| Family Travels Paris |
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| We spent a wonderful week in Paris in 2001 We originally planned to take the kids and live there for three weeks or so as Dad had a company project to run. Two days before leaving the project was canceled What to do? Well, we decided to go anyway and figure it out It was our first family trip...and our first big city with the kids and we had no plans, no reservations -- just plane flights Once we arrived we contacted Marriott and cashed in some Marriott Award points and got a five night free stay--in the heart of Paris on the Champs Elysees! We quickly learned how to use the Metro to get around...and off we went. Our second trip to Paris, we spent a day revisiting some of our favorite sights (see details below) |
| Dates Visited -- 1990, 2001 2009, |
| Take the Stairs to the top for some incredible views. |
| Arc de Triomphe |
| Four armies have marched thru the Arc of Triomphe: Napolean's following Austerlitz, the Germans in 1940, the Allies after liberation and us on our Invasion of Europe. ---Dad |
| It was like a little princess' fantasy. The huge streets bustling with traffic branched off into little side streets lined with perfume shops, boutiques and gourmet restuarants. ---Erica, age 13 The Professional Shopper |
| There is an important building every ten feet in Paris..we would look off to the right and see a palace, then dip under a historical bridge and run head on into a cathedral. ---Erica, age 13 |
| Seine River Cruise |
| Things to Do and to Try |
| Paris Marriott Hotel Champs-Elysees 70 Avenue des Champs-Elysees Paris, 75008 France Phone: 33 1 53935500 www.marriott.com We like staying on the "main drag" It was convenient and fun The girls had fun shopping. Here they show off their very first French perfume purchases. |
| The kids enjoyed the river cruise. Get the Audioguide....they have fun using it and they will learn something. |
| The Lourve can be overwhelming. Hit the highlights....don't try to do it all. That way you have an excuse to come back to Paris. |
| We travel all the way to France...to the most respected museum in Paris...to see the most famous painting of all time...and our little photographer gets this fantastic photo of the Mona Lisa.....We still laugh about this even today. ---Mom |
| Ride the Metro...we got a 5 day pass. It is quick, easy and safe. We love the musicians playing in the tunnels. |
| Ride the Ferris Wheel for some incredible views |
| This fruit and ice cream dessert was INCREDIBLE We just HAD to eat here TWICE in 2001 and found it again in 2009 Le Paradis du Fruit 47 Avenue George (one block off Champs Elysses |
| Climb the Eiffel Tower |
| Take a stroll along the River Seine |
| One of the first things that we did was buy a Paris Museum Pass. It offers free entry and more importantly, separate entrance lines to avoid the crowds....to many of the sights including. Lourve, Pompidou and Orsay Museums Versailles, Arc of Triomphe, Seine River Boat Cruises |
| Unlimited access to many local attractions and museums Unlimited use of bus and metro including transportation to Versailles www.paris-pass.com |
| Fragonard 9 rue Scribe PARIS Métro : Opéra station (lines 3,7 et 8) Tél: +33 (0) 1 47 42 04 56 Do a little perfume shopping! We found Erica, Amanda and Mom's favorite perfume...from original location of Grasse |
| We found Ile St. Louis on our first trip to Europe in 1990. It is filled with cute boutique, ice cream shops and creperies. |
| Notre Dame is certainly famous and is very impressive. But we like exploring the outside more. Look for flying buttresses & gargoyles. Go around to the right and find the little garden out back...Then exit and follow signs to Ile St. Louis Left--photos from 2001 Below--photos from 2009 |
| We ate lunch at Le Sarrasin et Le Froment Crepes, salees et sucrees 84 rue St. Louis en I'Isle The kids had their first crepes. We also ate here again in 2008 (right: Amanda and her favorite, mushroom crepe with blue cheese) Below Right: Find this boutique "Pylones" for lots of cute and unique shopping finds |
| A Day in Paris--Swanson Style Keep in mind we had already spent a week and saw all of the major sights Morning at the Eiffel Tower- Dad, Amanda and Brent go to the top of the the views.. Erica and Mom shop the local neighborhoods Metro to Notre Dame--just to see the outside and people watch..some souvenier shopping Walk to the Ile St Louis...for crepes, ice cream and some shopping at Pylones Metro to Pompidou...for relaxing picnic and people watching and see the local street entertainers Metro to Champs Elysess...to walk the Blvd and people watch...stop for Ice Cream at Le Paradis du Fruit Metro to Opera....for a stop at Fragonard Parfumerie and walk to a local pastry shop for its infamous cookies Walk to Place de Concorde to catch the metro and the local train back with to the suburbs |
Picnic at the Eiffel Tower Find a pastry shop for eclaires and cream puffs for dessert |
