Top Ten places in Paris with Kids

    LONDON, ENGLAND, October 24, 2009 MaiMai News -- Following its second successful Twitter poll, Paris Hideaways vacation apartment rental agency found that Paris is not only a modern city of fashion, art and nightlife - the City of Lights is perfect for a family friendly vacation as well. The following ten answers were the top ten suggestions as a part of their Twitter Poll: Paris with Kids.

1.Cite des Sciences et l'Industrie (La Cite des Enfants)

Recommended by the most readers/followers and fans, the Cite des Sciences et l'Industrie is the top favorite of those travelling to Paris with kids. Science lovers young and not-so-young can enjoy the biggest science museum in Europe, which was created particularly with youth in mind. Located in the Parc de la Villette in the 19th, The Cite has a planetarium, a submarine, an IMAX theatre and departments just for kids and teens (la Cite des Enfants is one of these).

Cite des Sciences et l'Industrie (La Cite des Enfants)
http://www.cite-sciences.fr/english/index.php
30 Avenue Corentin Cariou Paris


2.Musee des Artes et Metiers

The second most recommended on the list was yet another science museum, this time the Musee des Arts et Metiers located in the rue Reaumur in the 3rd arrondissement of Paris. This somewhat misleadingly-named 'Museum of Arts and Crafts' boasts Foucault's original pendulum, Formula One engines, and exhibits on everything from telecomms to quantum physics with a lot of hands on activities for kids of all ages.

Musee des Artes et Metiers
http://www.arts-et-metiers.net
60 rue Reaumur
Metro : Arts et Metiers

3.The Musee National d'Histoire Naturelle / Jardin des Plantes

Also a top recommendation and perhaps the most enthusiastically recommended, The National Museum of Natural History Museum and the Jardin des Plantes garden surrounding the museum together act as a full day out for the whole family. There is an evolution museum in a great hall filled with skeletons, specimens, organs and even genetic mutations! There is also a small-ish zoo, but beware - hours can be spent in this fun and walkable zoo.

The Musee National d'Histoire Naturelle / Jardin des Plantes
rue Cuvier, rue Buffon, rue Geoffroy-Saint-Hilaire
Metro: Austerlitz
http://www.mnhn.fr

4.Parc de Belleville

The Parc de Belleville is located on the hill of Belleville, and at 108 meters high, it is the highest park in Paris, and kids can climb a 30m tall terrace which provides panoramic views of Paris. Kids can let loose in the 1000m2 park, run among its 1200 trees, check out the 100m long waterfall fountain (the longest in Paris). There is also a purpose built wooden playground for kids, ping pong tables for all and an open-air theatre for the family to enjoy in the warmer months.

5.Jardin des Tuileries

This is the most central garden of Paris, and accordingly stunning. The Jardin des Tuileries is very near the Louvre, where you will inevitably visit at some point during your trip to Paris. During the summer the Fete Foraine is a 'carnival' of sorts, with a giant ferris wheel-slash-kid-magnet that adults love too, and the gardens and fountains throughout the park allow kids to run freely and safely while parents lounge in the many chairs and benches throughout the park.

1e arrondissement.
Metro: Tuileries

6.The Musee du Quai Branly

The newest addition to the major museums in Paris is this Ethnology Museum in the 7th. The exhibits are engaging for kids and the design of the building is very entertaining as well. The museum offers not only intelligent exhibits, but scientific events, a cinema, workshops for kids and classes, and both theatre and dance.

7th Arrondissement
Rue de l'Universite / Quai Branly
http://www.quaibranly.fr


7.Paris Metro Line 14 - Front Seat

Kids get a kick out of sitting in the front seat of Metro line 14, an automated (driverless) line which crosses the center of Paris, from Saint Lazare and Olympiades. Line 14 does happen to pass through a few tourist sites such as the Church of the Madeleine, the Ministry of Finance, the Paris-Bercy sports area and gardens, Bercy village and the National Library of France.

8.Bois de Boulogne

Slightly bigger than New York's Central Park and over 3 times the size of Hyde Park in London, on which it was modelled, Bois de Boulongne is known as the 'main lung' of Paris, located on the western border of the city. Inside the park is the Jardin d' Acclimatation, an amusement park which offers a zoo, rollercoasters, a carousel, swinging chairs, bumper cars, and even a railway, golf and a small waterpark. The lines here are almost non-existent and prices are much more economical than a trip out to one of the bigger amusement parks outside of Paris. Entrance is EUR2.90 per person (including kids 3 and above) with each ride costing the price of one ticket (around EUR2.70).

Bois de Boulogne
Western edge of the 16th Arrondissement
http://en.parisinfo.com/museum-monuments/1338/bois-de-boulogne

9.Centre Pompidou

While a modern art museum is not necessarily a place associated with Family-friendly tourism, it is the exterior design of the building that kids particularly love at Centre Pompidou, with its exposed airducts, outdoor staircases and primary-colored exterior paint-job. Also to note: Pompidou is closed on Tuesdays, while other museums are typically closed Mondays, making this a great place to visit with kids on a Monday, especially a rainy Monday.

Centre Pompidou
4th Arrodissement
19 rue Beaubourg
http://www.centrepompidou.fr

10.Disneyland Paris / Parc Asterix

Several readers suggested Disneyland, and the theme park is obviously aimed at children. It is a perfect day outside of Paris, the kids will most likely love it, and so it is a safe option. A more original option might be Parc Asterix, an amusement park based on the comic strip stories The Adventures of Asterix located just 20 miles from Disneyland Paris.

http://www.disneylandparis.co.uk/index.xhtml
http://www.parcasterix.fr

Renting a vacation apartment while in Paris is the family friendly alternative to booking multiple or expensive hotel rooms, allowing you to stay in a family-style apartment in fabulous central Paris locations. Paris Hideaways offers over 100 vacation apartment rentals in Paris throughout the year. For more information visit http://www.paris-hideaways.com

About Paris Hideaways

Paris Hideaways is an entity of Charming Hideaways Ltd, and is registered and based in London.
Katia Provencher is the Director of Charming Hideaways, and has several years' experience in the vacation rental and tourism business, including being vacation rental owner herself and also having been a long-term resident of Paris.
For further details on Paris Hideaways vacation rentals, please call + 44 (0)208 144-5887, via Skype - Parisrental, email contact@paris-hideaways.com or visit http://www.paris-hideaways.com.