5 good reasons to spend the half-term break with your kids in Paris

Half-term holidays are a perfect time to have a break with your family after that busy and stressful back-to-school period. What better opportunity to go away together, catch up and have fun than taking your family somewhere as fantastic and exciting as Paris! Here are 5 good reasons to choose Paris for your family half-term break. Paris: heavenly in the Fall Paris is a wonderful city in any season, but in autumn it is really charming. Imagine a light breeze in your hair, the crunching of leaves underfoot and all around you scenery tinted with flecks of red and yellow. Enjoy some outdoor time in one of the City of Light’s famous parks, or a short walk along the banks of the Seine. If you want to see something even more special, head up to Versailles, where this year the 400th anniversary of André Le Notre, the creator of the gardens, is being celebrated. Don’t miss the chance to discover one of most beautiful gardens in the world shrouded in gorgeous autumnal colour, not to mention the musical fountains show in the heart of the royal gardens. A very different sort of classroom… The holiday period is the ideal time to show your kids that they can learn a lot outside of school – and, what’s more, that it can be fun! Make the most of your trip to France by having an entertaining French lesson, exploring basic vocabulary to do with the “café” in… a café! Or why not learn about French history by taking a walking tour around Paris with a traditional révolutionnaire as your guide? Or even let the kids discover impressionism by practising Monet’s techniques in an art studio in Saint Germain des Prés after a visit to one of the city’s famous museums, such as the Louvre or the Musée d’Orsay? Indulge in a goûter à la française To warm up, step into one of my favourite spots to enjoy a hot chocolate and some iconic French desserts or pâtisserie: “Angelina” is much more than a simple pâtisserie; it is a luxury brand with a prestigious image that symbolises the “French way of life”. Go for the Angelina classic – chocolat chaud and the famous “Mont blanc” cake. “Carette” has a secret… the art of sharing the good things in life in a charming and simple setting. This elegant café at place du Trocadéro in Paris has become one of the best-known and best-loved pâtisseries in Paris. “Un dimanche à Paris” is the place to go if you are chocolate lovers. It’s truly amazing and tucked away down a very small street just near Saint Germain des Prés. Go out for a show in Paris Luckily for you, Paris is positively bursting with opera houses, theatres and music halls. Be inspired by one of the many French shows available during your stay in Paris. Or if you want something a bit different, head down to the “Cirque d’hiver” at the heart of the oldest circus in the world, where you’ll find acrobats, trapeze artists, tigers, horses, clowns and a special orchestra, all presented by the legendary ringmaster. Children and parents alike are sure to be enchanted by this amazing and magical show! Shopping for kids Paris is a wonderful city for shopping. If you are looking for colourful and vibrant outfits, Miki House and Happy Garden are the two shopping hotspots for you. Two other vital addresses for those who like to deck out their kids in elegant, fashionable clothes are Ovale and Bonpoint. For those junior label-lovers, the Célestina and Baby Tuileries boutiques are also not to be missed. Magali Déchelette is CEO at Family Twist. If you would like to be a guest blogger on A Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, please contact us.