I will be spending 5 days in Paris with my 11 year old son in late April. This is his first trip abroad and I was wondering how to best spend my time with him there. I have been to Paris numerous times and wanted to see some new things myself. That said, we will see the major museums and monuments in Paris as best we can in 3 days, but I wanted to take him out of the city to experience another side of France. I have never been to Giverny, so I think that is a must, but was wondering what else we could do. I'll let him discover Versailles on his own another time! I was thinking Fontainebleu, Provins, etc. Any other ideas out there? The Loire Valley is probably too expensive. We won't have a car, so anything accessible by train would be best. Merci d'avance!

If you search "Paris day trips" her on Fodors you will get hundreds, if not thousands, of ideas.

It really depends on his interests. I don't know why Giverny would be a must if he weren't particularly interested in Impressionist art, for example. There isn't really any other reason to go there except to see Monet's workshop. I don't know that Provins would be on the top of a day trip list for kids, either (or anyone if you haven't been other places).

Personally, I'd think maybe Chantilly could be of interest (has a variety of things, picturesque castle, nice gardens, then the horse museum), as well as perhaps Futuroscope in Poitiers (www.futuroscope.com) . Fontainebleau seems okay to show the royal decadence in chateaux. If you really want him to see something related to a famous artist and that is the reason for Giverny, I would but Auvers-sur-Oise above it in terms of interest myself (unless he is a Monet groupie, of course). They have a really cool "show" with lights, display and sound in the chateau that teaches you have Impressionism and that time period in France while walking around with rooms http://www.chateau-auvers.fr

see "spectacle" section

All of these are accessible on the RER/local train (for Auvers-sur-Oise you take the RER C1 to Pontoise and then catch a local train for a short trip.

Five days doesn't really give you much time for anything outside Paris, actually. I guess you might pick one.

You can try this site; it gives good ideas for both 1 day & longer trips http://www.pariscityrama.com/ We had time for only one day trip & went to Reims & Moet Chandon/Dom Perignon cellars (tour is called Reims Champagne). Brugge (Belgium) sounds interesting if you've never been.

I'd put Versailles above anything else, if you really must leave Paris on a five day trip. He's at the age where he will soon learn about WWI in school, and it might be neat to have been there where the treaty was signed. But other than that I think chateaux might be a big snore for a younger guy. I also think unless he's into art, anywhere that focuses on an artist might be a bit above him. I think Paris proper has plenty to offer for 5 days.

Troyes with its old town and 19th cent. tool museum.

I'd consider your own selection of Provins. A medieval walled city, a tower, suits of armor and swords and great medieval shows including falconry, horsemanship and seige warfare machines. It's about an hour and a half train ride from Paris and the round trip fare for adults is 21 euros. Not sure what the rate is for under 12. Here's a link to the town website:

http://www.provins.net/index.php/english-version.html

The chateau in Auvers-sur-Oise is a real treat. I think your son would like it. If he's interested in Van Gogh, the rest of the town would interest him as well, but the château is very interesting.

With only 5 days, I'm not sure I'd leave Paris for a day trip, but we enjoyed Giverny with a kid.

http://www.soultravelers3.com/2006/1...ny-monets.html

With good planning, we found ways to do things like 3 museums in a day as a family:

http://www.soultravelers3.com/2006/0...2875f78c44970c

You might get some ideas for books or ways to enhance his time in Paris from our website under France.

You could go to Brugge for the day as a possibility by train ( very walkable & a living museum) & would add another country, perspective.

You could consider just the grounds of Versailles for the day ( perhaps on a Monday when everything else is closed) as that is fun to bike or hike, the outside is more interesting to kids & there are fun things like boating, horseback riding, feeding swans or train rides around etc. while one absorbs history in a gorgeous setting.

The very BEST thing for families in France, most Americans miss & that is Puy du Fou which is a truly stunning historical theme park that brings history alive.

http://www.soultravelers3.com/2009/0...me-park-1.html

Not sure if it is doable on your trip, but I'd look into it. We've seen tons of France & Europe in the last 5 years & think it is one of the gems.

Happy Planning!

I've done two day trips during my visits to Paris -- Chartres (for the cathedral, which is stunning) and Versailles (for the palace, ditto) -- and I liked both very much. There are scads of other possibilities, of course.

Thank you all for you responses.

I know there is so much to see and do in Paris and we can't possibly do most of it in such a short time. It is for selfish reasons that I want to leave the city as I have seen and done most of the sights many times over- I studied in Dijon for a year in college. (Wish I had time to take him there! Next time!)

I thought of Fontainebleu because I have never been there (been to Versailles many times, and again selfishly don't want to spend one of my precious days there).

I'll ask him about Giverny and Monet. I have always wanted to see it.

I think a castle is a must. Fontainebleu or Auvers-sur-Oise.

I also wanted to show him a side of France outside of Paris - a small, charming village or town. Something very old with narrow streets, walls, etc. One question about Provins - it piqued my interest because it is a UNESCO site, but was wondering if it is at all hokey with the whole medieval faire thing. Is it set up like a Sturbridge Village or does it seem more
authentic? (I know it IS authentic!)

Thought of Bruges - I love it there, but seems like a stretch for only 5 days in France. I would love to go to the Champagne region, but I might save that one for a trip with my husband!

Provins is a good idea. You can see pictures in our phototravelogue linked in the trip report at http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...once-again.cfm

If you mean are there touristy stores selling plastic swords, then yes, it does have those. And there are plenty of tourists (not overwhelming hords though) but that's because it's a lovely place to visit. I like it and the tourists and touristy stores don't spoil it for me but perhaps other posters will feel differently. And what's wrong with Sturbridge Village? I like it. And Plimouth Plantation too.

I did Dijon in a day trip so I think you have time to take him there if you want. The train leaves early and I really enjoyed it!

I don;t know your son's interests - but with an 11 year old boy I would thing a real castle to explore would be about 10 times as interesting as an impressionist's garden. I'm not sure of the closest fortified castle ( as opposed to chateau) to Paris - but I'm sure someone here would know.


(I personally would prefer Giverny - but I've seen dozens of castles and am not 11 years old.)

The closest fortified castle is the Chateau de Vincennes.

tt

He might enjoy Giverny more if you read "Linnea in Monet's Garden" beforehand. Apparently, there is also an animated video of the book with some pictures of the real Monet's garden and house (haven't seen it so can't vouch for how engaging it is), but again, something that might help him look forward to the visit.

Thank you everyone for your thoughtful responses. I truly appreciate your advice. Provins and a chateau it is. I'll save Giverny for another time. It will give me a reason to plan another trip one day. Thank you for the idea of Chateau de Vincennes. I'll look into it.

Angers is an easy day trip from Paris; only 90 minutes from Paris Gare Montparnasse via the TGV. The Chateau d'Angers is an easy walk from the train station. You can show your 11 year old how the French who were defending the castle were able to shoot arrows at their English enemies through narrow slits built into the castle walls.