We adore this charming, chalet-style restaurant and event space on its own island in the Bois de Boulogne in the West end of Paris. The voyage there itself is unique – you can row, yes we said row, your way across the lake. Or, you can park and then take a ferry from the public parking area (free for restaurant goers, 1,50€ round-trip for island hoppers). On fine days, you can pack a picnic and find a spot of grass to spread out. Or, you can book a brunch at their elegant restaurant.
For more brunch recommendations, read our article: “15 Best Weekend Brunches in and Around Paris”!
ZI Des Ebisoires, 12 Rue Paul Langevin 78370 Plaisir
Here’s a place where you can let your kids run wild, jump and climb to their hearts’ content without attracting nasty glares from people around you. Acrochats runs two indoor adventure playgrounds just outside of Paris (Thiais and Plaisir), with climbing frames, ball pits and obstacles for kids up to 12 years old. You can also privatize their themed cabins for a birthday party and sit back and relax with a book in their café complete with wifi.
Acrochats Thiais Village
Tel: + 33 (0)1 56 70 60 10
Acrochats Plaisir
Tel: +33 (0)1 34 89 98 73
Metro: Concorde or Tuileries (line 1)
For over a century, Angelina’s has built a reputation as a place of sophistication and indulgence. Its renowned African hot chocolate is so thick that you almost feel like you’re digging into a bowl of soup. It’s made from three types of African chocolate from Nigeria, Ghana and the Ivory Coast and is made especially for Angelina’s. It is a beautiful place where the likes of Proust and Coco Chanel frequented. While you’re there, be sure to try the Mont Blanc, Angelina’s trademark pastry since 1903!
Read The Hot Chocolate Challenge for other great spots to satisfy your chocolate craving.
Other Angelina locations on website.
Metro: Balard (line 8)
Grab your bathing suits and head to the largest aquatic park in Europe — equipped with indoor and outdoor pools, jacuzzis, numerous large water slides and a wave pool. It’s an all-year-round fun attraction for everyone, and a great place to plan a kids’ birthday party! The complex also includes restaurants, a fitness center, Decathlon sporting goods store and movie theaters.
Also mentioned in our ultimate guide to kid’s activities!
The American School of Paris (ASP) in Saint Cloud, a western suburb of Paris, is a great place for families to find innovative activities and holiday camps in English. Through its Extension Program the private, international school opens its world-class facilities to external students aged 4 to 18 during school vacations as well as Wednesdays and Saturdays throughout the school year.
Camps and year-round activities led in English include basketball, tennis, soccer, coding, science, fashion design, filmmaking, theatre and more. Kids looking to improve their English skills have a choice of English immersion classes and even intensive workshops to prepare for the English BAC exam or the SAT American college entrance exam. At ASP, there’s bound to be a camp or workshop right for your child.
Check out their WEBSITE for all the details!
If you love some of INSPIRELLE‘s portraits and Paris photos, turn to professional photographer Alexis Duclos. One of our most fervent supporters, Alexis is an experienced award-winning photographer and video cameraman who can capture your individual and family portraits for business or personal use as well as produce corporate videos to enhance your company websites.
To consult his versatile work visit his website: http://www.alexisduclos.com
When Parisian Cecile Birgand Ayasse couldn’t find original workshops for her own four kids, she set up Apprends et Rêve (“To learn and dream” in English) to create her own solution. From singing lessons with a coach from “The Voice” to Flamenco, computer coding or graffiti art, they offer imaginative weekend workshops and holiday camps where children aged 3 to 15. Activities are taught in French at various locations around Paris.
PERK FOR INSPIRELLE READERS! Mention INSPIRELLE when you sign up for a holiday camp or year-long workshop at Apprends et Rêve (“Learn and Dream“) and get a free yearly membership PLUS 15% off any one-day reservation.