your suggestions for Paris with teens - DS not keen on museums

[redmapleleaves]

Spending four nights in Paris in August with DD, 15 and DS, 12. When I booked I was thinking of the kind of things I'd like to do (arty, historic), but in the meantime reality has struck, and while DD might be persuaded to visit an art gallery and something historic, but I'll need to get DS on side too.... What have been your good/great experiences in and around Paris with teens? I speak good French, and it'll be at the end of a fortnight elsewhere in France. Thanks!

Our DSs enjoyed Pere Lachaise looking at graves of the rich and famous.

We are going soon and I have downloaded a pastry and chocolate tour - about £2 and we did a similar one in Rome which they loved. We are going to potter round the Maraus district, go to the Pompidou Centre and do a boat ride on the Seine. The Department stores are fun too.

The Centre Pompidou might be a good way to combine your interests? It's a pretty cool place in itself.

DS would want to see any part that has appeared in a Bond movie - Grace Jones and the Eiffel Tower parachute scene for example.

Personally I would just go where you want for 2 days. At the end of 2 weeks elsewhere at 12 he will just have to live with it. Can always promise crepes after

We are going in August with dd (17) and ds (13). They haven't been before so we are doing the Eiffel Tower and a boat trip. Also, Monmartre, exploring the left bank and visiting Shakespeare and Co are on the to-do list. They will be going to the Musee D'Orsay whether ds likes it or not!

I haven't been since I was 21 and have such great memories of that trip. It was December and I remember riding on the ferris wheel in the Jardin de Tuileries at dusk, as the sky turned completely pink. Also, went to a party on the top floor of the Pompidou Centre, where there were great views of Paris lit up at night. Happy days!

Watching with interest for more teen ideas.

I was going to say Pere Lachaise, went when I was 18 to check out Jim Morrison's grave, followed the graffiti saying Jim this way. (Am v old, might not be any graffiti any more)

Ooooohhhhh this is great. Thank you so much. Pere Lachaise, boat trip on Seine, Centre Pompidou, department stores, Montmartre and ArtandCo 's 'Just go with what you want for a bit' and then bribe with crepes.... Fab. Keep them coming, thank you.

Mine enjoyed the Pompidou Centre too. Some of the art is...erm unusual but really appealed to DS. I think Art is right. Keep 'em fed and go where you want. He enjoyed the Musee D'Orsay too but most of all I think he just enjoyed the wandering and the eating.

Aquaboulevard (big splash park with loads of water chutes, outdoor beach etc.). Full of French teenagers when we went.

Caramelkate - I would love to use that pastry and chocolate tour! We're going in a couple of weeks and it sounds as though it might be the ideal thing to do with my DC. Can I ask where you found it? Thank you!

Surprisingly mine liked the Rodin museum - it's a sculpture garden so no stuffy rooms and ropes. Lovely little cafe too. Many happy photos of us all posing as The Thinker. Huge bronze gates depicting Dante's Circles of Hell with lots of weird things to pick out.

Also the Partheon temple - surprisingly secular and intriguing. Very Dan Brown.

And although the Louvre is hideously busy there is a lovely little shopping mall underneath where we sheltered from the pissing rain one day - some intriguing and funky shops, not just tourist tat.

We have some good pics from the Rodin Museum too CQ and DS loved sticking his sticker on the lamppost outside! I asked DS just now what he liked best and it was the 2 elderly buskers with accordion and saxophone on one of the Metro trains.

If you google 'girls guide to paris walks' there are quite a few ( can't link from phone!)

Thank you all so much. I've got properly overexcited, possibly a sugarrush brought on by Caramelkate's pastry & chocolate tour. Mmmmm. I'm also thinking DS might well like the sewers, Rodin Museum sounds fab, Marais great idea.... and yes Paris is about sitting in a cafe sipping a kir too. Hope you all have great trips.

Thanks CaramelKate - I'll look them up. How far do you think the route is?