Paris: Right Bank in one day with kids

This is doable in one day.
Angelina's for hot cocoa:

Pure chocolate and thick luscious whip cream!

Work off that sugar across the street at the trampolines in the Tuileries:

Or.... rent a sailboat (also an option at the Left Bank's Luxembourg garden), ride a carrousel or a pony.  I don't have photos of those.

Visit the Louvre.   Before you go, check out the kid's programs offered.

Can you believe this is the best photo I have in my collection of the Louvre?!?

But....do not enter via the dramatic glass pyramid.  You will stand on line forever, especially if at opening time.  Instead, enter through the Carrousel du Louvre (a little shopping mall and food court (in France!).  It's located on rue de Rivoli.  I've done this 6 times and have never run into a line.  Once inside, you'll see the pretty pyramid.  I also like to go late in the day, it's less crowded.

Walk through the Palais Royal.  The garden is on one side and the black and white courtyard on the other.    I packed daughter's jump rope and she burned off energy jumping and climbing on the stools.

This is a great place to relax and get a break from the hustle of Paris.

If you still have time and energy, here are a few more right bank suggestions for kids:

Quai de la Mégisserie:  An entire street dedicated to pet and garden shops.  You'll also see the picturesque bouquinistes across the street along the Seine.

Les Arts Decoratifs:  (very close to the Carrousel du Louvre) Great toy museum, textiles and fashion.  Once, I accidentally walked into a closed area while curators were setting up  a new exhibit and got an earful of  very loud and colorful french!  Oops.

Musée de la Poupée  Not as close by, but definitely worth a visit.  Take a look at their class schedule.  Daughter took a doll making class and loved it. 

 

Geneva, Switzerland

We travelled last Spring from Paris to Geneva via a beautiful train ride. We were very excited to see Geneva since our daughter speaks French and all the other cities we've been to in Switzerland were stunning. Geneva did not let us down! It's an EXTREMELY child friendly, walkable town.....and even though we love Paris very much, it was a bit of a relief to walk around at a slower pace. Everyone waits for the walk signal. Really, it's quite amazing. And these little signs are posted about the city:

The city transit system is easy to use (many hotels offer free daily passes so ask at the front desk) and there is potable water everywhere. We walked past a little shop with cherries, turned the corner and voila! potable water to fill up our water bottles and wash the cherries.

Places to visit with your children (we did all this in a day):
The Natural History Museum. There's a two headed turtle in the entry way! My 7 year old loved this museum (download or pack the movie Night at the Museum to get excited). Best of all.....it's free!
Bastions Park, Place Neuve. At the north end of the park you can play a game of life size chess or checkers or check out the playground just past the green cafe. When you're finished with that, walk along the tree lined park where you'll see the first University in Geneva, lots of park benches for a rest, open spaces for picnics and some time to do cartwheels!

The flower clock. This is located along the promenade where you'll find playgrounds, ice cream shops and a lovely view of Lac Leman. The soccer ball (in the background) is hovering over the jet d'eau on Lac Leman.

There are lots more places to visit with children, but we had a train to catch for Venice and had to save some sights for the next time. For our next trip we'll stop at the United Nations, the American Red Cross Museum learn about the Swiss banking and watch making industries and definitely sample more chocolate!