I’m excited to say that we are officially back in international travel mode after taking a few years off while dealing with infants! My husband and I have planned a 2-week trip to Paris over spring break (March 23-April 5, 2019) with our daughter (7) and son (4). Our goal is to take it slow, see some highlights, and have our kids come to the realization that the world lives in different ways…even if Paris is closer to the US than many parts of the world, it’s a start! I have been to Paris several times (though not much in the last decade), so this trip is less about what I want to see, and more about the kids and knowing that it is fine to skip something rather than force it. We have rented an apartment in the 6th. My (very active, 70-something) parents will be joining us for about 5 days in the middle, before heading off to Spain for their own month-long trip.

I do want to try for some of the bigger sights, usually one per day, with lots of carousels, bakeries, and playgrounds mixed in throughout. Below is a list of what I have in mind. I’m having the kids read books and watch movies set in Paris, trying to give them a “hook” for each sight that we will see. Hopefully, I can keep them interested for an hour before they attempt a mutiny. That, and bribing with treats!

*Eiffel Tower – get timed tickets to go up, picnic in Champ de Mars, see light show at night sometime
*Seine boat ride
*Luxembourg Gardens for playground and other activities, same with Tuileries, and other small neighborhood playgrounds
*Musee d’Orsay – enjoy train station, point out a few Monet and Degas paintings, stand behind clock (we are skipping the Louvre, though might check out pyramids from the outside)
*Musee de l’Orangerie – I’ve read Linnea in Monet’s Garden to my daughter and she is super excited to see the Water Lilies, even if we only take 15 minutes to do it!
*Rodin Museum – at least enjoy the sculpture garden outside
*Notre Dame – light a candle, climb the tower, see gargoyles – playground out back
*St Chapelle – stained glass
*Versailles – try to get through palace super quickly, focus on enjoying a day in the gardens, rent bikes, picnic, maybe rent a boat, also check out Hamlet area
*Arc de Triomphe – climb to top and marvel at traffic circle
*Check out large department store like Galleries Lafayette
*Possibly Kids Gallery at Centre Pompidou, check out Stravinsky Fountain
*Walk around Montmatre/Sacre Coeur area, ride funicular

And of course, one day at Disneyland! (though I do think that we will skip other amusement parks like Jardin d’Acclimitation this time around)

Please let me know if you have any comments/suggestions/additional ideas. I’ll come back later for restaurant advice for date nights when my parents watch the kids!

* jardin des plantes (5th)
Jardin des Plantes
* zoo de vincennes (just outside the 12th)
https://www.parczoologiquedeparis.fr/

Actually, the Jardin d'Acclimitation has been completely redone this year in steampunk style with twice as many attractions added. So it might be interesting, but I have not seen it, so I don't know.

The Atélier des Lumières is a new attraction that everybody seems to love, young or old. I don't know what the subject will be next spring, but it should be of interest. Friends have told me that young children get slightly bored first but that older children need to be dragged out of the place. Adults are happy to spend an hour there.

Here is the report that I made about it : Atelier des Lumières - Paris

I like your list and it is very nice that your parents will be able to join in.
March and April might be very cold. Bring layers.

Vintage Toy Boats in Luxembourg Gardens - Secrets of Paris - The only authentic insider guide to Paris.
My children did this 45 years ago. They loved it so much, we bought sailboats to bring home. They played with them for years, and now my granddaughter has them. Would be a great memory and souvenir for your little ones.

My kids actually loved the Louvre at that age. They had read about some artists and looked for paintings with children that looked like them.

The town of Versailles, adjacent to the chateau, is charming, has some good restaurants and a fabulous, beautiful food market.

Have they read the Madeline stories?

Thanks to all for your excellent suggestions!

@thibaut - Those both look interesting - thank you!

@kerouac - That light installation looks amazing. And perhaps I will give Jardin d'Acclimitation a second look.

@ToujoursVoyager - Yes, layers are a must. We are coming from a ski town in the Rockies, so I figure that at least it will be warmer than where we live!

@Sassafras - Sailboats are a must and definitely on our list. And jotting down the market in the town of Versailles. Yes, we are lifelong Madeline lovers. We have also been reading Eloise in Paris, the Invention of Hugo Cabret and Linnea in Monet's Garden, with plans to read Come Fly with Me and watch Hunchback of Notre Dame (Disney version), Ratatouille, Hugo, and maybe the Aristocats. If you have any other suggestion, please pass along!

Parc Andre Citroen, with its tethered balloon ride. Much cooler than is the Eiffel Tower.
Also, there is a a huge number of community gardens, that can be real havens, often with some playground stuff for children etc.

Your 7 year old might want to go "out" after dark, and have a drink with one of the grown ups on a real terrace. I did this with my son, who was 8 at the time, and he still talks about how special that was, even though he's 21 now.

How fun! We took our twins to Paris when they were 7 years old and you have a great list already. We were only there for 4 days so we did not venture to Versailles or Disneyland. This was in 2012.
Their favorite things were some that you already have on your list:
Eiffel Tower (seeing it sparkle at night, not necessarily going to the top) - There is a carousel nearby, btw...
Jardin des Tulieries - trampolines & playground
Seine boat ride
Arc de Triomphe - climbing to the top

Some that you do not have on your list:
Having hot chocolate @ Angelina
Reading books at Shakespeare & Company bookstore
My Favorite: Paris Muse Tour of the Louvre for Kids. I can't recommend enough. It is a scavenger hunt through the Louvre with a knowledgeable art guide. They get a "prize" at the end that they have to ask for in French from the coat check.

We also did:
Musee d'Orsay - used a book geared towards kids to guide us around the museum
Musee de L'Orangerie - they enjoyed this
Notre Dame - they preferred the playground to the church but hey, it has a playground!
Walking around Ile Ste. Louis (this is where we stayed & there were no cars)
Lots of visits to cafes & patisseries.

Enjoy!

In my opinion you should avoid the Eiffel Tower (too much queue). But you probably pust go to the Jardin d'Acclimitation.

More great suggestions - thank you! I especially love the idea of giving my daughter a special night out. She would love that!!

Trip Report -- A Magical Paris vacation with two little girls

This is an oldie... but I will share since my girls were about the same age as yours will be!

This was our first international trip - and the first of many great adventures. I wish you luck!