Trip idea for this summer with 21/2 year old

[Bena]

We want to take a trip this summer with DD (who'll be just over 2,5 year old).  We have 2 weeks.   I really, really would like to go to Europe, and I'm aware that with a small one, it would be simpler to pick one or two cities and stay there, as opposed to travelling around.

DH has family in Paris, so we were thinking of stopping there for a few days, then taking the train to Chamonix, and stay for a week.  We would hike around and take day trips on the train around the place.

DH and I have done that exact trip 10 years ago, but we were pretty hard core rock climbers back then and we attempted to climb Mont-Blanc...a lifetime ago!! 

Has anyone every been (or live in!) Paris or Chamonix with such young children?  Any tips or ideas on what to do?

Any better ideas of trips? 

[TiredX2]

You might get more response in the Tribal areas for the specific locations you're considering.

Good luck!

[Bena]

Great idea!  I didn't consider to ask the moms who actually live there!

Thanks!

[annalaurabrown]

There are special places for kids in Paris such as Euro Disney and other parks so it could work quite well. You wouldn't be able to visit all the museums like you can with adults but it could still work. Or you could always go to Disneyland or Walt Disney World. Both of those places also have zoos and animal parks nearby that children enjoy.

[MamaMunchkin]

Paris w/ a toddler - depends on your interests, but can be ... absolutely ... lovely.

Lots of parks/gardens/playgrounds, big and small, where kids can play.  Louvre and Orsay will be out for toddlers, but Rodin museum can work, beautiful garden with beautiful outdoor sculptures.

Tired of playing outside, get some snack from any neighborhood patisserie, all within walking distance from each other.  On the way there, get some crepe from any of  the street crepe stalls.  Play some more, then time for another snack break ... a few more of these, then it's time for dinner ... Notice the food theme ?

Too tired to walk, take the subway.  Though some of the bigger stations, where different lines intersect, can be trickier to navigate, esp. with a toddler in tow.  I would aim for smalller stations, faster to get in/out, even with all the stairs and no elevators. 

Another thing, on Wednesdays most children are out of school.  If you want to go to some playground, it'll probably be busier then.

Anyway, Paris probably can work if you take it easy.

[Caneel]

The most recent issue of Conde Nast Traveller has an entire section on travelling to European cities with kids.  I know Paris is profiled.

[rcr]

I spent a whole summer - 2 months - in europe with DS (just him and I) when he was about 2 1/2. It was wonderful. Definetely bring a stroller though, because we didn't (usually used a baby carrier), and ended up so desperate for one, we purchased one there.

What about Paris and Brussels - that is an easy train ride away.

We went from Paris to Amsterdam via train too, and that was a lot of fun. Amsterdam is great for kids that age, because at 2 1/2 they don't really understand the drugs and porn that you see in many of the tourist areas. There are a ton of outdoor markets that kids would love, great museums, and little shops. Artis zoo, parks, boat rides. Even the red light district was just fine for our 2 1/2 year old because he obviously was too young to know about sex, so it was just a fun walkable neighborhood with lots of character.

A bit farther, but still a train ride away, is the black forest in Germany - if you want something more nature-ish and less city-ish. There are so many little villages, all accessable by train.

We also took a boat from the netherlands to London (via train to London), and it was fun. The boat ride was a blast, and we got to sleep overnight in the little cabin, so we saved on a hotel room for one night. We are budget travelers, so we stay in hostels, but with DS I always got out own room in less party-ish hostels, which worked out well (and allowed us to have enough money to stay for 2 months).

[velochic]

Originally Posted by rcr 

I spent a whole summer - 2 months - in europe with DS (just him and I) when he was about 2 1/2. It was wonderful. Definetely bring a stroller though, because we didn't (usually used a baby carrier), and ended up so desperate for one, we purchased one there.

What about Paris and Brussels - that is an easy train ride away.

We went from Paris to Amsterdam via train too, and that was a lot of fun. Amsterdam is great for kids that age, because at 2 1/2 they don't really understand the drugs and porn that you see in many of the tourist areas. There are a ton of outdoor markets that kids would love, great museums, and little shops. Artis zoo, parks, boat rides. Even the red light district was just fine for our 2 1/2 year old because he obviously was too young to know about sex, so it was just a fun walkable neighborhood with lots of character.

A bit farther, but still a train ride away, is the black forest in Germany - if you want something more nature-ish and less city-ish. There are so many little villages, all accessable by train.

We also took a boat from the netherlands to London (via train to London), and it was fun. The boat ride was a blast, and we got to sleep overnight in the little cabin, so we saved on a hotel room for one night. We are budget travelers, so we stay in hostels, but with DS I always got out own room in less party-ish hostels, which worked out well (and allowed us to have enough money to stay for 2 months).

This is great advice, especially for Amsterdam - and Brussels is just a short train trip from there, too.  At 2.5, dd loved traveling overnight on trains.  We shared a berth (the top and I slept on the outside).  Traveling overnight gets you to where you are going and saves a night in a hotel.  Even that young, dd enjoyed the museums, so we didn't restrict where we went, including The Louvre.  We were living in Munich when she was this age, so were centrally located and enjoyed weekend trips to other countries.  Check out when different places have festivals because it seems like there is something going on all the time, especially in the summer.  In popular places, just the street entertainers would keep a little one's attention.  Also, in warmer months, grab some food at the local grocery and go to a park to have lunch and play.  Have a great trip!!

[Bena]

This is all great advice, thanks!  I visited both Amsterdam and Brussels before (my sister lived in Brussels for 5 years) and loved both cities, and never thought of going there with DD!  We'll look more into it!

I'll see if I can get my hands on the Conde Nast magazine.  I don't usually pick it up, but I've seen it at several magazine stores around town so I know it'll be easy to find!

Now I'm excited!