Wanderlust World Wanderlust World The Eiffel Tower is the symbol of Paris, built by Gustave Eiffel for the Universal Exhibition of 1889. At the time, the 324-meter tower was the tallest structure in Paris. Visitors can either take an elevator or climb to the second floor, about one-third of the way up, then take an elevator all the way to the top for a breathtaking panoramic view. To make the visit more interactive for kids, pick up an activity book called "Follow Gus" at Cineiffel on the first floor. Kids follow Gus' yellow footprints on the first floor to find clues to help them answer the quiz questions in the activity book, and learning fun facts about the Eiffel Tower in the process. At the end of the visit, kids will be able to answer questions like: "How often is the Eiffel Tower repainted?"
While the catacombs may be unsuitable for very young children, adventurous older kids and teens will get a kick out their macabre atmosphere straight out of "Indiana Jones." The catacombs house the bones of six million Parisians transferred here at the end of the 18th century, when the main Parisian cemetery was shut down for health reasons. The bones are arranged in intricate designs over 2 kilometers of tunnels. In fact, these tunnels snake under the entire city of Paris, but this is the only stretch that is open to the public.
The Luxembourg Gardens, built by Queen Marie de' Medici in the 17th century to resemble the Boboli Gardens in Florence, are just in front of the Senate. Adults will enjoy the Luxembourg Gardens for the classic French garden design, the sculptures, and fountains. Kids can rent a toy sailboat and sail it in the central fountain, watch a puppet show or ride a pony. Similar activities are also available in the Tuileries Gardens, in front of the Louvre.
A cruise along the Seine is a wonderful way to see Paris because many of the city's landmarks, like the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and Notre Dame, are on the river or clearly visible from it. Kids will enjoy it too because it means being on a boat. The batobus is especially convenient because you can hop on and off at one of its eight stops if the kids get cranky, and use it as a form of transportation.
Paris' doll museum is a must-see attraction for doll lovers of all ages. The museum's permanent collection features over 500 French dolls from 1800 to 1919, presented chronologically so that visitors can see how the doll evolved over the years. In addition, the museum offers various activities and workshops for children such as learning how to make clothes for a paper doll.