Have been to Paris twice before, and put together a four-day trip with our son for his 16th birthday mid-January. He's been once before but doesn't know about this trip (yet) . .. We're renting an apartment in Ile Ste Louis; I'm looking for any suggestions for not-in-the-guidebooks experiences. He enjoys museums in small doses, and is interested in international relations and military history. Is the sewer tour worthwhile? Are any of the WWII military sites within a reasonable day trip? Any clues about weather then?<BR><BR>Thanks for any suggestions!

How about the flea market on Saturday/Sunday morning, take the train to the end, have breakfast at one of the little places there where all the dealers eat, it is funky enough for a kid to like and hunt out perhaps a treasure that he can start his own collection from-mine collects antique tins now.There are all kinds of people milling about so it is interesting..and on the outskirts of the city, so not so tourist feeling..

there is a post here somewhere about the day trips to the beaches of Normandy that are highly recommended. Try searching Normandy beaches.

NY Mom - exactly where is the flea market? Sounds like fun, but need an exact location.

Harriet,<BR>There is the Army Museum at Les Invalides, which is also where Napoleon is buried. Have not been, hopefully others can comment.<BR><BR>Could you provide some details on the appartment you are renting? I am also considering renting next summer, and Ile St Louis would be perfect!<BR><BR>Thanks, and enjoy!

I did forget to give directions didn't I sorry-<BR>You take the metro to the end of the line-it is the Porte de Clignancourt.When you get off the train, you turn left and walk a couple of blocks, you can't miss it-it is very big.It is the MARCHE AUX PUCES DE ST-OUEN better known as PUCES DE CLIGNANCOURT.between Porte de St- Ouen and Porte de Clignancourt..You can get better directions from someone else, it has been a year since I went to the flea (puce) .They are made up of smaller markets and have a lot of stuff, some junk some really good stuff, most of it expensive,but then you will discover something that you not only like but is affordable, making it a sort of treasure hunt...we enjoy it..I hope you do too~

Sorry again-still don't know my right from my left<BR>When you get off of the train and come out of the metro - turn RIGHT.....

Thanks for suggestions; we did Clignacourt and Invalides first trip, so I'm looking for something that we've not done before . . . or maybe we'll just wander around!<BR><BR>The apartment rental company I use is www.paris-sleeps.com; we used them on our second trip (when we took kids)3 yrs ago, and had a great apt. in Latin Quarter; the one we're using this time is a studio on Ile Ste Louis, which my brother used (and raved about) last spring. I like this company because there is no security deposit and everything is included - even breakfast treats, a bottle of wine, etc. Email me if you'd like more info after you check out the website. <BR><BR>

Me again - the Normandy idea is perfect, and seems like it could easily be done in a day. I did the search and there are excellent suggestions there; if anyone has used the retired British officer as a tour guide I'd appreciate your comments, as well as whether it's more time-efficient to take a train or one of the Paris tour companies to get to the historic sights - or if anyone has info on hiring a driver in Paris . . .<BR><BR>Again, merci beaucoup!

Harriet,<BR><BR>Take your 16 yr old boy to La Cite des Sciences, at La Villete. He will enjoy,I 'm sure.<BR><BR>http://www.paris.org/Musees/Cite/<BR><BR>http://www.cite-sciences.fr/english/indexFLASH.htm<BR><BR>Have a great time in Paris, both of you.<BR><BR>Regards,<BR><BR>S

See if the "Pari-rollers" will be out on Friday night... this is a meeting of rollerbladers who take to the streets of Paris, w/ police escort, and roll from 10:00pm - 1:00am... My friend witnessed this - thought there were 'thousands' of skaters storming past her.. Here is a website with their schedule/route (I don't think it is updated until nearly that day)..http://www.pari-roller.com/

Me again. I definitely concur with Mike above on the Musee d'Armee, in the Invalides. I chose it for something different for my husband, and I thought it was extremely interesting. All kinds of antique weapons, rooms full of suits of armor (even for children and horses), a wing for the WW's... Exactly up your son's alley if he's interested in military history. Another cool thing is the catacombs in the 14th - they've just been improved for touring; we went down in 1997 and it was interesting - also enjoyed browsing thru Pere LaChaise cemetery. Make a 'game' out of locating celebrity sites..?

I would take him to The eiffel Tower on a sunday to see the roller bladers - go on top of the eiffel tower. I'd also take him to the Musee D'orsay to see the Van goghs. I'd take him to Julien for a nice meal - steak, bernaise sauce, pommes frites, and profiteroles.<BR><BR>Do the Bateaux Mouches and let him have some wine - take cheese, bread, pate, and fruit.<BR><BR>Take him to the Notre Dame on a sunny day. Take him to a shop that sells lead soldiers and war memorabilia.<BR><BR>Take him jogging at the Luxembourg Gardens on Sunday or Saturday morning. Now that is a happening scene.<BR><BR>And I know this sounds wierd, but we really enjoyed the giant carousel on the Place de La concorde. It is am amazing view. Might as well buy two rounds of tickets.<BR><BR>Oh, he might like to go to the top of the arc de Triomphe. It's pretty spectacular.

Harriett-<BR>Glad the search function worked for you- it wasn't working for me yesterday when I responded but I knew I had seen those threads.<BR><BR>Thank you for passing on the apartment info. I am definately going to do that next time. They look fantastic!!

How about the Egouts de Paris (the Paris sewers)? All the reviews I read say it's pretty interesting.

You may wish to stroll across Pont de Sully south from the Ile St-Louis to the Institue du Monde Arab, just over the bridge.(1 rue des Fosses St-Bernard)(5th). The architecture, especially the exterior light screens that open and close like the irises of eyes, should fascinate your son. There is also a museum and restaurant with a view nonpareil. You may also enjoy the wax museum, Musee Grevin, 10 Blvd. Monmarte (9th), featuring an enormous array of figures representing many fields of human endeavor (including rock and roll), the Pere Lachaise cemetery, 16 rue du Repos (Jim Morrison, Oscar (was) Wilde, Fredric Chopin...)(11th),and numerous luminaries who don't give autographs and the Catacombs, 1 Place Denfert-Rochereau (14th), with bones of souls who have time to spare.

Harriett,<BR><BR>You may also be interested in the Cluny Museum and the Arene de Lutece. The Arene is an excavated roman arena, neat spot for lunch and imagining what happened there 2000 years ago. The Cluny museum is built around old Roman baths. Some neat stuff in there too. Another interesting feature that I found in Paris are these plaques that you see mounted on walls. On them they list the name, age and date of a French soldier killed on that spot defending Paris during its liberation in WWII. Kind of a tangible reminder of what it was all about. I know there is one on the Left Bank, just east of Notre Dame, on the wall lining the street above the Seine. Interesting...

Thanks so much for all the excellent suggestions! Because we crammed so much into first trip w/kids, we've done a lot of these before, but haven't done Normandy, Cluny, Arena, Bateau Mouches, Science Museum, Institut du Monde Arab, les Egouts or rollerblading - or jogging in Luxembourg Gardens, for that matter -- so these new ideas should pretty much fill up our four days -- and I'll be checking out the giant carousel for myself, if the boys (big & medium-size)don't want to go. And whatever we don't get to this time I'll save for when we go back to do Paris Marathon . . .<BR><BR>I wonder if there's some way to 'save' this with a different heading so that all of us parents-of-teens will find wonderful things to do when the opportunity presents itself . .. this is truly a superb list! <BR><BR>PS -- I'm still looking for a way to do the Normandy excursion at a price of less than $150 per person, which is what the Paris tours run - almost more than our apartment for four nights! Any other suggestions would be most appreciated . . .

Harriett- You run the Paris Marathon? My boyfiend just did the Seattle Marathon and I suggested he look into the Paris one for next year. What do you think of it?

Harriett, another vote for the Musee de l'Armee and the church, which has battle flags from every war ever fought (I think). I found Fountainbleau very interesting with Napoleon memorabilia (farewell letter to his troops, etc.). (very short bed) Also up in the Arc de Triomphe is a military museum which my husband found very interesting and on top a great view of Paris.