My brother is getting married in San Sebastian in June. We (myself, husband and toddler) will be spending a few days in Paris before heading to Spain en route to the wedding. We have from June 12th to the 18th to see what we can of Spain before getting to SS for the wedding. I gather from reading some of the posts here that most of you do NOT travel with children, and given a choice we probably would wait to take our daughter to Europe until she was a bit older, but as this is a family event...I'm sure you understand our position (my aplogies to those who have to deal with us on the plane . ANYWAY, I'm having a difficult time deciding where and what to visit in that week. Most of the Fodor's recommendations are archetectural sites and museums. My husband and I would probably enjoy those things - but a two-year-old? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.<BR><BR>BTW, we will be traveling by train.<BR><BR>Thanks in advance for any help you can offer...<BR><BR>Jenn

Can't help with contemporary specifics of Paris or Spain but have LOADS of travel-with-kids experience. My job called for European travel and we have four children and I had travelled Europe with my family growing up...so it seemed natural. Here's my top ten list:<BR><BR>1. Think seriously about renting an apartment in Paris or villa in Spain rather than going the hotel route; you will all enjoy the control over when, where and on what you dine and appreciate the space and freedom of putting a little one to bed and enjoying the couch and a bottle of wine.<BR><BR>2. Keep the food as familiar as possible even if it means giving up fine dining for you and your husband (you'll have lots more trips when your little one is off on his/her own)<BR><BR>3. Bring distractions both new and familiar from home: tapes/CD's for the plane, a blanket, crayons for train or car. <BR><BR>4. Slow down to your child's pace: they move slowly (as you will have noticed) and you will see more if you try to enjoy the Paris streets from their perspective. My youngest was fascinated by the dogs, the mimes and her reflection in the Seine more than the monuments.<BR><BR>5. Ask the restaurant you have scouted earlier in the day if they welcome children...esp. in Paris, this is a thorny issue as there is some rule that I never did understand about family dining. I know it seems cruel but you will have to resort to MacDonalds (or the equivalent) sometimes.<BR><BR>6. Stick a clean T-shirt in your day-pack, kids get grubby at the most inopportune times.<BR><BR>7. Find zoos and parks wherever you go and travel with a ball for games and a picnic lunch: these old stand-bys never fail to keep a little one amused and you will have great photos and even brighter memories.<BR><BR>8. Kids get very tired of walking; try to schedule naps into your day rather than treating them like an interruption. Your feet will thank you for it too!<BR><BR>9. If your kid is fussing, LEAVE wherever you are. Never mind trying to civilize or reason with your child in front of a roomful of museum-goers or diners..he or she will sense your discomfort and get panicky and this just makes it all worse. My husband once yelled at our 3 year old for failing to enjoy one of the fine libraries at Oxford...they both laugh about it today, but at the time I had two miserable and ashamed family members on my hands for hours.<BR><BR>10. Keep smiling: this is meant to be fun and, trust me, in years to come you will all be happy you did this. <BR><BR>All four of my kids are fine travellers, know 6 languages between them and two live in Europe, giving us wonderful places to visit...it was all worth it and writing this has made me remember. Thank you for giving me the opportunity and I hope something here is worthwhile.

Don't worry, lots of us travel with kids! <BR><BR>We took our 4-year-old to Paris in January - the best things we found for young kids (with only 3 days there) were (1) playground in Jardin du Luxembourg (costs a few euros) - but there are tiny free playgrounds in the gardens running south from the Jardin, and I'm sure in many other parks in Paris. Also check out the pool with model boats and the pony rides in the same park. (2) the Eiffel tower - it's great! Buy her an Eiffel-tower-shaped lollipop in the cafe - should last a few hours! (3) the moving fountains outside the Pompidou Centre (4) ice creams - yes, even in January!<BR><BR>There are many other attractions for kids - search Google with "Paris kids" - but maybe for ones a bit older than yours.<BR><BR>As the previous poster said, fine restaurants and museums are out for a while, but some kids enjoy churches and museums in small doses - ours got right round Notre Dame only treading on the black (or white - I forget) marble tiles. And bistros, brasseries and cafes in Paris were surprisingly kid friendly (see Ben Haines' recent thread on this subject). Just be prepared to spend small amounts of money when necessary - for an icecream, for a taxi back to the hotel, for a little "treat", even for a meal ordered but uneaten - it's not worth a fight! Take a "goody bag" of tiny new toys etc that can be brought out when necessary - eg when waiting in a restaurant, on the journey - at the wedding too! Have a great time!

ttt

Traveling with a two year old in Spain could be an advantage. People in Mediterranean countries dote on children. Everywhere we went, except maybe the Prado, we saw children in strollers with their families. And that includes cafes at one and two a.m. We were there during Semana Santa and whole families would go out dressed in their Easter best to watch the processions, and retire to cafes afterwards. Of course the kids were asleep in their strollers--but they were there!<BR>The cities we were in all had terrific gardens and parks which would be good for strolling with kids--Madrid's Retiro, Sevilla's Maria Luisa Park, the Alhambra and the surrounding gardens in Granada--all places adults would go, were full of families.

My brother took his 5y/o son to the sewers in Paris (Think Les Miserables) a fascinating tour I took and loved some years ago. Sufficiently creepy for the kids and informational for adults.

Jenn: With the e-mail version of this message I am attaching a note iIkeep on disc on Paris for children, though I am afraid much is not for your toddler, yet. This is the full note of which Ruth kindly refers to a part, and draws wholly upon the ideas and experience of parents on this forum.<BR><BR>Susanna: Sewers ! what a fine idea: I am adding it at once.<BR><BR>Ben Haines, London<BR><BR>

Thank you all so much for the great information. I'm much more confident that Emily will have a good time on this trip. You've helped me tremendously.<BR><BR>We've decided that in Spain we will stay in Barcelona, Madrid and hopefully Toledo before we hit San Sebastian. If anyone has any kid-friendly ideas in those cities as well, I'd love to hear them - although I don't want to be greedy - you've given me quite a bit of great info already.<BR><BR>Thank you, Thank you,<BR>Jennifer<BR>