Welcome to Great Days! Everyone knows that organizing a family's schedule is a full-time job, whether you're juggling activities at home or planning the perfect vacation. Spending time together shouldn't be another chore to figure out, especially when you're supposed to be relaxing and enjoying yourselves.
We know what it's like to try to find good places to take your children or grandchildren, especially when you're in a strange city with a limited amount of time and energy. Sometimes it's tough to find out when places are open, whether they're likely to be crowded or even sold out, and what age group they're geared to. There's nothing like bringing a "grown-up" 12-year-old to an activity that's intended for his 6-year-old sister. And if you're planning a trip to Paris, it's harder still to figure out the best things to do before you even get there. That's where we come in.
What you'll find in this book are 68 ways to have a terrific couple of hours or an entire day with children in tow. Paris is crammed with things for kids to do, even if you don't speak French. We've scoured the city, digging out activities your kids — and you — will love, from the state-of-the-art kids' museum in the La Villette complex to a traditional puppet theater in the Jardin du Luxembourg. The best part is that it's stress-free, uncomplicated, and easy for you. Open the book to any page and find a helpful description of a kid-friendly attraction, with age ratings to make sure it's right for your family, smart tips on visiting so that you can get the most out of your time there, and family-friendly eats nearby. The address, telephone number, open hours, and admission prices are all there, too. We've done the work, so you don't have to. If you have special interests or want to find out about events scheduled during your visit, contact the
Office de Tourisme de la Ville de Paris (127 av. Champs-Elysées, tel. 01—49—52—53—54) or the
Espace du Tourisme d'Ile de France (Carrousel du Louvre underground shopping mall, 99 rue de Rivoli, tel. 01—44—50—19—º98). Check out the free, English-language publications Paris Free?Voice and FUSAC (France-USA Contacts), available at W.H. Smiths ?Bookstore (rue de Rivoli) and other locations. For information (in French) on weekly events, try Pariscope and Frimousse, available at newsstands. Parismes, an excellent, free bi-monthly supplement covering events just for kids, appears in Libration newspaper and is distributed in various shops and museums.
