My mom is taking my best friend and I to Paris over spring break. Where should we go?

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Rillifane

Well you should certainly see all the standard tourist sights if for no other reason than you can one up most of your friends when you're watching some TV show or a movie which is set in Paris by shouting "I've been there!" So yeah, go see the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, The Arc de Triomphe, Sacre Coeur, the Opera Garnier, etc etc.

To be a "good tourist" requires some preparation and I urge you to take the time to read any good guidebook and learn what is available. Telling you everything to see would take a books worth of writing and that's a bit silly on a website like this. Besides, you won't have unlimited time and Paris is a city with a LOT of things to see. The Louvre Museum, for example, has some 35,000 works of arts in it. Obviously, you could spend a month or two just looking at that one museum. (but that's not my idea of a good time even though I appreciate art). anyway, the more you learn before you go the better. After all, think of how impressed the parents will be when you know more than they do about Paris.

I assume that as you will be with the one or both of the parental units all of the time that your freedom of action is limited.

So here is some stuff they might let you do:

1) Check out the big plaza in front of the Centre Pompidu (Which contains the Museum of Modern Art). On most sunny afternoons you'll find all sorts of street entertainers there. Among these will almost always be some guys doing big involved audience participation comedy bits. When they call for volunteers (and they always do) don't hesitate to stand up. The fact that you probably don't speak French will be NO problem. These guys tend to be very good and very funny. You'll have a great time and if you can have someone snap a picture you'll have a great story to tell when you get home (and a photo to prove it).

2) If you have a skateboard bring it along and head over to the Forum des Halles (which is only a few blocks from the Pompidu). You'll find a lot of young skate board enthusiasts hanging out there. A chance for a great photo of you doing a 180 frontside ollie in the Parisian equivalent of the Mall.

3) Go down to the river. In the Summer they cart in a bunch of sand and turn a section of the Seine riverbank into an artificial "beach." You can't swim in the Seine (its really polluted) but people play beach volleyball and otheriwse act like they are at the beach.

4) At ten p.m. every Friday night thousands of people gather in the the Place d'Italie and proceed to rollerskate thru the streets accompanied by a special Police unit to clear the way and keep them safe.

5) Become a member of the least exclusive club in the world!The CafÃ© Metropole Club meets every Thursday afternoon. Membership is very exclusive...you have to show up. Details can be found here: http://www.metropoleparis.com/aclub.html The people who show up are a collection of expatriates and tourists. A good place to meet some nice people and get some good advice about current events.

You'll find that Paris is one of the coolest, hippest, most beautiful places in the world. I've been going back just about every year for the last 35 years (I'll be back again this october). I used to take my daughter when she was your age and she loved the place. She also got to take a friend along (which made her really popular at school).

The first word's she learned in French were "Une crepe avec comfiture fraise" meaning "a crepe with strawberry jam." Try one. They're great and available at street stands all over Paris. Ask for it in French without letting your parents know you know how to (just to make their heads spin).

hello xo :]

you should get the book day by day in Paris by frommers. They have tons of stuff. i just bought it . youre so luck that your going now!!
here are some places to go...
--eiffel tower (of course)
--arc de triumph
--the louvre
--notre dame
--sacre couer
--i forget where all the shops are though. you should look online. like chanel,versace, always discounts!!

nowyouknow555

Eiffel Tower
Louvre Museum
Great restaurants in the Montparnasse area. You can walk there (Cafe Autelier) after you visit the Catacombs.
Visit Moulin Rouge (outside only) and go up the street LePic and see the church Sacre Coeur. There is a nice grassy area and sometimes musicians gather there. Beware of the moneychangers in that area though. I got ripped off.
The big street Champs Elysees is good for SHOPPING and movie theaters and banks and cafes. You might go there at least twice.

bring your camera and take pictures of all the bridges and Notre Dame (from the top!!!). The line is extremely long but worth it, I promise.

Oh yes, most importantly. I bought Eiffel Tower keychains for people (they are cheapest at the Eiffel Tower 2 for 1 Euro unless you can find a better deal go there). BUT I didn't get one for myself and was kinda disappointed. I didn't want one till a year later, but then I wondered why I didn't get one for me too!!

andiepandie81

Paris is beautiful! Make sure you go on a cruise on the river at night - its inexpensive and the eiffel tower looks amazing all lit up.

ericbryce2

This is a good day trip out of the city to see the finest chateau and pleasure garden in France. Fully restored and furnished this prototype of Versailles is a must see to anyone with a few days to spend out of the city. A short train ride from the gare de Lyon takes you to the small town of Melun. At the station a shuttle bus wil take you to the chateau. There's a indoor outdoor restaurant on the premises. A great place to spend a day out in the countryside. Here is their web site.
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http://www.vaux-le-vicomte.com/en/video-accueil.html
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http://www.vaux-le-vicomte.com/
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Q&A Queen

Wow: I wonder? Way to go MOM!!!! ::applause::

OK now...I've been 5 times. Just got back a week ago from my most recent trip.

Here are my highlights:

a) Get a museum & monuments pass. It'll save you money. The Louvre is a must. The Musee d'Orsay is very nice too.

b) Get yourselves two day passes on the yellow tour buses. .. I have brain freeze right now so I can't remember the exact name. I think it's called "Go Yellow" You can't miss 'em though. It's 27 Euros per person and it's good for all four of the lines. You can hop on and off at will. it's GREAT. Do NOT NOT confuse that with the Red tour bus which is just one route. The best place to pick it up is in front of Notre Dame.

c) One of those tour buses will take you to serious shopping at the Gran Magasins... Printemp & Galleries lafayette. Galleries Lafayette... the store itself... is an absolutely stunning building. Give yourself time. Both stores are huge.

d) For a day trip, I'd go to Giverny, where Monet painted his "Water Lilies". It's lovely. You can probably get information about day trips at the hotel

e) The night-time boat trip is a must as well, as others have said. The day time trip is different but also good because you get to see more. At night you really mostly get to see the lit monuments. The trips are cheap. About 10 Euros. Or 7 if you buy the daytime ticket on the yellow bus.

OH so many things. Have a fabulous time and make sure you thank your mother for about the next six months. :-D

kate M

I recommend you go to the Palais of Versalles. You will never forget it!!!.
You can go to Disneyland as well.
Paris is the perfect city for waling and discover everything by foot.
Have your trainers?.

dany

Your in luck. Until you are 18 many museums are Free. Check out the modern art museum called Pompidou. Also the Louvre is a must see in Paris. The Luxembourg Gardens are perfect for photography. In my opinion the best place to take pics of the city is ontop of the Sacre-Couer in Monmatre. Make sure to come here early. The area is full of crime at night. Tracadero is one of the nicest places to see the eifel tower. Also hit The Latin Quarter. More specifically go down a street called St. Michel. At night it is full of life and a great and safe atmosphere. The Arc de Triomphe is another great place for the city. Galaries Lafayette is a fantastic 7 story shopping mall. For more high end shopping go to the most famous street in the world Champse Elysee. Also La Gran Arch is a great place for views of the city.

Just a little tip: The metro is the easiest way to make it around the city. And for more info about Paris check out the tour guide Paris Top 10. It is full of information and advice.

Kim B

Either Versailles or Giverny are pretty close to Paris by train and are beautiful places.

Goldilocks

Go to centre george pompidou. Other than that, you have to walk on the champs elysee.Go to the restaurant ENTRECOTE as well! Enjoy your trip

Emma S

what lucky girls!!!!
you should get a tourist book its full of great things =]

have a wonderful trip take lots of photos!!

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