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| Jun 30 to Jul 10 |
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| Jul 14 to Jul 24 |
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Walking Key
Light = Two to four miles of mostly level walking.
Moderate = Four to six miles and/or up and down hills and/or some stairs.
Strenuous = Six to ten miles, lots of stairs, uneven terrain.
Family Paris & the Heart of France in 11 Days
$2,795 + air • 24-28 people • Begins and ends in Paris
On our "Family Paris & the Heart of France" tour you'll enjoy the same great sightseeing as on the "regular" version, but with a $200 discount for kids 8-17, and a more relaxed, family-friendly-approach.
We've given this tour a major tune-up to make it even more fun for families in 2008. As a result, you'll find that Rick Steves' Family Paris & the Heart of France is an unbeatable value for couples, single parents and grandparents who want to introduce the young'uns to France. You and your kids will experience the must-see sights of Paris as well as France's rural, stroll-around charms.
This 11-day family getaway begins and ends in Paris, where you and your kids will explore the City of Light's top sights. Château-hopping through the peaceful Loire Valley, you'll be bowled-over by the storybook castles of Chenonceau and Chambord, and you'll even seen one "medievally" under construction at Guédelon. Along the Normandy coast, you'll marvel at Mont St. Michel and take a vivid time-trip along the heroic D-Day beaches, then wander through Monet's painting-perfect gardens at Giverny before returning to Paris.
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Your day-by-day itinerary
Day 0: Depart USA
Remember, you'll arrive in Europe the day after you depart the USA.
Day 1: Welcome to Paris
We'll all meet (adults and kids) around 5 p.m. at our hotel. After a bienvenue à Paris! get-together, we'll take a short walk through our neighborhood, followed by dinner. Sleep in Paris (3 nights). No bus. Walking: light.
Day 2: Historic Paris and the Orsay Museum
This morning we'll start our tour where Paris did, in the middle of the river, on the historic Ile de la Cité. Here we'll visit many of the island's most interesting sights, including the soaring Notre-Dame Cathedral where Quasimodo hung out and Ezmerelda danced. We'll also visit the king's Sainte-Chapelle church and see the best stained glass anywhere. We'll break for lunch and then visit a renovated train station that today hosts the world's greatest collection of Impressionist art at the Musée d'Orsay. No bus. Walking: strenuous.
Day 3: The Left Bank, Parks, and free Time
We'll kick things off this morning by exploring Paris' spicy Left Bank, including the funky Latin Quarter, the da-Vinci-Code-famous church of St Sulpice, and the kid-friendly Luxembourg Garden Park (which offers one of Paris' best play areas for kids). This afternoon you'll be free to visit the masterpieces in Europe's greatest museum, the Louvre, at your own pace. Other options include cruising the Champs-Elysées, climing the Eiffel Tower, or exploring Paris' many kid-friendly sights. No bus. Walking: strenuous.
Day 4: The Fantasy Castle of Guédelon
This morning we say au revoir to Paris and drive to the countryside. We'll all feel like kids when we visit the amazing medieval château of Guédelon – a castle being built today by enthusiasts using 13th-century materials and techniques. A local guide will explain the project to us, after which then we'll have ample free time to roam the grounds and meet the blacksmiths, masons and wood workers. Sleep near Guédelon (1 night). Bus: 3 hrs. Walking: moderate.
Day 5: Chambord — the Castle of Kings
Today we'll drive to the happy hunting grounds of French royalty in the 15th and 16th centuries, the Loire Valley. Our first goal is the biggest and brightest of the Loire Valley châteaux: the Château de Chambord, where 365 fireplaces warmed royal hunting parties 500 years ago. This place is big, with kid friendly activities that we can enjoy before taking a short drive to Amboise, where we'll sleep for the next two nights. Bus: 3 hrs. Walking: strenuous.
Day 6: Château de Chenonceau and Amboise
We'll spend our morning visiting the queen of all Loire Valley castles: the Château de Chenonceau. We'll return for a free afternoon in Amboise for touring the local château, renting bikes, swimming at the municipal pool, or exploring Leonardo da Vinci's home and vast gardens, where many of his inventions have been made into kid-engaging models. A good option for some may be a sound and light show at Amboise's castle tonight (most Saturdays in June and July). Bus: 1 hr. Walking: strenuous.
Day 7: Brittany and Mont St. Michel
We'll leave Amboise this morning and make a bee-line to Brittany, where we'll stop for lunch and exploration in a half timbered and crêperie-festooned town. Later this afternoon, we'll take a short drive to the mystical island of Mont St. Michel, where we'll sleep (1 night). Bus: 5 hrs. Walking: moderate to strenuous.
Day 8: Treasure of Arromanches
After a morning tour of Mont St. Michel's towering abbey, we'll drive north to Bayeux, in the heart of Normandy. This afternoon we'll tour the 1,000 year-old tapestry/comic strip that brings to life William the Conqueror's victory over the English at the Battle of Hastings before settling into our hotel in Arromanches where we'll sleep for the next two nights Bus: 2 hrs. Walking: strenuous.
Day 9: Normandy's D-Day Beaches
Today we'll visit powerful memorials to the D-Day landings, including the American cemetery at Omaha Beach, the Pointe du Hoc where U.S. Rangers scaled vertical cliffs, and the now quiet town of Ste. Mère Eglise, sight of the heroic airborne drop made famous by the movie "The Longest Day." A local expert will explain these dramatic events in a kid friendly manner as we tour the key sights. Bus: 2 hrs. Walking: strenuous.
Day 10: Monet's Gardens at Giverny
We'll depart early this morning in order to visit Monet's masterpiece-inspiring gardens in Giverny. After lunch, we'll make our way back to Paris, leaving time for some last minute sightseeing before sharing a farewell feast together. Sleep in Paris (1 night). Bus: 3 hrs. Walking: strenuous.
Day 11: Tour over after breakfast
The Paris airports are easily accessible via shuttle vans or taxis. For those staying longer, your guide will be happy to send you off in the right direction and help with any trip planning needs. Au revoir!
Itinerary specifics subject to change.
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A recent alum comments on this tour:
I think the highlight of this tour for both my parents and I was the night that we spent on Mont St. Michel...when we and a bunch of members from our group came on our own for a walk on the causeway to take pictures of the Mont at night...the view from just a short walk away was amazing.
— Brittany in Lafayette Hill, PA (from a similar tour in June, 2006)
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