{"id":15227,"date":"2015-02-23T16:57:58","date_gmt":"2015-02-23T20:57:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/?p=15227"},"modified":"2019-04-29T17:15:34","modified_gmt":"2019-04-29T21:15:34","slug":"top-10-things-do-kids-winter-paris","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/2015\/02\/23\/top-10-things-do-kids-winter-paris\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 10 Things to Do With Kids During Winter in Paris"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n\t\"Photo\n\t
Exploring the Eiffel Tower in the snow is magical<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Often when we think of winter activities for kids we think of Christmas; visiting Santa and baking cookies. But what is there to do once all the Christmas decorations have been taken down and the presents are unwrapped? Contrary to popular belief, there are many things to do with your family for a winter vacation after the holiday season has drawn to a close. This is especially true in Paris, where wintertime is a season of bustling activity! Although there is no shortage of kid-friendly activities in the City of Lights, these are a few of the ones we think are the best.<\/p>\n

1. Go ice skating<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n\t\"The\n\t
Ice skating in front of City Hall? Don\u2019t mind if we do.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Unlike in the United States, many of the city\u2019s winter ice skating rinks stay open for weeks and months after the holidays. Popular indoor skating centers include the Patinoire Pailleron<\/strong> and the Patinoire Sonja Henie<\/strong>. However, the most famous and popular of all ice rinks in Paris is hands down the Patinoire de L\u2019H\u00f4tel de Ville<\/strong>, the ice rink in front of City Hall. Be sure to admire the surrounding architecture, as much of Paris was redesigned in the late 1900s in the Haussmann style. In fact, that\u2019s part of why Paris has so many stairs<\/a>!<\/p>\n

2. Visit the city\u2019s kid-friendly museums<\/strong><\/p>\n

Most kids have very strong opinions about parents who take them to museums on vacation. However, even the most resolute child will be forced to revise their opinion after visiting some of Paris\u2019s great kid-friendly museums. The National Museum of Natural History (Museum National d\u2019Histoire Naturelle<\/strong>) is the best place in Paris to find every child\u2019s (and some adults!) favorite thing: dinosaurs. These dinosaurs aren’t just any dinosaurs; they tower above visitors and are accompanied by helpful explanations of what they were like in real life. Walk through the life-size safari and be prepared for your child to never want to leave.<\/p>\n

Other great museums include the largest science museum in Paris, the Cit\u00e9 des Sciences et de l\u2019Industrie<\/strong>, the astronomy exhibits in the Palais de la D\u00e9couverte<\/strong>, favorite kids’ art museum Mus\u00e9e en Herbe<\/strong>, and industrial design museum Mus\u00e9e des Arts et M\u00e9tiers<\/strong>. Other kid-friendly hits are the Mus\u00e9e Gr\u00e9vin<\/strong>, a wax museum with contemporary and historical figures, and the Mus\u00e9e du Quai Branly<\/strong>, which features the indigenous art of cultures in Africa, Asia, Oceana, and the Americas.<\/p>\n

3. Visit the city\u2019s zoo<\/strong><\/p>\n

There\u2019s nothing cooler than seeing real-life lions in Paris, an activity you can now accomplish in the recently reopened Zoo de Vincennes<\/strong>. It was undergoing major renovations that are exciting in their own right. The new complex encompasses six \u201cbiozones\u201d which replicate environments in the savannah, African rainforests, Patagonia, French Guiana, Madagascar, and Europe. On top of all that, it\u2019s also being rebuilt to rely partly on solar power. Come for the penguins and stay for this architectural monument to the future.<\/p>\n

4. Enjoy the city\u2019s holiday season<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n\t\"Christmas\n\t
Christmas, shopping, and Paris are the trifecta of travel; just add a Ferris Wheel.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

We may have began this article with \u201cChristmas celebrations aren’t the only thing to do during the winter,\u201d but it’s still a must-see. While not the only winter activity, it is certainly the largest. If you spend 11 months of the year waiting for December to come, check out our top yearly events in Paris<\/a>! During the holiday season Christmas markets<\/strong> open, Grands Magasins<\/strong> all try to outdo one another with increasingly lavish window displays, and Grande Roue de la Concorde<\/strong> lights up a winter season spectacle that will impress even the most Scrooge-like. Kids in particular are huge fans of the lights, food, and the ability to go around the Concorde Ferris Wheel and soar above Paris. It\u2019s also a great place to go shopping, so don\u2019t forget to check out these top Paris shopping spots<\/a>.<\/p>\n

5. Watch kid-friendly movies from your vacation rental<\/strong><\/p>\n

While going out every day can be great, some days you just need to relax at home. Of course, that doesn\u2019t mean you can\u2019t still see Paris, particularly when you stay in one of these apartments with a view of the Eiffel Tower<\/a>. Watch kid-friendly movies in our vacation rentals in Paris<\/a> for a wholesome family activity. Disney movies in particular are a great choice. Alternatively, consider a furnished long-term apartment<\/a> if you\u2019ll be in town for more than a month. Not sure about navigating the city on your own? Not a problem; the hosts in our bed and breakfasts<\/a> are always happy to help.<\/p>\n

6. Day trip to Disneyland Paris<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n\t\"Go\n\t
The magic of Disney combined with the wonder of Paris is a winning combination.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Remember the days when you and your kids knew all the lyrics to every Disney song? Maybe you still do. Indulge that joy again and bring a huge smile to your children\u2019s faces when you tell them you\u2019re taking them to Disneyland Paris<\/strong>. It\u2019s easily accessible via public transportation on the RER A and is a great way to bond. If you only have time to go for one day, make sure it’s New Year\u2019s Eve; the park sets off fireworks to ring in the new year, and it\u2019s one of Paris\u2019s biggest annual events<\/a>. If you\u2019re going in the winter, make sure to pack warm clothes for your time spent waiting in line.<\/p>\n

7. Go swimming!<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n\t\"Aquaboulevard\n\t
Don\u2019t let anyone tell you that you can\u2019t swim in midwinter. <\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Think you can\u2019t go swimming in the winter? Think again! There’s a huge water resort accessible by metro in the city of Paris called AquaBoulevard<\/strong>. It offers an exciting day out for the whole family and is the biggest urban water park in Europe. It has 11 giant waterslides, indoor and outdoor Jacuzzis, lazy rivers, and thousands of meters of beach sprinkled with thirty straw huts. Winter is the low season, so you can enjoy having more of the park to yourselves. There is an army of lifeguards on duty at any given time, so you can relax if your kids run out of sight. During the winter the outdoor attractions are closed, but most of the fun stuff is indoors. Bathing standards may be different from what you\u2019re used to, however, so make sure you\u2019re up to date on basic Paris etiquette<\/a>.<\/p>\n

8. Enjoy food!<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n\t\"Paris\n\t
There are no pastries better than French pastries.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

There\u2019s truly no place like Paris when it comes to cuisine. Food is famed for being world-class and taken seriously in France. You can fancy yourself a chef when you cook French recipes with local market ingredients in the kitchen of your vacation rental. After all, freshness is key when it comes to a good meal, and you can\u2019t get any fresher than straight off the farmer\u2019s table. Need a bit of French foodie inspiration<\/a>? Try our recipes. Another French staple is bread, and while all French bread is delicious, these particular bakeries<\/a> are truly top-notch. Otherwise, try croissants, macarons, and other pastries from the best pastry shops in Paris<\/a>!<\/p>\n

9. Visit some of the city\u2019s best landmarks<\/strong><\/p>\n

No trip to Paris is complete without visiting a few must-sees. Of course the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, <\/strong>and Louvre Museum<\/strong> come to mind, but Paris actually has a whole host of great landmarks<\/a> worth the trip. One word of advice: study your history before exploring. While Paris is beautiful alone, so much of the city is rooted in history that you\u2019d really be missing a big part of the city without historical context. For example, did you know that the Eiffel Tower was meant to be a temporary feature, and some Parisians dislike it to this day? Did you know there\u2019s an underground labyrinth of bones beneath the Notre Dame Cathedral<\/strong>? Bring your camera as well as your sense of adventure\u2013 there\u2019s so much to explore.<\/p>\n

10. Day trip to the Palace of Versailles<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n\t\"The\n\t
You know you\u2019ve made it in Versailles when your bedroom has audience seating.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

If you have an extra day in Paris, don\u2019t miss the Palace of Versailles<\/a>. Originally built by King Louis XIV as a way to keep the French aristocracy in line, it was the center of political power in France until 1789 and the beginning of the Revolution. Everything is arranged around the King\u2019s quarters, or the Chambre du Roi, and French nobles were required to spend part of their year under the supervision of the king. Social status was everything, making attendance at Versailles essential for any social climber. Today, it’s known as an unparalleled example of the lavish splendor of the French monarchy. Be sure to visit the hall of mirrors, arguably the most famous room in the palace.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Often when we think of winter activities for kids we think of Christmas; visiting Santa and baking cookies. But what is there to do once…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[24],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15227"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15227"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15227\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19940,"href":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15227\/revisions\/19940"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15227"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15227"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15227"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}