Paris with children for the first time

I will be in Paris for three days for the first time in June with a 5 and 8 year old - any ideas for child friendly places to visit and places to eat would be very welcome!!

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You absolutely MUST take them to the Cite des Sciences et l%26#39;Industrie up at Parc Villette. It is probably the biggest and BEST science museum in the world.

It is perfect for your children and for YOU. Try avoid going on a weekend when Paris children are out of school - you will find it very crowded.

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Here is the website: www.cite-sciences.fr/english/indexFLASH.htm

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There are tons of posts if you do a search, but off the top of my head:

The trampolines at the Tuileries

The playground, fountain with sailboats and marionette shows at the Luxembourg gardens

The gardens at the Rodin museum

And kids love to climb so they generally love the Towers of Notre Dame, L%26#39;Arc de Triomphe and of course, the Eiffel Tower.

A Seine cruise is alos a sure crowd pleaser.

For food, the easiest is to frequent cafes: they have foods kids like, are open at earlier hours and he service does not take as long as in Parisian restaurants. For special meals I regularly recommend le Train Bleu, La Coupole, Altitude 95 and Le Relais de l%26#39;Entrecote.

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At the bridge over the Seine across from the Eiffel tower is a hot-dog stand and carousel. When my daughter was 5, we stopped there for a waffle. She wanted the hot dog. I immediately went into a fit about coming all the way to Paris just to eat a hot dog, but her being 5, you can guess who one. I rolled my eyes and ordered.

The thing was incredible. They heat up a foot-long baguette from the inside and slide in the best tasting hot dog I%26#39;ve every had and then melt gruyere cheese over the thing. Then they stuff it full of the best mustard I%26#39;ve ever had in my life.

She ate part of the $5 hot dog while oggling the Eiffel Tower and nearby buskers and then got her dollar-ride on the carousel while I finished the dog. The whole experience took about 30 minutes and she still talks about it to this day, six years later.