I'd agree that you need to pick at most 2 locations. It could be Paris/Normanday or Paris/Aix or perhaps Nice.

With high speed trains you can visit these locations in a time efficient manner. You could also consider flying home from the South, if that is where you end up.

With jet lag, that first day may also be a wash.

Thankyou all! I think we have decided to stay the entire time in Paris with a day trip to Versailles. I feel much better about having a home base without the added stress of moving hotels. We won't be able to enjoy the Plage as we leave on the 20th.

tdk320n: Could you tell me some of the things you enjoyed with your nieces? I have two awesome kids but I don't think I can drag them around museums for 8 days!

great idea leavin'. Having a firm base always made our family holidays more successful.

Can I also suggest that you start looking at apartments for your stay? we have stayed in apartments in various places when travelling with our kids, and without exception, they have made our stays cheaper and more pleasant.

A fine plan.

Couple of kid friendly ideas:

http://citysegwaytours.com/paris
People here have done the Paris one with good reviews

http://fattirebiketours.com/paris
Good reviews for both Paris and Versailles tours.


Looks like you will be there for Bastille Day, which should be fun.

The kids might like the Catacombs. A ride on the Seine, maybe at night when the monuments are lit up??? Climbing the towers at Notre Dame and the bell tower at Sacre Coeur might also be enjoyable and give some great views of Paris. Also, maybe a cruise on Canal St Martin might be good for them.

Very wise to stick with Paris. There is plenty to do there.

Maybe make a game of finding the best macaron or pain au chocolat in Paris, if they are into food, at all.

My art-oriented friend takes her grandchildren to museums, but only after she has shown them a postcard or an internet photo of a certain painting in the museum they are going to. Then they make a game of finding that painting. The girls are about your childrens' ages.

I also thought the Promenade Plantee was great, and I'll bet kids would like it. It's like New York's High-Line, a completely different view of Paris.

Also the view from the Montparnasse Tower is staggering, and there are small drawings all around that show famous buildings, and we saw kids enjoying picking them out. It's a very safe place, with tall plexiglas screens (I dislike heights a lot!)

Lots of the parks have specific areas for kids. Others have written about them on this forum. I'm sure there will be lots for them to enjoy.

I am so thankful for all your wonderful suggestions! I've been a little under the weather (hence my late reply) but it helps tremendously to have some input. I will research all of them. Thanks again!