We spent a lot of time in the parks around Paris, as always, this past December. Jardin du Luxembourg is probably my favorite in the city. It’s quintessential Paris with children; generations of families have strolled, played, and picnicked in this storied park. It’s the kind of place that tempts parents to consider relocating to Paris. Le Luco, as it is affectionately called by Parisians, makes visitors feel like locals.
Its elegant landscape is a paradise for kids: an elaborate playground, an enclosed marionette theatre, Charles Garnier’s vintage carousel, pony and donkey rides, and model sailboats in the grand bassin make it easy to idealize life in the capital. Many of the activities are clustered on the western side of the park, closest to the rue Guynemer and rue d’Assas entrances.