Watch

"The Red Balloon" -- This short, classic film, beloved by children around the world, follows a young boy in Paris as he chases a red balloon on his way to school. (All ages)

"Ratatouille" -- The unusual story about a rat named Remy who defies all stereotypes by being an accomplished chef at a Paris restaurant! The animated film is filled with charming images of the city. (All ages)

"An American in Paris" -- Gene Kelly is a poor American artist who falls for a young Parisienne in this early 1950s classic with wonderful black and white Parisien backdrops. (Teens)

"Madeline" -- Though the plot takes place in 1956, this live-action movie, based on the book, was filmed in Paris in 1997 and children will be delighted to see many of the famous sights from the book as they watch Madeline (Hatty Jones) try to save her boarding school. (Rated PG)

"The Pink Panther" -- Steve Martin's two remakes of the famous Peter Sellers movies will have your kids in stitches as Mr. Closeau through botches up adventures around Paris and abroad. (Rated PG)

"Linnea in Monet's Garden" -- A truly lovely animated film for children of all ages about a young Swedish girl whose love for Claude Monet takes her on a visit to the Marmatton Museum and Giverny with her elderly upstairs neighbor. (All ages.)

Eat

Crepes! -- Bien sur! Fill them with fruit, cheese, or, just about anything, really.

French Onion Soup -- A classic, at home and in France.

Croissants, alongside a big mug of steaming hot chocolate, which is how French children eat them.

Read

"Madeline" -- Paris comes alive through the eyes of Miss Clavel's smallest charge who lives in a boarding house with 11 other little girls in Paris. Ludwig Bemelmans's pen and ink drawings of everywhere from Notre Dame to the Eiffel Tower make this a precious book to read before you go. (Ages 4 to 8)

"Eloise in Paris " -- After a summons from her mother, 6-year-old Eloise is off on a journey to Paris. She enjoys the sea breezes from the Seine, suggests champagne and peaches (instead of tea since the French don't boil water correctly) at an outdoor café, and has all sorts of silly and rowdy adventures in the City of Lights. (Ages 4-8.)

"This is Paris " -- Illustrated with everything from a Paris metro ticket to a gendarme, this popular book for children (first published in 1959) brings Paris to life for the youngest set. (Ages 4-8).

"A Poodle in Paris" -- A book/CD combination that follows the story of a poodle named Fifi as she explores France's favorite city. (Ages 4 -8).

"A Moveable Feast" -- A short memoir by Ernest Hemingway describing his life as a struggling author in Paris. (Tweens and teens)

"What's French for 'Ew'?" -- A hilarious book about an English teen required to lug around a baby doll (part of a pregnancy prevention program at her school) for the time she spends in Paris with her best friend and new boyfriend (Teens)

"The Vampire Lestat" -- An immensely popular novel by Anne Rice about vampires, this book is mostly set in Paris and gives the reader a vampire's perspective on Paris nightlife. (Older teens)

Make

Eiffel Tower:Build an Eiffel Tower out of craft sticks!

Paris Metro: Build the Paris Metro from scratch in this imaginative game set in 1900.