Hello! Will very much appreciate some day trip recommendations if you have had any experience traveling with young teens. In particular, with five full days and nights in Paris (never having travelled to France), I'm thinking it would be fun to take a train trip to Rouen, Provins, Chantilly or similar small town outside the city to explore for a day, without multiple hours on train. Maybe something different than Versailles or Giverny, though if you found your teens loved either of those, certainly please share! In Italy, part of our trip will include three full days, four nights in Florence, and I'd appreciate recommendations for day tours to Tuscany that teens would also enjoy (maybe one that includes a wine tasting lunch for parents...). Thank you very much, in advance, for your help!

I followed advice from this post and went to Champagne. No regrets as was a nice train ride and enjoyed visiting the Champagne houses.

https://theparisshortlist.com/best-d...ps-from-paris/

I also love Normandy and any place by the coast .

There are some good hiking spots outside Paris in the forests if you're into outdoors...

Can rent a boat along the river in some spots.

Thank you!! Will look into this site.

For Paris day trips, I highly recommend the two excellent books by Annabel Simms.

When are you visiting? There are all sorts of special events like the medieval fairs of Provins or Pierrefonds and other places, and sorts of other more modern events that could be of interest, like "Chartres en Lumiθres" or a boat trip on the hortillonnages of Amiens.

All sounds amazing to me-thank you for the suggestions! We'll be there the end of June.

Both Giverny (by itself) and Versailles are not a good idea for kids. Also, going with young teens to Champagne houses seems pointless, unless you are trying to pique their interest in alcoholism.

Instead of Giverny, or combined with, I like the idea of visiting nearby La Roche Guyon with it's castle (built partway into the rock), World War II defenses and dungeon and the troglodyte church of the Annunciation. You could probably find a taxi at the train station out there to take you around. Or I have seen people rent bicycles once there.

Giverny is quite small. I had an interest in trying to recreate the photography of Jacques Lartigue when I went, but if not it won't take your kids more than a few moment to breeze through it. There are far more interesting sites in Paris for kids, including the sprawling Puces de St Ouen, the big flea market of Paris (especially on a Saturday or early Sunday) comprised of a dozen eye-popping markets, with the Marchι Vernaison being the most picturesque. Also, your kids might be interested in visiting a consignment shop (depot-vente) in Paris. Or a chocolate shop (Jacques Genin) not far from the Marchι des Enfants Rouges, an open air 'farmers' market. If your kids are into shopping or candy,

Easier and perhaps better: Take a canal cruise through the locks of the Canal Saint-Martin to la Villette park with much to do and see. https://www.parisunlocked.com/best-o...te-what-to-do/
Instead of spending time getting to and coming back from someplace of little interest to a teen, the canal trip to la Villette is also a thing to do.

I think different kids enjoy different activities. My daughter absolutely loved our visit to Giverny and took a photo of almost every flower (we were there for hours!) She was very interested in photography, gardens and art.

What do your kids like to do?

My husband and I did a gelato "hunt" in Florence and walked all over the city trying the various well-rated gelato shops to decide which we thought was the best. This article is a bit outdated but could get you started: https://www.cntraveler.com/gallery/b...ps-in-florence.

No doubt if you have a specific interest in Giverny, you can spend a long time there as I did. But if not, it will only take a few minutes to see.

End of June (into early July?)... I would day trip to Siena. The first Palio will be on July 2nd. If you're not there on Palio day, there are several activities starting June 27th. Everyone can pick a contrada to support.

https://www.ilpalio.siena.it/5/Contrade

https://www.ilpalio.org/orari.htm

Or Pisa/Lucca. Climb the Tower (timed reservations required). Maybe ride bicycles on the walls of Lucca.

Either of these day trips would be infinitely more interesting to young teens than visiting a vineyard. You can do wine tasting without leaving Florence. Just visit an enoteca.

Unless you've spent time in Florence on a previous trip, I wouldn't cut your sightseeing time to less than 2 days, so just do one day trip out of the city. FYI, most of the main/most popular sights are not open every Sunday and every Monday. If your time in Florence includes those days, you'll have to check each venue's days/hours and plan your sightseeing around what's open when.

On multiple visits to Paris with teens, none expressed interest in Giverny but all enjoyed Versailles. We did Chartres once or twice, but the teens preferred Versailles. We also spent a great part of a day at La Villette.

From Florence you can book a full day tour to visit a couple Tuscan towns along with a stop for lunch at a winery. We (myself, DH and 18 yo niece) booked one through getyourguide.com that was unexpectedly enjoyable, as I usually avoid group outings. It was nice after planning so many days' itineraries to sit back and let someone else tend to logistics. I think it was this one that we booked.