What shouldn't we miss in Paris with 12 yr old DD

[GrimmaTheNome]

Going on Eurostar for halfterm next week. There are obvious 'must dos' in Paris (Louvre, Eiffel Tower, cathedrals, boat on the river....) but I suspect there are good things to do I don't know about. I've only been once myself for one day over 30 years ago when parents, bro and I whizzed round on the Metro and packed in loads but obviously didn't have time to relax into the place.

So where would a 12 year old girl love (or hate, come to that!)

Thanks!

Ooh - magic museum could be right up DDs street! thanks!

Bit late to start her reading Parisian books!

Catacombs
is that 'love' or 'hate'?

Laduree for macaroons. Yum.
laduree

Teaspoons - can I just ask, does the magic museum 'work' with French which is (for DH and I) rusty O-level and for DD NC year 8 - ie pretty basic!

The parks - Jardin du Luxembourg, Jardin du Palais-Royal (lots of nice shops, too), Jardin des Tuileries.

Cakes in Ladurée (go to rue Royale not Champs-Elysées).

Café de Flore.

Thanks!

Will certainly have to do a lot of park walking to justify all the cakes

Is she into clothes? There are some fab pre-teen/teen brands - Soeur, Ciao Bella, YAM...

Is she into clothes?
no, she's really not (she doesn't bother at all about 'designer' brands here) - but OTOH that probably makes it safe to look around some nice shops!

Can I ask you clever people a dumb but vital question please? What is the correct way to communicate to a French waiter that the burger/steak must be cooked through - a trace of pink and the child won't eat it. I remember my DM who had a similar aversion to properly non-overcooked meat asking for her meat to be 'cooked well' which of course gained the response 'All our meat is cooked well, Madame!'

à point is well cooked.

At 12 I had my mind blown away and started a life long love of Impressionist, Art Noveau and Art Deco art by a visit to the Muse d 'Orsay. On the same trip the Louvre left me cold and I barely remember it. Again same trip Arc d'trimophe de it much more for me than Effiel Tower. Also at that age I loved Versaille.
My DD who is nearly 8 loves these and also climbing the steps to the Sacre Coeur.
Even as a nearly 40 year old I still get a buzz as we pull into Gare du Nord, can't wait only 5 weeks till we go again.

Bonsoir, you've probably saved my DDs life

Muse d 'Orsay and Versailles def on the to do list!

I beg to differ with bonsoir - if you ask for a burger à point it will be still a little pink inside. You need to ask for bien cuit.

Don't bother with the louvre - it is too big, and most of the paintings aren't that interesting to 12 yr olds. The Musée d'orcay is a much better bet - lots of Monet and Renoir and Degas.

Bien cuit it is.

DH got stuck in Paris for a couple of days during the ash cloud and loved the Musee D'Orsay.

GrimmaTheNome, how was your trip? We are just back from Paris (have a 12 year old ds and a 7 year old dd - it was dd's first time abroad). We enjoyed the views from the Eiffel Tower (2nd stage - lift to the top was out of order) and sheltered from a short but dramatic thunderstorm while in the Jardin des Tuileries, on Tuesday. Also did Notre Dame and the magic museum, which was good. The Musee d'Orsay was closed, due to a strike.

Excellent thanks- despite not finding time to use all those recommendations. We too were stymied by the Musee D'Orsay strike but went to the Musée Marmottan Monet which had a good pointiliste (prob spelled that wrong) exhibitions in addition to other impressionist works etc - followed by good trot round the Bois de Bolougne.

We managed to get all the way up the Tour Eiffel, walked down from second stage ... limbering up for ascending and descending L'Arc de Triomphe, Sacre Coeur and the Notre Dame tower so we got our exercise!

We sheltered from the Tuesday thunderstorm in the Grand Trianon while visiting Versailles - the fountain display was one of DDs highlights - but apart from that it was perfect sightseeing weather wasn't it?

Also Louvre (TBH, not as good as the British Museum - DDs favourite was small Egyptian piece labelled 'chien tenant un gateau' - just the idea of ancient dog stealing a gateau ) and the Grand Gallerie D'Evolution in the Jardin des Plantes ... and I think I've forgotten a few things.
(oh, Science museum and BM in London en route at either end to bookend the trip - as obviously Paris alone wouldn't be nearly educational enough for an MNers child )

Eurostar was brilliant, planning to do more train trips in future so we'll have to stop over and see the Musee D'Orsay then!

In short, would highly recommend. Au Revoir.