What To Do in Paris with Older Kids
No matter what interests your teen may have, they can be met in Paris. In a city that is bursting with culture, there is absolutely no end to the number of activities that Paris has to offer for you and your family on your vacation to Paris.
Fashion
If your child is interested in fashion or loves to shop, they are in for a wonderful surprise. With fashion museums across the city and hundreds of shops ranging from small vintage thrift shops to cute little boutique to ginormous, luxury department stores, there are many places to quench the thirst of a teen interested in fashion. Check out the Louis Vuitton Foundation to view hundreds of designs and timeless fashion pieces or take a walk though Galeries Lafayette to drool over $1,000 dresses that will make you want to sell all your belongings just to purchase one.
Art
Paris is known as the art capital of the world. The Louvre holds one of the world’s largest collections of art and can be found in the center of Paris; however, the city is also home to hundreds of more collections in famous art museums such as Musée D’Orsay, Musée L’Orangerie, Musée Rodin, and many more. No matter how much time you spend in Paris, you will never find yourself running out of art museums to see. Your teen may also be interested not only in seeing the art of Paris but partaking in it. There are many art classes throughout the city, including art classes that allow you to work with brilliant instructors within the museums.
History
The city of Paris has been developing for a long, long, LONG time! The time marks of the city will be interesting to a child who enjoys learning about any period of history. Personally, I find the French Revolutions incredibly interesting. Visit the Place de la Concorde to see where the French executed hundreds of people including King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette by the guillotine, and make sure you go to the Concierge to see where the Queen was held prisoner by the revolutionaries before her execution. Paris’ bloody history is gruesome but very interesting and is sure to fascinate your teenagers.
Literature
As someone who loves all things books, one of my absolute favorite places to go in Paris is Shakespeare and Company. This English bookstore opened in 1951 by an American named George Whitman as “Le Mistral.” He changed the name in 1964 to recognize Sylvia Beach who had opened the original Shakespeare and Company in 1919 as a place where famous writers of the roaring 20s came together to discuss literature and philosophy including Joyce, Hemingway, Stein, Fitzgerald, Eliot, Pound and many more. Since then, the bookstore has served as a home to traveling authors in honor of Whitman’s life philosophy: “Be not inhospitable to strangers lest they be angels in disguise.” The store holds generations of captivating stories that will stay with us for eternity. Furthermore, literary classics such as The Phantom of the Opera and Hunchback of Notre Dame have inspired millions to visit monuments such as the Opera House or the famous cathedral that bring to life the reader’s captive imaginations. You can even spend time in the house of famous author Victor Hugo.
Culinary Arts
French cuisine is famous around the world. French food has many influences from its surrounding cultures. It is also regarded as the basis for many foods that have allowed other cultures to add their own touches to the traditional meals that make them their own. The French strive to be the best in the culinary arts which lends a focus on flavor, color, smell, and creativity. By taking a French cooking class in Paris, your aspiring chefs will be able to learn about techniques that the French have mastered to ensure the most flavor no matter the meal. After your cooking class, be sure to check out some of the best restaurants in Paris to put your new found knowledge to the test by critiquing the chefs technique like a renowned food critic.