Hi, I'm still in the process of planning my family trip to Paris this fall. Any help on the few queries below would be really appreciated.

I want to visit the George Pompidou and let the kids play somewhere in that playground in or near Forum Les Halles. However, I've read a few warnings about the area. Which area exactly should I avoid? I'm bringing my two kids along so if I'm putting them at certain risk, I'd rather avoid this area altogether.

On the Chatelet metro station, should I avoid this area too at night? RATP has me changing trains here back from Disneyland Paris and we're not planning to leave Disneyland until closing time.

On paris parks particularly Jardin de Luxembourg: what will I miss apart from the puppet show if I don't go there on Wed, Sat or Sunday? It seems like it gets very crowded on these days. Should we go on a less busy day?

Jardin de Lux is huge and I don't see how it could ever be 'very crowded'. It's a beautiful park-garden, good for strolling, resting, contemplation, people-watching... sometimes you can rent the tiny sailboats and sticks that the kids use to push the boat around the big fountain.

The kids playground is in front of St Eustache, nice small park there, and is active and open, nice in the daytime. I can't see any risk there during busy daytime hours.

At night, there are sometimes people loitering around Forum des Halles and it may feel a little deserted, but you wouldn't be out w/ kids then anyway.

I don't know how Chatelet/les Halles RER stop is at nighttime.

In the Marais, I'd also add the Place des Vosges as a nice area you he kids..and you! There are swings and slides in the centre of the Place, and good restos and shopping along the arcade. Very scenic.

I've taken the metro at night and have not ever felt uncomfortable. Chatelet is a larger station, there could be more walking to get from one line to another. The Halles area seems to be something of a hangout for younger crowd, but I've not been there at night, during the day it's been fine.

A time-honored play activity for kids is to rent a sail boat on the large pond in the Tuileries.

My son at about 8 yrs loved that and i did too - felt real Parisian sitting and watching him and other French kids 'sailing'

>A time-honored play activity for kids is to rent a sail boat on the large pond in the Tuileries.<

Also at the Lux Garden

And the Guignol show you describe is a perpetual favorite of French kids throughout France.

I remember taking my once young son to several in Orleans - he loved all the bagarie (sp?) fighting between the puppets, etc. so lanugage may not be a barrier.

Not only in Lux Gardens but several parks.

Do you know about the Jardin D'Acclimation? Very geared toward kids. Here are some links

http://www.jardindacclimatation.fr/. Not sure the English site is working but if you enter it without the english translation, you can still get the picture.

http://en.parisinfo.com/museum-monum...cclimatation?1

I was in the park attached to the Forum Les Halles the other day and it was PACKED with little kids. All of the teens were on the other side, away from the play area.

That said, the Luxembourg Gardens looked like a children's paradise. Lots of play areas, including one you have to pay for (with the idea that you can safely take a little parent break).

I've also gone through Chatelet at night (as a single girl) and thought it was fine. It's a HUGE station and a changing point for many lines, so as long as you're there before like 11, it'll still be packed with mostly regular people. Just pay attention to the signs... watch for your line's number and try to keep distractions to a minimum (i.e. keep kids close and don't have 15 bags you're watching).

In case you're still worried, I went through Chatelet station tonight (or rather this morning) at 12:45 am after the big rugby match and felt totally safe.

And for the record, I walked through as a single, well-dressed girl with a corked but open bottle of wine. Not a single comment. Let me tell you... things would have been much different in London or NYC. I really think you'll be fine coming back from Euro Disney through there.

Some of the prettier parks are more boring for the children. Don't forget that -- they are not all that interested in looking at flower beds.

Parc de la Villette is the place with the most things for children.

I know there is a carousel in the Tuileries too.

Parc de la Villette - ah yes

lots of follies - little metal structures kids can clamber on and then the Science Museum - something for every age.

La Villette is a new park as paris parks go - being redeveloped from former abbatoirs in the 80s i believe as part of Mitterands so-called Grandes Projects (sp?) which also resulted in the new Citroen park.