is enjoying it too. Look forward to more stories. Your pics are great.

Thanks Sparkle!

I was 15 yr old when I took my first international trip with my Mom to Scotland. That experience was a huge factor in my love of travel. What ages are your other kids?

Mebe, Sorry you've had a stressful period. Let us know when you write more. Hope things get better.

I thought I was open minded when it came to my children seeing nudity. But I'd never seen anything like the elles@centrepompidou exhibit in the Pompidou before. It was an eye-opening experience -- for everyone. Perhaps I'm not as open-minded as I thought.:)

"Its one thing for kids to see naked ladies beautified through the eyes of the Renaissance. It’s another to see naked ladies interpreted by Modern Art, which in this case, meant they were garishly bright, and spread-eagle..."

<b>Navigating Nudity: Kids at the Pompidou Center </b>

http://tinyurl.com/4qv43kk

I'm afraid of heights. It all started 16 years ago while standing on a cliff in Hawaii...

<b> Facing Fear: Climbing the Arc de Triomphe </b>

http://tinyurl.com/3sls7rg

I'm bookmarking this for when I have plenty of time to read it slowly and savor the photos.'

Going to Paris with DH in the fall, and your tips about kids in Paris basically helps with husbands also - they need exercise, feeding at the right time, scheduling -- ya know... (and sometimes he just wants to go home!)

This report is just fabulous, and thank you for all the time you have to put in to inform and amuse us fodorites.

Taconictraveler - thank you for the compliment. I love traveling, and I love writing down my memories (the good and bad!)

I agree - husbands are a lot like kids. :)

Thanks for reading
~Myra

To answer your question from March(sorry, I haven't been on in awhile) the ages of my kids are 2 girls, 15 & 7; and 2 boys, 12 & 9. I've been busy booking all aspects of our trip. We're staying in a hotel in London, as we won't be there as long as Paris. In Paris we found an apartment so we're excited about that. We booked our Eurostar tickets, so the planning is moving forward. Can't wait to leave, the big day is June 17th.

My favorite meal in Paris, wasn't what I expected.

<b> Curry Couscous in Luxembourg Gardens </b>

http://tinyurl.com/3bpar59

More English speaking people need to learn that "couscous" in French is the name of the stew and that the semolina is just a small detail.

mebe- I loved the latest post. It really shows how the little moments when we travel can have the greatest impact.

kerouac- As for the couscous, she refers to the full description of the dish "Sri Lankan couscous with a legume curry" in the post so what exactly are you taking issue with here?

Hello folks

I have two more sections finished, and thought I'd share them here.

The first is about our experience in Luxembourg Gardens. My daughter is still talking about the playground. Travel tip to parents: go here! There are many activities to keep kids busy (and if kids are busy, parents are happy!): renting toy boats, merry-go-rounds, puppet shows, extraordinary playground, and plenty of room for little legs to run. When we go back to Paris in the future, we're heading here first.

<b> Luxembourgh Gardens </b>
http://tinyurl.com/3asvhnm

The second link is our experience going up the Eiffel Tower. Honestly, I would have skipped this, but the kids insisted - no demanded! - we see Paris from the Eiffel Tower. A big bonus having kids - they force you to do things you wouldn't otherwise do.

But! Learn from my mistake -- buy your tickets in advance through their website http://www.tour-eiffel.com/ We didn't and wasted 90 minutes in line.

I also talk about our experience shopping in Rue Cler.

<b> Up and Quickly Over the Eiffel Tower </b>
http://tinyurl.com/42l979q

Thanks for reading
~M

It took me awhile (only a 18 months or so...) but I finally finished writing about my trip to Paris with three kids. I've been posting only on my blog, but thought I'd share the last post here.

It was our last night in Paris, and it hit me like a ton of bricks that I forgot to take the kids to see the Eiffel Tower twinkle at night. My four-year-olds reaction was priceless.

I hope our adventures inspire other parents to try traveling with their kids. It's never boring, and you will see the world from a different perspective.

<b> Our Last Real Moment in Paris: The Eiffel Tower at Night</b>

http://tinyurl.com/867ylno

As always, thanks for reading. :)
Myra