Hello!

My family of five (includes three girls ages 14, 12 & 6) are going to Paris for 4 days over the New Year. I am wondering if anyone has some good suggestions for family friendly activities during that time. I have heard that there are several ice skating venues. Is that so? Also, what about the parks? Are the carousels still running at this time of year? Puppet shows, pony rides, etc? Cirques or zoos? We already plan on taking them to the Science museum (sounds like great fun!) Also, since we are staying in the 7th and will be just around the corner from the Eiffel, New Year's Eve is a no-brainer. (Can anyone say fireworks at midnight? WooHoo!)

I feel like my older girls will be easy to occupy since they are fairly mature and interested in art and museums, but my little one will need some extra attention and diversion in between museum visits and aside from the New Year's Eve festivity. Any advice is appreciated and all suggestions are welcome.

Thanks!

HI
as you get closer to the time, you might want to check the websites for the important venues to see what will be open on N Y's Day. Many things won't be. And because that's a Saturday, there may be some places that may alsoclose on Sunday Jan 2, not the top ten tourist sites probably, but some restaurants and cafes.

An ice skating rink is set up in the Place de l'Hôtel de Ville every year and your kids should have a great time. The Champs Elysees is festooned with lights which will remain up until after the New Year; it becomes a magical place to stroll.

Check out the Parc de la Villette (www.la-villette.com) for lots of activities, exhibitions and events, including the Cité de la Musique.

....I think the parc de la villette has an ice rink too but i am not sure..there are also movie theaters there if the childrn want to have a late movie after a visit..at times there are also small carnival rides but this is variable. the children would love the bateaux mouches.

They do have circuses in winter, more than one. I think that is a popular time for them because of the school holidays. There are carousels operating, also, such as in front of the Hotel de Ville.

Some of the other things you name are for spring/summer, however. I don't think you'll find pony rides or puppet shows in winter, because they are in the parks and often in open air. I think most marionnette shows run from around March through October. I don't know about pony rides, but I don't think of that as a winter activity. The parks will be there but the weather may not make it that enticing.

Sorry to hijack chihuahua's thread, but does anyon know if there are usually fireworks in Paris on New Year's Eve?

And if so, where's a good view point? Thanks!

Was there with family on NYE 2001.
The park around the tower was filled with all sorts of people lobbing mini grenades in all directions. We were waiting for some pro fireworks to appear, but nothing. It wasn't bad, but the younger generation with explosives were a bit frightening at times.
Not sure if this was a one-time-thing in light of 9/11. Wouldn't do it again though.
Recommend trocadero, if you are going to pitch camp near the tower.

-Craig

We visited this little museum once; it has quaint old 'magic' machines and games, optical illusions, and a magician performs in a tiny theatre. Everything is in French, but the delight on childrens' faces is universally understood.

http://www.museedelamagie.com/
Hours: Wed, Sat, Sun 2:00-7:00
7 € - adultes / 5 € - children
Metro: St Paul
11, rue saint Paul 75004

They don't have fireworks every single year at New Year's Eve. I think most of the years within the last decade they have, but not every one--a year or two after the big millennium one, they didn't. They don't announce it that far ahead of time.

I think Craig has a good underlying point. On another board I have read often that the NY's Eve crowd can get very ugly--the firecrackers being thrown into the crowd. BE SURE to stay together and have a plan if you get separated. That is what happened to this family and it could be very disturbing.

Thanks for your info. I am a little disappointed to find out that la tour doesn't always do the fireworks. I appreciate the heads up on the firecrackers in the crowds, though. We definitely plan to take advantage during those few days of the kid-friendly musees though and I'm thrilled to hear that ice skating is a possibility.

Thanks again!
Mamma Mia

Fat Tire Bike Tours is a blast! Check out their website!

wonder if the covered boats travel the Seine that night? If so, maybe they "arrange the trip" so that they are sort of near the Eiffel Tower about midnight (a friend says they did on 7/14th...) That might be fun for you and the girls...buy picnic food and see the sights that way...

I believe that carnival type rides will be set up in the Tuilleries. We took our kids 13, 11 and 8 to Paris over spring break. You might want to look up my posts to see that they enjoyed.