Paris Kid's Zone Guide

Paris can be a fun city for kids or teenagers who are history lovers. They will love visiting Versailles, Les Invalides military museum where galore, cannons, mortars, armor, swords, daggers, souvenirs from Napoleon’s time, including his hat and sword are exposed, and even the Egyptian section of the Louvre, where children flock to see mummified cats. Science lovers can’t miss the Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie at La Villette which as so many special events and exhibitions for kids. They will also be thrilled by the Palais de la découverte’s planetarium. Another enthralling museum, particularly for teens, is the Pasteur Museum.Intimately set in his former home, the museum boasts impressive display of Pasteur’s most famous experiments. If they like animals take the kids to the Jardin des Plantes’ Natural history national museum the permanent exhibitions are amazing and there are great temporary exhibitions too. The Centre Pompidou has a children’s atelier on Wednesdays and Saturdays. And of course, kids will love getting on top of the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe. An Unusual place to visit is the Sewers museum where a part of Victor Hugo’s Misérables took place. Guided tours are organized in foreign languages only in summer.

As far as open air activities are concerned, the Bateau-mouche tour on the Seine is great fun for kids. Also check out the Bois de Boulogne, a huge park at the West border of Paris also called the “main lung” of Paris. The Jardin d’Acclimatation, at the northern edge of the park, is for children, with a zoo, an amusement park, and a narrow-gauge railway.

Kids will never be starved for entertainment in Paris. There is the magnificent Disneyland Paris, spread across 1,500 acres, and it is sure to win any red-blooded child’s heart. Both kids and adults will also immensely enjoy a tour along the Seine River. A great one for sight seeing, this tour is unique in a lot of ways. For one, during the tour the child would get to see the entire overview of the beautiful city of Paris. Sure to kindle nostalgia in adults and unbounded excitement in kids. A visit to Notre Dame, should not be ruled out either, if not for anything else but for its breath-taking size and beauty.

On the Right bank one could take a stroll through the Jardin de Tuileries while savouring heaps of ice-creams or ride on a donkey back or even attend marionette shows depending on the little prince or princesses’ mood. On the Left Bank, one can go to Jardin du Luxembourg to enjoy the same kind of fun. If Puppets are fun for any child, then catch a puppet show anywhere in Paris as they are a great tradition in the city. Don’t let any child miss the wax museum at Musée Grevin, which is known for being the number one waxworks’ museum in Paris.

And yes, has one come to the fashion capital of the world and the child is still attired in those normal clothes? There are many fashion shops specializing in children’s clothes and also a lot of fashion houses have separate outlets for kids. In fact, Paris holds so much enjoyment for the tiny tots, that for once tourist will be glad to have taken the children along for the holiday.

By Anil Gupta

The Wonder That Is Disneyland

It is a very common belief that no time is perfect that today discover the magic of Disneyland Resort Paris. The time has come. Visualize an enchanting kingdom filled with fantasy and a world full of make-believe characters - these dreams come true at Disneyland® Park where there are five make-believe lands to enjoy. Unearth a place so magical that young and old alike will remember it for ever.

Treat the whole family to a fabulous break at Disneyland Resort Paris, including the Walt Disney Studios Park where one can discover a magical world of fun and adventure. The Paris Disneyland is a better theme park than the Magic Kingdom in Florida. Disney has learnt from Disneyland, WDW's Magic Kingdom and Tokyo Disneyland and has fashioned something rather special in Disneyland Paris. Besides being actually the largest Park of the four, it has a number of small little paths and hidden corners on much the same lines as those which imbue the Californian park with such charm. The rides are, of course, technologically more recent. It has also achieved a European flavor.

Disneyland Paris is divided into five themed areas inside the park, and the Disney Village just outside of the park. In the same way as in any other theme park, there are must-see attractions at Disneyland Paris to reflect on while preparing to say bonjour to Monsieur Mickey. There are favorites of each and every visitor, but there are some standard places that shouldn’t be missed. As soon as one enters there is the Main Street, where the traditional charm of small-town America is brought to life. Jump aboard the Disneyland Railroad for a trip of the park, but one can get off at any of the three train stops - Frontierland, Fantasyland and Discoveryland. While Main Street certainly deserves a stroll, the choice of hiring an old-fashioned car to cruise the street is also available. However there are positive chances that both kids and adults will be eager to get to the rides.

One place to begin is the adventure in dreamy Fantasyland at Sleeping Beauty’s Castle. This part of the park is a perfect binding of American Disney and European style, with thatched cottages, gabled windows and cobblestone paths. After visiting with the famed beauty, pursue the stories of childhood favorites Peter Pan, Snow White and Pinocchio while going from one ride to another. Lines are rarely long at the classic it’s a Small World, and the carousel should be visited in the evening, when it’s illuminated.
Discoveryland gives a new twist on Americas Tomorrowland, paying homage to heroic visionaries of yesterday, including H.G. Wells. Upon entering this area of the park, make your first stop Space Mountain as it is the most thrilling Space Mountain of any of the Disney parks.

Adventureland is where one can go on the Indiana Jones backward roller coaster. The classic Pirates of the Caribbean where visitors ride through caves and tunnels amid pirate fights and swashbuckling victory parties. An even soother experience can be found at the Le Passage Enchanté d'Aladdin, recreating the story of Aladdin’s journey with animated scenes.
Frontierland is as close to the old Wild West as it gets in Paris. With one staying in one of the park’s Western-themed hotels is quite nearby. Disney characters a feature offered at various hotels in the Disneyland is a sure heartwinner. Either way, after a day at Disneyland Paris sweet dreams of bliss in the heart of France are certain.

By Anil Gupta