Many thanks! Great ideas! Now I think we should stay on Rue de Buci so closer to Notre Dame. Will eat at Le Procope (never ate there). GD does love restaurants, but I do not want to spend too much time eating. Laduree she would like.
Crepes from stands will certainly happen. I will see how much it would be for Michael Osman to meet us for Louvre and Notre Dame. Pylones is new to me, I will look it up. She does love to shop. I thought the Louvre gift shop, but this may be better. I hope the batobus is still running Jan. 11. But either way will try to get to Paris in time for Beateaux M on Sunday night. This kid is into art. Lives NYC so MOMA and Met are rainy day events. Eiffel Tower seems to me a must. What movie set in Paris does not show it? But I do know that when she is tired nothing is interesting so I will try to notice her energy level and raise it with crepes. Any more ideas??

Not all kids are the same - my kids eat at a variety of restauurants, but are no more likely to go to chain restaurants than we are (except for ice cream).

You are missing the point. I didn't mean that the OP should take granddaughter to chain restaurants. I meant that American kids like to eat pizza, burgers, chicken fingers, ice cream, etc. They love going to restaurants.

I have never seen any kid I know turn down going to a restaurant. But, maybe I don't know too many spoiled brats who turn their pretentious noses up at pizza to stare at a Chagall and nibble on some dry crackers in their pocket.

Thin

I think kids love to go to restaurants when they are AT HOME or in familiar settings, because they get to eat things they don't normally eat, and going to the restaurant relieves the...er... boredom of normal routine.

A child in a spectacular foreign city would be totally abnormal (and obese?) if the big attraction was to go to restaurants rather than seeing the sights. Frankly, I think the same thing about adults.

<i>Now I think we should stay on Rue de Buci so closer to Notre Dame.</i>

Rue de Buci vs. Rue Jacob is splitting hairs - they are VERY close to one another. Rue de Buci is certainly much more lively (at all hours it seems) - a positive or negative depending on one's preferences.

<i>Eiffel Tower seems to me a must. </i>

Going TO it (via Trocadero) or waiting in line to go UP? With only one day, I would consider the question very carefully.

We will NOT wait in line in cold January to go up. But near it gives the scale of the structure. Pylones will be "Dylan's Candy Bar" of Paris...a must. So sorry Batobus is not running.

I would noteat at Le Procope. Food is not rated too highly. More a historical site (hey, guess who ate here...as you walk by)
There are quite a few better places to eat in the area. Last trip I ate at Chez Clement and La Jacobine, which are on Rue St Andre des Arts...very close to you.

Gerard Mulot, the chocolate guy, is nearby (Rue de Seine)as well as Pierre Hermes (Rue Bonaparte). In Paris, chocolate shops are NOT like the Laura Secord shops back home. These are temples to taste. There is also one on Ile St Louis where I've bought some for home. The Ile's main street is worth a visit, also has a store with neat objects, Pylone. I also ate at the Brasserie de L'Ile St Louis, outside, located near bridge to Ile de la Cite. This island also has outlets for Berthillon ice cream, reputed to be close to the best in Paris. Flavors you will not see at supermarket back home.

Hi El,

Ditto Cries_Van_Notebook on Oct 15, 09 at 12:04 AM

Ditto bardo1 on Oct 15, 09 at 08:45 AM

Why not stay at the Hotl Bonaparte, across the street from Pierre Herme, down the street from the Luxembourg gardens, up the street from Laduree, easily walkable to the Seine & Notre Dame?

http://www.hotelbonaparte.fr/

Enjoy your visit.

One bit of advice - check that you can get a Eurostar to Paris on the date you want. Especially Sundays in January 2010 there's a lot of maintenance going on. I know that on the 10 th January there are no trains at all until further notice. Check under 'customer care' on their website - it tells you there.

>A child in a spectacular foreign city would be totally abnormal (and obese?) if the big attraction was to go to restaurants rather than seeing the sights. Frankly, I think the same thing about adults.<

Are you shitting me, guv??

Come on, how many people go to Paris to eat French cuisine and dine at the spectacular restaurants?

Almost everyone!!!!!!!!!!

(And who stated anything about skipping the sites of Paris???)

Have you read any of the posts concerning restaurants and French cuisine over the years on this site?

Thousands and thousands wants to know where to get the best pate, pain, gelato, macaroons, pot au feu, dorade, etc., etc., etc.

Michelin Guide??? I guess it doesn't exist in your world.

Thin (and I am thin)

Seconding Thin on this one.

My kids were brought up on the David Macauley book Cathedral and the PBS show about it and they enjoyed seeing Notre Dame at ages 12 and 8. Climbing the tower and seeing the gargoyles and bells, plus the view of the city, was well worth it for them.

Our kids love Paris and we'd take them back in a second. I'm going without them since they're in school in just three short weeks.

My suggestion: Pick one major thing to do each day and pepper a few small ones in between. Our kids LOVED the Louvre, but that was probably because we know the back entrance trick and did stand in line. Musee de Cluny would be great also.

Eating in France is easy for kids. Our children loved that they could have an omelette or pommes frites virtually everywhere. My eldest DS polished off an enormous steak and truffade at Le Plomb du Cantal in Montparnasse, putting every guest in the place to shame.

My mom took my DD to Europe last summer and they shopped like crazed fashionistas. Just last night, my daughter asked if G'ma could take her to Paris again soon.

<<Are you shitting me, guv?? >>

Cries, we are talking about a <b>ONE DAY</b> trip! When you spend a week in Paris, there is plenty of time to do all the other stuff, but NOT IN ONE DAY!

Roneal, thanks for tip re Eurostar. Jan. 17 still good. But I will continue to check. If no trains, we do not go to Paris. Very bad!!
Someday, my grandaughter will get to Paris for more than a day, but right now she should not miss too much school and London with her cousins has priority.

So, the OP and granddaughter aren't going to eat during that ONE DAY in Paris???

Do you go an entire day without eating?

I don't.

Really, guv, how long does it take to go into Amorino for a gelato or into Laduree for a few macaroons????

Thin

Oh, if that is your concept of a meal...

Trust me..we will eat. Kids do not do well when hungry and grandmothers even worse. I do not like to plan meals when traveling. I want to eat when and WHERE when we feel the need. I carry both red and green Michelins but have eaten in restaurants that just looked good with success. Funny..Laduree macaroons to me are more pretty and special looking than delicious, but my GD will love them.

In any case, they are expensive and not filling.