People speak about Paris with a dreamy longing, as though the city possesses a magic that cannot be found elsewhere says Jennifer Coburn. The author of best-seller “We’ll Always Have Paris” explains why she thinks the city of light is the perfect mother-daughter visit destination…
I’ve never heard anyone talk about Paris without sighing. The city is a Promised Land that holds appeal for almost everyone: artists, lovers, even people who just like cheese. It is also one of the best places on Earth for a mother and daughter to connect.
When my daughter Katie was eight years old, I decided to take her on her first trip overseas. Of course, I chose to visit Paris. No one ever asked why. The answer was simple; it was Paris.
Years later, as I began writing a mother-daughter travel memoir “We’ll Always Have Paris”, about Katie and my adventures around Europe, mothers began asking for travel tips on visiting the City of Light with their daughters.
I told them that if they were planning a mother-daughter trip to Paris, they probably already knew the major sites to hit. Travel guides always list the Louvre, Monet’s Gardens, and Versailles. Everyone knows they should go to the top of the Eiffel Tower. They’ve all heard about the Arc de Triomphe, Sacre Coeur, Pompidou, and Notre Dame, so I like to share my tips for lesser-known things a mother and daughter can share in Paris.
Mother and Daughter Guide to Paris
1) On your first evening in Paris, walk to Pont Neuf and catch the sunset cruise on the Seine River. Yes, it’s touristy, but what the heck, you’re tourists. This boat ride is a relaxing way to see some major landmarks. It also provides a peek at some hidden gems.
2) While on your river cruise, you’ll see several small pockets along the bank – almost like mini amphitheatres — where groups of 20-30 dancers practice their moves. Katie and I enjoyed watching couples dance the tango, then moved on to another group dancing to salsa music. It made for great (free!) evening entertainment.
3) As you ride the river cruise, you will also see several tiny manmade “beaches” where lawn chairs and umbrellas are set out. Grab a book and few euros for drinks, and enjoy a relaxing afternoon watching the boats pass.
4) While you are up in the 18th arrondissement to visit Sacre Coeur, leave the rest of the day to check out the many flea markets. If you’ve got a good eye, you can find some real treasures. (Check schedules online so you go on the right days: Saint Ouen Puces/flea markets.)
5) The Picasso Museum is hardly off the beaten bath, but worth mentioning as a must-see for its mind-blowing collection of vibrant paintings, sketches, and sculptures. While you’re in the area, spend the rest of the afternoon wandering the storybook-charming streets of Marais District. It is the Paris you always dreamed about. You’ll swear an accordion player in a red beret will be just around the corner
6) On our first trip to Paris, Katie and I almost skipped the Museum of Modern Art right across the river from the Eiffel Tower. Outside, it looked pretty grim with graffiti on the walls and skateboarders on the front steps. Inside was one of the most dynamic exhibits of contemporary art we’d ever seen. On our most recent visit, the museum had cleaned up its act, but still may still be overlooked by passers-by. It would be a shame to miss this one.
7) If you can stand the stench, Musee Des Egouts, the sewer museum, is a fascinating tour of the underbelly of the city. Young children are usually thrilled by the gross factor, but adults are typically intrigued by it too.
8) Stop by the Shakespeare & Company Bookstore on the Left Bank. This converted monastery is a bibliophile’s heaven, rich with books, history, and a full calendar of special events. If you’re up for a real adventure, you can spend the night at the bookstore with other “Tumbleweeds.” I greatly appreciated the bookstore allowing us to sleep in its Writer’s Studio, but it’s nothing I ever want to repeat. Katie, on the other hand, had the time of her life.
(Read a “Tumbleweed’s experience” at Shakespeare & Co, Paris).
9) Catch an old-fashion French puppet show in Jardins de Luxembourg. You don’t need to understand French – or be a child – to appreciate the silly drama on stage. While you’re there, plan to spend several hours in the park people watching or reading. Be warned, though: The French police are très serious about their rules, like not sitting on the grass.
10) My friend who spent a year in Paris suggested we take the 14 metro (purple line), which takes riders on a high speed ride from one end of Paris to the other…
You may notice that many of my tips include building in time for wandering around and leaving time for the unexpected. The biggest mistake I made on our first trip was trying to do too much. When Katie and I had dinner at my cousin’s house, her French husband looked at my city map, which I had dutifully marked with color-coded stickers of Paris sites. I explained that the yellow stickers were where we’d visit on Monday, and pink stickers marked Tuesday’s destinations. He rolled his eyes at my American rigidity. “In order to know Paris, he said, inhaling his cigarette, “you must simply have a glass of wine, relax, and enjoy life.” It was the best travel advice I ever got.
Jennifer Coburn is the author of the best-selling and brilliant read: “We’ll Always Have Paris”
