A Family Stay In Paris Becomes A Cultural Immersion
Paris has a deserved reputation as a magical destination, especially for the 7-to-17 set who cavort on carousels, stare at sights and consume croissants, crêpes and croques-monsieur (grilled ham and cheese).
Adults lucky enough to have traveled to Paris as children cherish that indelible love of place; those who can travel there en famille experience the City of Light as if for the first time.
An hour-long cruise along the Seine River is the time-honored introduction to Paris and particularly appealing on a jet-lagged first day. Bateaux Parisiens dock in front of the Eiffel Tower and offer children’s luncheon menus and multilingual headphone narration.
The péniches flow past 14 monuments — including France’s smaller version of the Statue of Liberty, which is positioned to face New York harbor — and under 25 bridges. Three of the most famous bridges are the glittering Pont Alexandre III, featured in the film Anastasia; Pont Neuf, which connects to the Île de la Cité; and Pont des Arts, a footbridge where kids run, families picnic and lovers attach padlocks.
Views of the Left Bank, or Rive Gauche, where the Eiffel Tower soars, include the shimmering dome of Les Invalides, above Napoleon’s tomb. Your kids may prefer running around the cannons outside this former military hospital. Read More…
