We made a last-minute (for us) decision to take our 10-year-old son on his first trip to Europe, at the end of September, flying into London and out of Paris. I'm very excited for all that he will get to experience.

We have 11 days, including our arrival day (VERY early in the am), but not our departure day (early afternoon). Us grownups have been to London several times (but a long time ago) and Paris a number of times.

I'd love suggestions to help me direct my thinking on our itinerary. Son loves cities; we do too, but would also like (prefer) to spend some time in the French countryside. And I'd like him to experience more of French life than just the city (already decided the English/British countryside will have to wait). BUT there's so much to do in London and Paris that I'm having a hard time squeezing time from those locations (maybe day trips are a solution?). AND, where in France if outside Paris? And LASTLY, I'd also like to go somewhere that we haven't been to before. Tall order - that's why I'm having analysis paralysis. (BTW, hubby feels we can fit in countryside, probably the Loire, if we want, but doesn't feel strongly; son would probably choose the cities only, but he doesn't get final say.)

More details: we grownups like people-watching and cafe-sitting; museums are a big draw for all of us (son's initial "must-see" list for London includes the British Museum, the National Gallery and both Tates); we do a lot of walking; and we're huge foodies (son is too). Not into shopping. Outside of Paris, we've been to the Dordogne (LOVED it), Provence (twice), Loire Valley, Normandy/Brittany (just me, not hubby), and Burgundy.

Looking forward to hearing from one and all...

I would spend 5 days in London and 5 in Paris with a day traveling between. You can always take day trips from Paris to Versailles, Chartres or even the Loire.

There is so much to do and see in London and Paris that it seems a shame to shorten your time there but if you really want to visit rural France, I can highly recommend a trip we took a couple of years ago. We flew into London, took the train and ferry to Normandy and then to Paris. We spent 4 days in Normandy, which would shorten your time in London and Paris considerably but you could probably do it in 3. We stayed in Bayeux, a charming town and very convenient to WWII sights.

Hi lex,

>... son would probably choose the cities only,...<

With only 11 days for both London and Paris, I go with your son.

Any more comments? I'm recognizing that a city-only trip may be the way to go this time, and I've reviewed old posts for some possible day trips from Paris. Are there any that people might recommend as providing a good contrast to Paris (a more country-like town?) Names I've collected are Chartres, Giverny, Versailles, Troyes, Fontainebleau, Auvers-sur-Oise, Vaux-le-Vicomte, Senlis and Chantilly. We would, at the most, go to Versailles and one other place (on different days). Or maybe skip Versailles (can't do everything) but go to Windsor or Hampton Court and someplace outside Paris.

I think a 10 year old boy would be intrigued by the invasion beaches and museums. You can see a lot of Normandy on a day trip.

Chantilly and Vincennes offer more interesting castles than Versailles.

Futuroscope, south of Tours, would be fun, as would Disneyland (of course).

If you take the last train of the day from London to Paris, you don't waste a sightseeing day enroute.