I’ve always thought of Paris as the ultimate adult playground. But Paris for the under-four-foot set? I wasn’t so sure.

That’s why discovering kid-friendly Paris (yes, it exists!) has been such a happy surprise. When the kids tire of museums and medieval churches (dubiously labeled “kid-friendly” by many a travel guide) put the Luxemburg Gardens on your family game plan. Even if much of the grass is interdit, there’s more than enough here to tire out your little travelers leaving papa et maman to enjoy an evening à deux.

Ktylerconk

Here are some of my family’s favorite diversions within the gates of Paris’ most beloved jardin.

Poussin Vert: Hands down, the best playground Paris. Packed with jeux and completely enclosed, it has a sandbox, train and small slides for toddlers; a Spiderman-worthy climbing structure and rope swings for bigger kids. A snack stand at the entrance offers coffee (decent enough in a caffeine pinch) and sugary snacks. The playground draws chic locals from the 6eme, a raucous crowd of petits Parisians, plus the occasional visiting celeb (we recently spotted photographer Annie Leibowitz with her clan). On-site toilettes(pretty, they’re not) are helpful for little emergencies. The 2€ entrance fee (for kids and adults) is good for the whole day so grab a hand stamp on your way out.

Luxembourg Garden Sandbox (Ktylerconk)

Le Théâtre des Marionnettes: The original and still the best puppet show in Paris. Since, 1933 les marionnettes, headlined by Monsieur Guignol, have been delighting French children with classic tales like Les Trois Petits Cochons and Les Dernières Aventures de Pinnocchio. It’s kids-only in the first four rows so arrive early for best seating. And don’t forget a snack (preferably chocolate) for the brief intermission. You’ll be amazed at the sweet bons bons and biscuits these kids consume.

Florian Seroussi

Crepes, anyone? When happy offspring turn into hungry monsters, grab a seat in the shade next to the gravel-filled pétanque piste and take in a match while enjoying a warm crepe au nutella. (Word to the wise: skip the soupe à l’oignon). You’ll feel like you’re on the set of a 1940’s Truffaut film as stooped, cap-wearing gentlemen square off on dusty pitches reminiscent of Provence.

Le Manège Garnier: As far as kids’ activities go, I tend to think carousels offer the worst bang for your buck. Two euros for three minutes of fun? But in this case, we make an exception for the chance to ride on one of the city’s most charming originals (built in 1879 by Charles Garnier, architect of the Opera de Paris). Kids love to play chevalier by hooking the carousel’s “keys” on a tiny wooden lance astride one of 22 painted horses. A delight!

Le Manège (Nmatiny)

Les Bateaux à Voiles: It’s the quintessential activity for Parisian children and a must for any child’s visit to Paris. For just 2€ for 30 minutes, hire a vintage model sailboat and push it across the fountain in the shadow of Marie de Medicis’s 17^th century Palais du Luxembourg (seat of the French Senate). Drag a chaise across the dusty gravel and lézarde (literally, lie like a lizard) in the Parisian sunshine. This is family Paris at its finest. Summer afternoons also offer free outdoor music; come early to hear Chopin on Sundays on July.

Wallyg

Not tired yet? Vintage metal go-carts can be hired for a peddle around a make-shift race track in the shade. Take the carts for a spin on spring and summer afternoons behind the Poussin Vert. And for the icing on le gâteau, little horse-lovers can even take a leisurely ride on some (admittedly tired-looking) ponies. After all, what little Parisian doesn’t love a pony?

Ktylerconk

Related Links:

• Paris Mome – A great guide to Paris for kids in English and French (You can download a pdf in English)
• Worried about dining out with kids in Paris? Check out Tory’s tips on dining discreetly in Paris and on kid-friendly activities in Paris
• Need a super kid-friendly lunch spot? How about the eatery inside Bonpoint, the famous French children’s clothing store.
• Where’s Bryan has an unusual experience at the Jardin des Plantes… Another great place to bring kids in Paris!

Written by Paige Bradley Frost for the HiP Paris Blog. Looking for a fabulous vacation rental in Paris, Provence, or Tuscany? Check out Haven in Paris.

Haven in Paris has just added a gorgeous new apartment to its portfolio – this lovely Servandoni 2-bedroom. Located on a quiet cobble stone street directly between the historic church of Saint Sulpice and the glorious Luxembourg Gardens, the apartment has its own private roof deck, complete with couch, armchairs and table — perfect for relaxing entre amis after a long day of sightseeing. The best part: it’s still available for parts of August and September!

The living room has a pull-out couch for extra guests, and a flat-screen TV and professional sound system for entertaining on nights in.

Saint Germain Servandoni – eat-in kitchen and master bedroom

The eat-in kitchen has everything you need to cook up a delicious French feast gathered from a day’s worth of market shopping, and the pull-out dining room table conveniently makes room for an intimate dinner served chez vous.

The two bedrooms both include queen beds and en-suite bathrooms with rain showers. I can’t think of a better way to cool off after a long day of shopping…

Saint Germain Servandoni – Bedroom with terrace access

Well, maybe an apéritif on the private terrace wouldn’t be so bad!

Planing a last-minute trip? Click here for the Servandoni apartment’s availability calendar. We also have some great deals going on many of our other fabulous flats for those last dates available in August and September.

PS: Be sure to also check out our brand new luxury two bedroom flat on the rue des Beaux Arts. We are also in love with this wonderful apartment situated in the heart of the St Germain des Pres neighborhood. Happy traveling!

Related Links

• Last minute special offers on many of our Paris apartments – limited dates available in August and September!
• Haven in Paris vacation rental flats in Paris
• Reviews of past HIP guests

Written by Geneviève Sandifer for the HiP Paris Blog. For our amazing rentals in Paris, Provence & Tuscany check out our website Haven in Paris.

]]> http://hipparis.com/2010/08/06/we-have-a-crush-haven-in-paris-new-saint-germain-flat/feed/ 4 http://hipparis.com/2009/10/08/heidi-swansons-10-days-in-paris/ http://hipparis.com/2009/10/08/heidi-swansons-10-days-in-paris/#comments Fri, 09 Oct 2009 03:22:12 +0000 Haven in Paris http://hipparis.com/?p=4520 Food blogger, photographer, and world traveler Heidi Swanson reflects on 10 idyllic days in Paris. From the flea markets at Clignancourt to the gelato at Pozzetto to dinner at Le Verre Volé, she hit a number of our favorite spots.

Text and photos by Heidi Swanson, 101 Cookbooks

It’s 5:45 in the morning, the sky is starting to glow ever so slightly near the horizon, and all is still and quiet outside. I’m sitting on my sofa wide awake. My body thinks it’s the middle of the day, and there is no way around it – I’m in for a couple more early mornings before I can shake this jet lag. So. I thought I’d make myself some tea, watch the sun come up, and take a bit of time to share my notes on Paris, before the details of this adventure start to slip my mind.

I mentioned a few weeks ago that Clotilde and I decided to swap apartments. She came to San Francisco while I went to Paris. Wayne and I spent ten days in Paris criss-crossing the city on foot and by subway, darting into patisseries, taking photographs, and sitting on benches in flower-lined city gardens. We ate well in Paris, and I found plenty to be inspired by in the little cafes serving up seasonal tarts, salads, crepes, and quiches.

Read the rest of Heidi’s post by clicking here.

Edited by Tory Hoen for the HiP Paris Blog. Looking for a fabulous vacation rental in Paris, Provence, or Tuscany? Check out Haven in Paris.

Photo Erica Berman

Text Jen Holup
Open the infamous little red “Plan de Paris” to a map of any arrondissement, and you will be presented with pleasant green shapes on every page.  Full of green spaces to discover, Paris is a veritable urban jungle.

Many of Paris’ parks are well-tred territory, beloved by both locals and tourists alike. Luxembourg Gardens is a welcome rest-stop on a journey through the bustling Latin Quarter to Montparnasse. the Champs de Mars and Jardin des Tuileries offer grandiose promenades among the city’s most impressive monuments.  Yet, more than once, after packing a picnic and a book for an afternoon in the park, I have found one of the endearing “pelouse au repos” signs gracing the lawn, informing me (albeit in the charming French way) that the grass was “resting,” and thus unfit for human contact.  So, where does one retreat for a picnic in the City of Lights while our flora friends recuperate?

Bois de Vincennes: Since Louis XV, these 995 acres have been open to public enjoyment.  The lovely thing about parks in Paris is that they are so much more than a series of well-landscaped paths for an afternoon stroll.  Bois de Vincennes offers distractions for all interests.  This forest on the eastern edge of the city has so much to offer, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it even for a rainy day.  Enter the forest from Porte Dorée (Metro Ligne 8), where you will be greeted by Paris’ only Aquarium.  A short walk away is the Zoo (closed for renovations until 2012), the Cité de l’Histoire de l’Immigration, and a bonafide Buddhist monastery offering courses in meditation, yoga, and Eastern practices several days a week.

During the summer, the Pelouse de Reuilly comes alive with carnival activity.  To truly escape the city for a spell, Vincennes offers two pleasant lakes: Lac Daumesnil and Lac des Minimes.  Bird-watchers will delight in the informative placards identifying (in French) the lakes’ waterfowl.  A trip to the Ferme Georges Villa, a small-scale farm, and a hippodrome.

Parc des Buttes-Chaumont: Truly, the only setback of this unique park is its unfortunate location on the feeble Metro Ligne 7-bis—a 7-stop affair that will likely require at least two transfers from any major hub.  Take a taxi, if you must, but don’t miss this peaceful oasis in the 19th, offering spectacular views of Paris.  Ideal for lounging on a spring or summer day.

Bois de Boulogne: Alighting at the art-deco Metropolitain at Porte Dauphine evokes the early twentieth century Paris of Proust, where gentleman courted ladies along the wooded avenues to Longchamp races or the ritzy suburbs of Neuilly and Boulogne.
(Perfectly safe during daylight hours, but do exercise caution in any public park at night: the area becomes an infamous red-light district after dark).