2 families, 4 nights in Paris, what should we do/shouldn't we miss?

[earlgrey]

TIA.

Gallery de Evolution (Natural history museum) is great. Kids will love it.
Climb to top of Arc de Triomphe. Great views.
Take a boat ride.
I'll come back if I think of more.

Get day tickets for the "bateau bus" - it's a civilized way to get around with kids if you're aiming for the major sites. Not to be confused with the endless boats offering siteseeing trips with commentary. It stops at the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame amongst other things. We went in Feb half term and both my boys (13 and 8) really enjoyed Les Invalides with Napoleon's tomb. A meal in Chartier is an experience (nearest metro Grand Boulevards). It's a huge, old fashioned bisto complete with authentic French waiters. Simple food, very busy so good with kids as there is lots to see. We also eat around the Latin Quarter with the kids - there are lots of cheap restaurants - again busy and entertaining. There is an expectation though that kids will know how to behave in restaurants; if you are travelling with toddlers who won't sit at the table nobody is going to be going "how cute" if they wander around). In good weather you can't beat a classic French picnic in the many little parks and squares dotted around everywhere. There is an amazing food market on Rue Moufettard which our kids loved wandering along. There are plenty of cafes and restaurants in the area as well. You probably know this, but the price of soft drinks in cafes/restaurants is extortionate. You can normally get half a bottle of wine for less than a coke or orgage juice . Water is free!

Thanks everyone and no, SD, I didn't know about the soft drinks. The last time H and I went was just before we got married, so ten years ago and I don't think soft drinks were that high on our priority list!

I'd really like the girls to see something of the 'real' Paris - am beginning to think we could have saved our money and gone and stayed with Mum in London for a fraction of the price! Rue Moffetard sounds great though, that's just the sort of think I'd like them to see.

The only think that really sticks out in my mind is those catacomb things with all the skulls lined up from when they cleared out the cemetaries (what on earth was I thinking of???) but that may be a little too much for 7 and 8 year olds. And my Eurostar phobia, but that's another story .......

we were thinking about taking a family holiday in Paris over the summer. Just a 4 day city break and stay in an apartment and just hang out. Was your trip worth the money or would we be better off spending all the cash on Lion King and a hotel in London. Thanks