Travel readers, this is a little different to the usual fare on this site - rather than a travel guide post, it explains why I love my favourite city, so this post is more whimsical and less practical. It is not, however, a reflection of a change in direction.
Kids? Paris? Oh yes, my friends - I have been there with a 2 year old, with a 5 year old and 3 year old, and welcomed everywhere, including celebrity chef restaurants and galleries of all kinds. I have had to fight off people wanting to help carry my pram up stairs in the Metro (I'm not kidding - walking through Les Halles, six different people offered to help carry my pram up stairs in the 5 minute walk.)No matter where you look there is beauty and history. For the kids, there is a park on every corner, or a carousel and of course, you can almost always get chips with any meal (child heaven). We went to a park where the local adults were playing ping-pong on an outdoor table. We rode the Merry-go-round of extinct animals in the Jardins des Plantes. There is always something a little surprising in Paris - the modern mixed in amongst the traditional, a restaurant hidden down a corridor, some little plaque of history proclaiming who lived or died in this house. The modern architecture of the Institut du Monde Arabe, where the windows work like camera lens shutters. The quirky delight of discovering the Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy, where the grass grows up the outside walls. Yes, the Eiffel Tower will always symbolise Paris, but there is so much more to discover.
The magnificence of Versailles is unexpectedly a day of fun with train rides and boating and a picnic in Queen's hamlet. We spent hours strolling around those incredible gardens, and not a single complaint was heard.
Running downstairs to the artisan bakery to choose breakfast each morning is still a fond memory of my eldest.
Pottering around Ile de la Cite for hours, playing in the Luxembourg gardens on the way to or from a restaurant; there are so many endless delights on every venture around the city.
I can't look at a single photo of Paris and not be flooded with happy memories and a strong desire to return one day. Hopefully...hopefully soon.
Linking with #SharonsSouvenirs
Paris has a soft spot in my heart too. And how wonderful you are sharing it with your family.
ReplyDeleteOh, hopefully, hopefully I will get there again soon, too! Would love to share Paris with my husband and kids. Your experiences sound wonderful!
ReplyDeleteI was the person who went to Paris during a massive strike all public servants were off work...and there was a massive military presence I got off the train and was greeted by lots of army men with guns....I did still love the city but I feel it would be a hundred percent better if I went back and experienced it out of extenuating circumstances
ReplyDeleteYour post makes me want to go with my husband so bad xx
DeleteFinally worked out how to comment! I love Paris. But to go there with little children sounds incredible! Love your photo's - so beautiful for you to share these memories with #convocoffee Josefa
ReplyDeleteI have always loved the idea of going to Paris. I studied French in highschool and foro a while was obssesed with all things Paris. Thanks for sharing this beautiful post.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on this, Paris is so easy to love, even with kids in tow! I can't wait to go back one day. Hopefully we both get there sooner rather than later.
ReplyDeleteThanks for joining in #wednesdaywanderlust this week
Yes PAris is definitely one of my faves (although Istanbul gets the top spot :) ) Recently spent 2 weeks in paris with my sister. Sigh …what a lovely time we had. Thanks for bringing back some wonderful memories.
ReplyDeleteThere's a lot to love about Paris, that's for sure! :-)
ReplyDeleteCities, Paris absolutely, but also London, NYC, Sidney, Hong Kong, Singapore and so on, are great for kids for all the reasons you say. Parks, playgrounds, lots of things to look at, do, eat, and so on. Between Marie Antoinette's Hamlet and her house are a maze of "hidden" dirt paths that are made for kids to wander around. hope you found them! thanks for visiting #wkendtravelinspiration!
ReplyDeleteI love Paris, it never fails to disappoint.
ReplyDeleteI do love Paris, but I'm not sure it's my favorite city. I whole-heartedly agree that children are cherished!
ReplyDeleteI would love to go back to Paris someday and see it through your eyes. I am afraid that I did not have the same positive experience while there...
ReplyDeleteParis has been on my mind forever! Hope to see it before I turn old(er)... ;)
ReplyDeleteI have read a lot of good things about Paris being a great city for kids and families. Not the first time I hear kids are welcomed in 5 star restaurants. I believe that is super smart.
ReplyDeleteMy kids LOVED Paris. I'm sure that taking them to Disneyland Paris helped with forming that favorable impression, but as you say, it's such a child friendly place. We loved playing in the parks and pushing sailboats. They were, to my amazement, even interested in the artwork at the Louvre.
ReplyDeleteOh yes, Paris holds a special place in my heart too and an easy spot to pinpoint as an absolute favourite is Montmartre. A relaxing stroll through the winding cobblestone streets and that first, amazing glimpse of the exquisite Sacre Coeur and enjoying petit dejeuner in a street side cafe are moments I'll never forget. Thank you for linking up with #TheWeeklyPostcard
ReplyDeleteYou're right - there's something very special about Paris, however many times you go. I took my eldest son there for a special one-to-one trip on his own last year and he completely fell in love with the city. There's so much for children to do. #TheWeeklyPostcard
ReplyDeleteIt's great to know kids are so welcome in Paris including at top restaurants.
ReplyDeleteI guess Paris is everybody's favorite city in the world these days and not surprising. You are so right, there is a "je ne sais quoi" about Paris that no other city has.
ReplyDeleteI do love Paris too - I've lost count of the number of times I've visited, and I went with my daughter for the first time when she was about 18 months old. I completely agree about people helping in the Metro, that was a great surprised as I was on my own with her in the buggy. I'm hoping to head back with her soon and discover another layer to this wonderful city. #citytripping
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely post. I am so impressed about the metro and pram! Paris is a beautiful city, we have only been as a family when my daughter was just four months old so clearly we need to revisit and experience the child-friendly side to Paris you have described. Thanks for linking to #citytripping
ReplyDeleteSo many lovely reasons why Paris is dear to your heart. I must say I love it there too, though my children have never been. We do stay with family in the south of France and one of my favourite things there is going with whichever child is up early in the morning to choose breakfast for everyone from the local bakery. I hadn't appreciated all the parcks in Paris, probably because I've not been there with children, I think it makes you look at a city differently which can be a good thing.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing with me on #CountryKids
Oh I love Paris too. I have never been as an adult, I went when I was a teenager and it just seemed such a vibrant and fun city :-) #countrykids
ReplyDeleteI have never been there but this post made it more fun! I would love to go there someday and yes I will bring my little one to share the city of lights! #countrykids
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your favourite City in the world with us. #CountryKids
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