Ideas for family outings during the holidays: here is our guide to Ile-de-France

Come on, everyone out! The holidays finally start this Saturday, April 23 for zone C, that of the academy of Versailles, Paris and Créteil. Don’t want or don’t have the possibility to take to their heels? Never mind, “le Parisien” has concocted a guide for you with dozens of getaway ideas near you. With lots of new stuff.

Want to go let off steam in an amusement park? You are spoiled for choice. First option: a short trip to Disneyland which is celebrating its 30th anniversary with, in particular, a visually stunning drone show. Another possibility is a trip to Parc Astérix, which has completely redesigned its flagship attraction, Tonnerre 2 Zeus. Or set off to discover the new merry-go-round at the Jardin d’acclimatation, the revival of the Foire du Trône or the western show at the Mer de sable in the Oise.

For family fun, we have also concocted an enticing program of new experiences to try. At La Villette, the “Pop Air” exhibition, at the Grande Halle de la Villette, in Paris (19th century), will amaze young and old alike, with its oversized inflatable structures, its swimming pool filled with a million transparent balls. With its games of mirrors and light, the exhibition “Paris dans tes yeux” is set up at the top of the Montparnasse tower to discover the capital in a different way. Water games, challenges, poles… For its new season, the Yvelines France Miniature theme park invites you to participate in games, by team, in a “Koh-Lanta” setting.

During the holidays, most of the major monuments in Île-de-France also offer specific activities for children. An opportunity to (re)discover heritage as a family… and without gnashing your teeth.

Comedies, playful journeys and beautiful paintings

Do you have trouble motivating them to go to the theater? We may have the solution. In its preselection, the Académie des Molières gave pride of place to comedies and light and happy plays. Several of them, currently showing in Paris, can be seen with teenagers. Another option: the detective genre invites itself on stage. A murder or a robbery, a deep mystery and an investigation sometimes carried out with humor when Sherlock Holmes takes the stage, or with application when Agatha Christie leads the dance: teenagers will be captivated by these plays. For the youngest too, we have concocted a selection of shows that they will love.

And a little trip to the museum, chick? At the Cité des sciences, “Fragile” offers a fun and successful course for 2-6 year olds. For its part, the BNF unearths the manuscripts of Champollion and recounts his incredible stroke of genius on the occasion of the bicentenary of his decipherment of hieroglyphs. Other exhibitions are worth seeing like “Machu Picchu and the treasures of Peru”, an immersive dive into the civilizations that preceded the Incas at the City of Architecture and Heritage.

And in the cinema, what is there at the moment? “Sonic 2”, “Bad Guys”, “Fantastic Beasts 3”, “Time of Secrets”… Here are our current spotlights. And to end on a high note and enjoy the wonders of spring, discover our selection of chlorophyll getaways. Ideal for clearing your mind… and recharging your batteries.