First trip for the family next spring to those three cities. Age range is a couple of teens and a 10 year old. What would be on your "have to do" and "don't waste your time" lists for each place? Obvious spots, random lesser-known spots, whatcha got?
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High Priority To-Do list: Amsterdam, Bruges, Paris
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Last: 2 mo ago by Urban Country Boy
Generic quick list of must do's if I brought teens/kids would be:
Bruges:
-Climb the Belfry in the main square.
-Waffles and fries. Vendors everywhere
Paris:
-Catacombs would be cool for teens
-Seine cruise
-Eiffel Tower
-Louvre
-Food tour of some type (We did one in Montmartre)
-Normandy if teens are into it, might be boring for younger kids
Amsterdam
-Not too sure on family stuff, maybe Anne Frank house is the obvious one
Bruges:
-Climb the Belfry in the main square.
-Waffles and fries. Vendors everywhere
Paris:
-Catacombs would be cool for teens
-Seine cruise
-Eiffel Tower
-Louvre
-Food tour of some type (We did one in Montmartre)
-Normandy if teens are into it, might be boring for younger kids
Amsterdam
-Not too sure on family stuff, maybe Anne Frank house is the obvious one
Is a Normandy excursion a day trip (out and back)? Or is it further out and a bigger time obligation? I have no perspective on distance over there.
Stive said:
Is a Normandy excursion a day trip (out and back)? Or is it further out and a bigger time obligation? I have no perspective on distance over there.
It took us a day and half, essentially. We took the 2.5-3 hour train ride from Paris to Bayuex and explored the town one afternoon (walked around, saw the tapestry, and had dinner). The next day our guide picked us up at 8:00am and we toured Normandy until about 5:00, when we caught the train back to Paris. Our guide was Dale Booth. I highly recommended him.
Our Normandy trip was similar
We took an early train to Bayeux. Picked up by guide and returned late afternoon. Took the train back to Paris. Long day, but worth it
We took an early train to Bayeux. Picked up by guide and returned late afternoon. Took the train back to Paris. Long day, but worth it
For Paris, I really enjoyed both the Louvre and Versailles. Walking the gardens at Versailles was more interesting for me than the palace itself.
TriAg2010 said:
For Paris, I really enjoyed both the Louvre and Versailles. Walking the gardens at Versailles was more interesting for me than the palace itself.
We were planning on Versailles and we just learned that the gardens are half a day and the palace is about half a day. Is spending a whole day there, half and half, worth the time? Better to pick one over the other? Kind of seemed optimal to do both while there in that area but we weren't sure.
While in Bruges, visit Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk, aka Church of Our Lady. It dates back to about the year 1270 and is beautiful.
But what's significant about it is that is houses Michelangelo's "Madonna of Bruges" statue, of the Madonna and Child. It was the first work of Michelangelo to leave Italy, commissioned and brought to Bruges in 1504. And it was stolen twice from this church - the first time by Napoleon's forces during the French Revolution, and later by Hitler's troops during WWII (it's featured in the movie The Monuments Men too).
But what's significant about it is that is houses Michelangelo's "Madonna of Bruges" statue, of the Madonna and Child. It was the first work of Michelangelo to leave Italy, commissioned and brought to Bruges in 1504. And it was stolen twice from this church - the first time by Napoleon's forces during the French Revolution, and later by Hitler's troops during WWII (it's featured in the movie The Monuments Men too).
Stive said:TriAg2010 said:
For Paris, I really enjoyed both the Louvre and Versailles. Walking the gardens at Versailles was more interesting for me than the palace itself.
We were planning on Versailles and we just learned that the gardens are half a day and the palace is about half a day. Is spending a whole day there, half and half, worth the time? Better to pick one over the other? Kind of seemed optimal to do both while there in that area but we weren't sure.
It's been about 10 years for me, but I recall the Versailles palace tour was about 2 hours long. We started mid-morning, ate lunch, and spent another 2 hours walking the gardens. It's probably hard to really squeeze both into a half day.
Given choosing a day at Versailles or the Louvre, I'd pick the Lourve. I just found the building itself very cool.
Many years ago I took my 5th graders on a week trip to PARIS. Some of the places we visited were:
d'Orsay Museum
Louve
Sacre Coeur
Tomb of Napoleon and Army Museum
The students studied the entire year so most were excited to see these places in person. I should add I was teaching at a military base in Germany so we were a day bus ride away. It really was the best field trip ever! As I have traveled with my son he enjoyed these places and also the Sewer Tour . . . it was really interesting. We never made the cut for the Catacombs as it was a line up and hope to get in so not sure if can buy tickets ahead of time. If you want to venture outside of Paris Monet's Garden and Palace of Versailles are both good but again it sucks up at least a day due to travel.
As for AMSTERDAM, I would take my son to places I wanted to visit in hopes that he would be somewhat interested. If we only take them to places they want then they are missing out!
Anne Frank house is a must but plan ahead as tickets sell out quickly. It may sound boring but one trip I booked a 'lecture' from a historian and then a tour of the house. It was far better to hear a 45 history lesson and then tour the house. We did this as regular tickets were sold out so our only option and turned out to be a very good experience.
Canal Cruise
VanGogh Museum
Riijksmueum
Rembrandt House
book a tour to a windmill village or cheese farm . . . touristy? Yes but kids love this stuff
To keep him interested most museums in Europe offer some sort of kid centered scavenger hunt or activity to keep them interested to always ask. It does help keep them engaged.
As a kid I remembered reading about Corrie ten Boom. So on one of my solo trips I took a bus to Haarlem which isn't far from Amsterdam. Again, this is a very limited tour so have to plan ahead but it was so worth it to see a place that I had read about 30 years ago. Google her as she was a remarkable lady.
All these cities are amazing . . . it is easy to just walk around and be in awe of the beauty.
NORMANDY should be a must for every American within reach of Paris. My son loved everything about D-Day and his first trip was when he was 10. So much history even if you just go for a day.
d'Orsay Museum
Louve
Sacre Coeur
Tomb of Napoleon and Army Museum
The students studied the entire year so most were excited to see these places in person. I should add I was teaching at a military base in Germany so we were a day bus ride away. It really was the best field trip ever! As I have traveled with my son he enjoyed these places and also the Sewer Tour . . . it was really interesting. We never made the cut for the Catacombs as it was a line up and hope to get in so not sure if can buy tickets ahead of time. If you want to venture outside of Paris Monet's Garden and Palace of Versailles are both good but again it sucks up at least a day due to travel.
As for AMSTERDAM, I would take my son to places I wanted to visit in hopes that he would be somewhat interested. If we only take them to places they want then they are missing out!
Anne Frank house is a must but plan ahead as tickets sell out quickly. It may sound boring but one trip I booked a 'lecture' from a historian and then a tour of the house. It was far better to hear a 45 history lesson and then tour the house. We did this as regular tickets were sold out so our only option and turned out to be a very good experience.
Canal Cruise
VanGogh Museum
Riijksmueum
Rembrandt House
book a tour to a windmill village or cheese farm . . . touristy? Yes but kids love this stuff
To keep him interested most museums in Europe offer some sort of kid centered scavenger hunt or activity to keep them interested to always ask. It does help keep them engaged.
As a kid I remembered reading about Corrie ten Boom. So on one of my solo trips I took a bus to Haarlem which isn't far from Amsterdam. Again, this is a very limited tour so have to plan ahead but it was so worth it to see a place that I had read about 30 years ago. Google her as she was a remarkable lady.
All these cities are amazing . . . it is easy to just walk around and be in awe of the beauty.
NORMANDY should be a must for every American within reach of Paris. My son loved everything about D-Day and his first trip was when he was 10. So much history even if you just go for a day.
In Amsterdam the maritime museum in the old Dutch East India Trading Company was pretty good. They have a replica sailing ship from the 1700's you can go thru. I would also consider a boat tour on the canals- Captain Jack's tours are really good.
It depends on if school is still in or you are going after school is out. Early Spring may be cold but the crowds are nowhere near as bad. I can't do long queues.
Paris, in addition to what others have said, try Sainte-Chapelle.
Paris, in addition to what others have said, try Sainte-Chapelle.
We'll be there last week of May, first few days of June.
Urban Country Boy said:
Paris, in addition to what others have said, try Sainte-Chapelle.
Sainte-Chapelle is probably my favorite site in Paris. One tip: get the reservation for as soon as it opens. Otherwise the line gets backed up as the day goes on and you may wait an hour past your time slot.
That is going to be a busy time. Anything you can book before online, do it.Stive said:
We'll be there last week of May, first few days of June.
And don't get in a rush. Just leave the hotel and walk. It is the best way to see these cities. Go walking early in Paris. You will have the place to yourself. Sit under the willows at Pont Neuf.
Paris is my favorite city. I go as often as I can.
Busy for American tourists; not as much for locals. The French (and most of Europe) have school until July. Late May is a great time to go. And because the French travel so much within their own country, school holidays make a big difference.Urban Country Boy said:That is going to be a busy time. Anything you can book before online, do it.Stive said:
We'll be there last week of May, first few days of June.
And don't get in a rush. Just leave the hotel and walk. It is the best way to see these cities. Go walking early in Paris. You will have the place to yourself. Sit under the willows at Pont Neuf.
Paris is my favorite city. I go as often as I can.
If your time is limited, I would not venture beyond Paris, except, possibly, for something close like Versailles. Normandy is great, but I would hesitate to burn a day for a rushed trip to the D-Day beaches if I only had a few days in Paris.
Good point that it is not locals. It is the crush of non-French. In August, the ones that can take off, go.twk said:Busy for American tourists; not as much for locals. The French (and most of Europe) have school until July. Late May is a great time to go. And because the French travel so much within their own country, school holidays make a big difference.Urban Country Boy said:That is going to be a busy time. Anything you can book before online, do it.Stive said:
We'll be there last week of May, first few days of June.
And don't get in a rush. Just leave the hotel and walk. It is the best way to see these cities. Go walking early in Paris. You will have the place to yourself. Sit under the willows at Pont Neuf.
Paris is my favorite city. I go as often as I can.
When I have people tell me about what I should know about Paris I get that guy from "Midnight in Paris" feeling. Pedantic.twk said:Busy for American tourists; not as much for locals. The French (and most of Europe) have school until July. Late May is a great time to go. And because the French travel so much within their own country, school holidays make a big difference.Urban Country Boy said:That is going to be a busy time. Anything you can book before online, do it.Stive said:
We'll be there last week of May, first few days of June.
And don't get in a rush. Just leave the hotel and walk. It is the best way to see these cities. Go walking early in Paris. You will have the place to yourself. Sit under the willows at Pont Neuf.
Paris is my favorite city. I go as often as I can.
If your time is limited, I would not venture beyond Paris, except, possibly, for something close like Versailles. Normandy is great, but I would hesitate to burn a day for a rushed trip to the D-Day beaches if I only had a few days in Paris.