Le Paris Weekend- Earth Day

Celebrate Earth Day 

Sunday April 22nd

Started in 1970 by Wisconsin Senator Nelson calling for an environmental teach-in on April 22nd and has since been celebrated on that day and was recognized as International Mother Earth Day by the United Nations in 2009. It's important to teach our children about how crucial it is to care for our planet. Here are a few ideas to keep the earth clean and well for generations to come.

- Growing an indoor garden- it's easy and cost efficient to grow your own herbs and small veggies (like tomatoes) without needing a green thumb. Check your local market or florist for seeds and planting tips. For more ways to add green to your home try Jardinland

- Unplug and connect- turn off your electronics (even better to unplug) and conserve energy. Use the time away from the TV to connect with the family outdoors. Why not make it family game night and play one of the classic games you grew up with. Toys r us has a full listing of classic games and more! 


- Know your carbon footprint- learn about reducing you ecological impact on the world with this cool calculator (for kids). Parents you can try this one. 


The most important thing to remember is that small changes to our everyday behavior helps our planet.

Elections!!

The French round one of the elections is this Sunday. Who will make it to round two? All major newspapers are covering the elections but I liked this chart from lemonde.fr. 

American Elections:

Also do not forget to register for the absentee ballot- there is a deadline, so do it NOW if you haven't done so already. Click here for more information. 

Easter Issue

Easter Fun!

Find great Egg Hunt locations and more!

Now that spring is here and the flowers are in bloom, Easter fun is just around the corner..Well this Sunday to be exact. So, don your Sunday best outfits and check out these many chasse aux oeufs  and other Pâques-themed events.

Thoiry Egg Hunt

La Traditionnelle Chasse Aux Oeufs de Pâques at Thoiry: How many of the 8,000 hidden eggs can your children find? Join Thoiry in their traditional egg hunt and celebration Sunday April 8th and Monday April 9th between 10h and 13h. Search for hidden surprises in the labyrinth. If you tour the wildlife area, you'll also notice a few animals partaking in the celebrations as well.


Admission is 27.50€ for adults and 21.00€ for children and is located just 35 minutes west of Paris. Address: Parc de Thoiry, Rue du Pavillon de Montreuil 78770 Thoiry.


Grandes Chasse Aux Oeufs dans les Jardins at the Vaux le Vicomte Château:
Sunday April 8th and Monday April 9th from 10h to 17h30, enjoy a day of egg hunting, face painting, pony rides (2€), and various family friendly workshops (there's even one on making chocolate). Over 35,000 eggs to be found including 7,000 Kinder chocolate eggs. Each egg hunt session last 40 minutes. There is so much to do at the château that "inspired Versailles."
Admission for a family of 4 (2 children and 2 adults) is only 44€!
Address: Vaux le Vicomte 77950 Maincy
Accessible via the RER D to Melun, a chateaubus is available from the gare.

Chasse Aux Oeufs de Pâques de la Ferme de Gally: enjoy the egg hunt and other fun farm activities including soap making, pony rides, egg decorating, and petting the many farm animals. There are two locations available: 
1. Address: Ferme de Saint-Cyr-l'Ecole, Route de Bailly à Saint-Cyr-l'Ecole (CD7), 78210 Saint-Cyr-l'Ecole
Admission is 6€ for those over 3 years.


2. Address: Ferme de Sartrouville, Rue de Chatou, 78500 Sartrouville
Admission is 5€ for those over 3 years.

Educational Fun and treasure hunt in Paris: This Easter Sunday, the National Monuments Center invites you to participate in a treasure hunt that spans through 52 castles, fortresses, archeological sites, gardens and more. Children from ages 5-12 and their families can visit, have fun and discover more about the holiday. The special program includes solving history-related puzzles. Here's a list of participating sites: 

Île de France/Paris: Conciergerie - Tours de la cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris - Château de Rambouillet - Villa Savoye à Poissy - Château de Maisons à Maisons-Laffitte - Domaine national de Saint-Cloud (Metro #9 Pont de Sèvres) - Basilique cathédrale de Saint-Denis - Château de Vincennes

Le Paris Weekend- Happy Spring!

Happy Spring

Celebrate the new season in and round town

Good by gray skies and hello sun! March 20th marked the first day of spring and the spring equinox (March 21st) sealed the arrival of the new season. There's a wide assortment of activities in Paris and the surrounding departments to celebrate the coming warm weather. Check out a few events happening near you below:

Jardin des Tuileries (Metro 1: Tuileries): great for walks and relaxing in the sun, this jardin features statues dating from the early 18th century, fountains, and a water feature that children and adults alike may race mini sailboats- a tradition dating over a hundred years. Click here for events happening at the jardin. 

Parc Monceau (Metro 2: Monceau): If you're in the 8th arrondissement, this park should be on your check list. You'll find elements that will remind you of NYC's Central Park (see pic). There's a small children's area with a manège and swings. Lounge on the lush grass and have a picnic, and relax. Be sure to check out the ornate gates as you enter the park.




Jardin des plantes (Metro 5, 10 Gare d'Austerlitz): the name says it all. This jardin features greenhouses with a large collection of plants from all over the world and a colorful display of fragrant flowers. Not a plant and flower buff? Don't worry, the labels will guide you. A bonus here is that the Jardin des plantes has a managerie (one of the oldest zoos in Paris), a rose garden, iris garden, maze and much more. 

Road Trip! Explore Auvers-sur-Oise

Located just 18 miles north of Paris, Auvers-sur-Oise is the quaint small town with a village feel that inspired many Van Gogh paintings. Be inspired with the amazing hilltop views on your way to the Notre Dame church, tour Van Gogh home, see the latest exhibitions at the chateau. The town also has small shops and restaurants, this town will make you feel that you're farther away from home. The town is easily accessible by car (A86 ->A15->A14) and SNCF (Avers-sur-Oise).