eiffel-tower-paris

Planning a trip to Paris with teenagers

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Paris with teenagers. Sigh. I can hear you all sighing at the idea of Paris in a very “we’ll always have Paris” way. Me? I’m wondering what to do with two digitally-obsessed teens for a week in Paris. This is a new kind of family travel planning, but I’m always up for a challenge so here’s what we’re considering (with a little input from said teens).

1. The Eiffel Tower
This year we kicked around ideas for where to go and what to do for Thanksgiving with our boys and BigB announced “I’d love to go to Paris, I’ve never been*”. Ahem, honey, yes you have – here’s a photo of you and me on the Eiffel tower.

Given that he was only two at the time, we forgave his memory lapse and agreed that Paris seemed a fine place to go for a few days in November. Our first tourist stop will be the famous tower to jog his memory.

2. Pantheon
Not for the architecture. Not for the famous people buried there. No. Me and my geeks-in-training are going to see Foucault’s Pendulum.

3. Paris Catacombs
Yes, we’re going underground, no, not to go see pretty pictures at the Louvre, we’re going to look at the bones of six million dead Parisians. In a word macabre but I bet my kids will be more interested in spotting odd occipital structures than they would be admiring the lines of Mona Lisa’s famous face.

4. The Sewer Museum
You can’t go to Paris without visiting at least one museum and this is the one my kids chose. It’ll be different. I reserve the right to pass on this one and go spend some mom-time at the Musee D’Orsay (which, very conveniently, is just above).

5. Graves
Jim Morrison. Edith Piaf. Oscar Wilde. Samuel Beckett. There’s a lot of famous people buried in Paris. I figure we’ll indulge the teen cool factor with a pilgrimage to Jim Morrison’s bones and then trade that goodwill for a trip to Versailles.

*He actually also said ” and we could go see the places mentioned in The Sorceress” but since he read that when he was a very uncool 10, I’m only mentioning it here in passing.

Leave a note and let me know if there’s any other teen-friendly Paris sights or activities you think we shouldn’t miss. (But mention Disneyland Paris and I’ll un-friend you I swear).

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About wandermom

". . .life is short and the world is wide" - Simon Raven I'm not sure I've ever consciously planned a trip based on this sentiment, but it definitely influences my subconscious! I've been traveling as frequently and widely as possible since I finished school. And I love it. I love the research, the planning, the fervent packing and the curiosity of exploring somewhere I've never been before. My husband & I are both Irish - as in born-in-Ireland. But we live in Seattle. We have two boys: wild, boisterous, regular boys. So, since becoming a Mom, I've been a WanderMom. Given our slightly-unusual family situation, routine "visits-to-Grandma" are international trips requiring passports, 10hr-flights and (oh joy!) airport transfers. I have rants, raves and opinions about how, where & why to travel with kids (start them as young as you can, I say!). I hope to learn even more by researching topics which other wandermoms may be interested in reading about on this blog. Passports, pacifiers, diapers and gameboys at the ready - off we go! Contact Info: Email Michelle: michelle (at) murphnduff (dot) org

3 thoughts on “Planning a trip to Paris with teenagers

  1. Camille

    As a Parisian, I’d say Eiffel Tower, Catacombs and Pere Lachaise graves are definitively good choices with teenagers.
    As alternatives, I’d say : Cité des Sciences (Science Museum in La Villette park), Technics museum (musée des Arts et Metiers – check if visits or explanations are availalble in english first for this one).
    And if they are under 12, I can recommand my friend Judith visits (guided tours for children aged 6 – 12 in their languages) (www.pariskid.com) … it will allow you to spend few hours only for you, without the children.
    Anyway enjoy your holidays here!

  2. Circe Dopp

    My teens loved the street food better than anything. We have stayed near St. Michel a couple of times, and the gyros, crepes, falafel and gelato are enough to make them want to stay forever. With the slightly younger kids, 10 and 12, we just let them wander. My son found a store selling tiny glass figurines and we visited it every day of our trip. They can go back someday and see the tourist stuff, and when they get hungry, they’ll know a great bunch of Turkish guys near the St. Michel fountain who let 10-year-old boys behind the counter to make their own crepe.

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