When you think of Paris, what comes to mind?
Cafes?
Food?
Fashion?
History?
I have so many…but at the top of my list is children.
Many question my sanity.
How can I love bringing my kids to Paris every single time?
The answer is easy – Paris is heaven for children.
Every rue and boulevard holds a tucked away pristine park – all with fun, whimsical playgrounds – and secret gardens.
Almost every single park has an old fashioned carousel – all of which are hand painted, vintage, beautiful works of art.
Today we ride the spinny teacup in Tuilleries – tomorrow the handsome horses in Jardin du Luxembourg, complete with catching the golden rings.
The playground equipment is so far beyond anything we have in the states – rope hammock swings, whirlyrounds, boinger chairs, jumping games, rope bridges, rope Eiffel Tower climbers (all my children’s terminology) and so many more.
Many have restrooms, ice cream carts, cafes, comfortable armchairs so watchful parents can sit down and read for hours…making them paradise for the young and old alike.
The view from every parc is so beautiful – no matter the neighborhood – and I savor the hours spent just sitting and soaking in the surroundings, the culture, la joie de vie.
We do fancy lunches together instead of fancy dinners – as this is more accepted in Paris.
To keep them busy and quiet at the table I fill my purse with amusements: hidden picture books (Highlights from Ohio is our favorite – they have been working on one issue for almost two weeks now), sketch books and colored pencils (they draw me pictures of the view from our table, to help me remember our meals, favorite bistros, monuments and of course parcs!), maze books, Mad Libs, travel size games (Battleship is the big hit this summer).
Throw in a few granola bars, crackers, almonds, and lollipops when they need a sudden snack and you are armed and ready for battle.
Babysitters abound – and each summer we work with a recommended family sitter to play and cavort with them at night – when they are spent from an entire day around town and just want to wear jammies, watch movies, and relax.
Then we adults get our due – and have our own night on the town – making Paris – as always – the perfect vacation all the way around.
