If you are planning on going to France with young kids, you might be wondering what your kids will snack on once you're there. France doesn't have most of the snacks we have in the US. However, France does have some good options that your kids might like. Here is a list of snacks that I grew up having when I was little, or that my kids now like as well to have when we're in France. BN They come in two sizes, a big one and a mini one. The two main flavor choices are chocolate and strawberry, but I believe they have other flavors too, just not as common. It is two butter cookies with chocolate or strawberry jam in between. Le petit écolier This one is actually available in some stores in the US, like Walmart. It is usually made with milk chocolate, but can also be made with dark chocolate. It is usually a piece of chocolate on top of a butter biscuit. Pompote This is pretty much applesauce in a pouch. Like in the US, French kids love having applesauce as a snack. It comes with similar flavors that we have in the US. Kiri If your kids like to snack on cheese, or if they have The Laughing Cow cheese, this one is a very similar option. You can buy it by itself, or you can buy it with some sticks to dip in. I believe it is also a much better choice than the Laughing Cow, also available in France. Pepito I remember watching commercials everyday after school for those cookies. They are so good. It's a butter cookie that was dipped on one side in chocolate. It has nothing to do with Mexican flavor just so you know. Bread and Nutella Ask any French person what their favorite snack is, and they will all say the same thing: a good bread with some Nutella. Yes, Nutella is also available in the US, but I feel like Nutella and bread in France is like a PB and J sandwich in the US. It's part of French culture. Les petites barquettes This is a great one for little kids. You can choose between chocolate and strawberry but they do have other flavors as well. It's a sponge biscuit in the shape of a little boat with chocolate or strawberry in the middle. It usually comes in a little pack of 2 or 6, so it’s great for snacks on the go. Haribo Candy Candy in Europe will taste different than the ones in the US. If you ask me, I personally prefer candy in Europe. It is less sweet in my opinion. Haribo is the biggest brand for candy in France and is usually the one that French kids prefer. Though it is not considered a snack in France, it can be a nice treat from time to time. I know we have Haribo candy in France, but it seems like France has more options. For example, I am a big fan of the primavera ones. Crepes and Belgium waffles Especially in winter, you can find some booths selling crepes and waffles on the streets. They can be a great snack for little ones, but for adults too. They usually don’t have a lot of options like you could find in the US. The most common flavors you might find are Nutella, whipped cream, sugar, or jam. You can also buy premade crepes and Belgium waffles at the store. Oasis Is your little one thirsty for something sweet? Oasis is like the Tropical Sun in France. They come in many different flavors, but Oasis tropical is usually the one that everybody likes. You can find them in small or large bottles, or cans. It really does taste like Tropical Sun in my opinion. Brioche (pain au lait) A very cheap snack for kids is a “pain au lait”. When we didn’t have any idea of what to eat during snack time, this one was always an option at my house. It’s a delicious buttery brioche that looks like a hot dog bun. We liked to eat it with some chocolate spread or jam on it. Pastries For special occasions we always had some good pastries from the bakery at snack time. It can go from little tarts to chocolate eclairs to macarons. Pastries in France are so delicious. In my personal opinion I would say that they aren't rich and sweet like in the US, which makes it hard to stop yourself from eating more of it. Pastries are not very expensive either and come in different flavors. Even your pickiest kid will find something he or she will like. Madeleines This is another cheap snack in France. Madeleines are a very buttery (yes, we like our butter) little vanilla cake. They come in different shapes and some have fillings. Growing up we liked to buy the ones that look like fingers and then we would dip them in a cup of milk. They can be bought at the grocery store and in some bakeries. Galettes Mont Saint Michel This is a specialty from the northwest part of France called Brittany. They are delicious butter cookies. Those ones are great for babies as they melt in your mouth. Palmiers This one can be bought at the store and at the bakery. It's a buttery puff pastry baked in the shape of a heart with some sugar on the outside. I believe it is available at Costco in the US. It does get messy when kids eat it but it is so so good. Mikado Do you know the game Mikado? Those ones were inspired by it. They can also be found in the US under a different brand (usually in the Asian food aisle). They are French biscuits shaped like a stick, and then dipped in chocolate, though there are other flavor options. It's great for a small snack on the go. My kids eat those within 5 minutes because of how good they are! Petit Beurre Lu If you haven't got the memo yet, French people LOVE butter more than sugar. Those ones are simply butter cookies. This is another great one for babies. It literally melts in your mouth! Prince Lu Those are two Petit Beurre with chocolate in between. They are so cheap and delicious! They do have other flavor options as well. I absolutely love dipping them in my hot chocolate in the morning. French snacks are very different from what you can find in the US but they are so good too. French people have an obsession with butter and not so much for sugar (sweet like in the US). Even candy tastes different! I don't think "healthy snacks" are a thing in France like it is in the US. It is maybe because we do eat good food all day, so we can allow ourselves a little treat once a day. You might have to try different ones until you find the ones that your kids like, but I hope that this list will help a little.
Also, there are some websites that ship in the US some French goods. Check those out: https://yummybazaar.com/ https://www.mypanier.com/ https://lepanierfrancais.com/ https://trulyfoodie.com/ It might help you figure out what your kids like before going, or buy some after your trip because you're craving them!
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I am from Aix en Provence which is about 15 minutes away from Marseille. I love going back there to visit my family but to also show my kids and my husband where I grew up. Knowing that our kids are 6, 4, and 9 months old right now, here are a few things that we like to do in the south of France with our kids, or even without them.
Visiting castles: La Barben
Our kids absolutely love visiting castles. We have three girls, so it's all about the princesses over here. We have been to La Barben a couple times but we went for the first time after all the renovations. It is a beautiful medieval castle. Only one part can be visited with a guide. They now have a lot of shows throughout the day. They also have a provencal market with lots of souvenirs like local honey and soap. On the weekends they have shows at night. It was the highlight of our last trip. Everything is in French but my husband was able to follow most of it. For more info, visit the website https://www.rochermistral.com/en/. Going to markets: Aix en Provence My girls love going on walks, and even better if there is a market to see. The one in Aix en Provence on Le Cours Mirabeau is an all time favorite. Be aware though, it is a tourist trap. Be careful with your belongings and if you think it’s too pricey, it’s probably not worth the price anyway. Another market that we like is in front of the Palais de Justice. It is less touristy and more local. We love to buy fresh fruits and veggies there as it is mainly selling produce, but also local honey, light summer dresses, scarfs… Also if you go during Christmas, the Christmas market is a big hit and something that shouldn’t be missed!
A zoo on the hills
At La Barben there is a castle, but there is also a zoo. We have been there a couple times now. My husband thinks it’s an amazing one because the animals have a lot of spaces and don’t necessarily feel like they’re in a small cage. The zoo is very big in size, so there is a lot of walking involved. There is a little train that will take you around as well. I would suggest spending at least half a day there. They also have picnic tables and restaurants. For more info visit their website at https://www.parcanimalierlabarben.com/. The village des automates et Montopoto The outside part is an amazing park filled with animated puppets. They have themes like in the ocean, Aladdin, the ants… The kids will love it. They also have tables and a restaurant so we usually stay all day. Inside they have a playground and an amusement center for kids with another restaurant. They also have racing cars and a helicopter where you have to pedal in order to move. When it is too hot outside it’s nice to take a break and enjoy the light AC inside for a while. For more info visit their website at https://www.villagedesautomates.com/. Going to the beach Whether it is winter or summer, we always go to the beach everytime we go to France. We live in Utah, far away from any ocean, so I need my dose of sand when we go there. My favorite ones are La Sainte Croix and La Couronne, both in Martigues (near Marseille). It is not very busy and there are not a lot of tourists like in Marseille. Some other good beaches are at La Ciotat, Cassis, and Saint Cyr sur Mer. It is also a free activity that can last all day, so win win.
Visiting an island
Near Marseille, there are islands that you can visit. The most famous one is The Frioul. You need to take a boat to get there. It is a cute island with a little town filled with lots of fresh seafood restaurants. Another one that my kids loved is The Chateau d’If. The same boat will take you there as well. There is an old prison on this one that you can visit. In summer it is an escape from the heat because the “air marin” (sea air) cools you down. To book a boat tour with stop on the Frioul islands click here. To get skip-the-line Chateau d'If tickets click here. La Camargue Growing up it was the number one place for a school trip. The Camargue is a region in the south of France and is known for the pink flamingos and white small horses. Be aware of the mosquitoes in summer! We like to go to a little town called Sainte Marie de la Mer. The beach there is beautiful and there is a trail where you can bike along. If you don’t have any, you can rent the bikes there too. You can also go horseback riding on those white small horses. Of course they also have lots of seafood restaurants and especially some Paella, a traditional Spanish dish made with seafood and Spanish rice. For a guided electric bike tour in Camargue click here. Les Carrières des Lumières This takes place near the famous village Les Baux-de-Provence. If you have seen a postcard of the South of France, it is usually the village in the picture. Les Carrieres des Lumieres is a show inside a former quarry projecting arts on the walls with some music. It might sound boring saying it like this, but it was really breathtaking and peaceful. Plus it is cold inside the quarry so it was another break from the heat in summer. The girls loved it. They didn’t have to just sit and watch so they could dance if they wanted to. For more info visit their website on https://www.carrieres-lumieres.com/en.
La Fontaine du Vaucluse
My kids enjoy visiting villages in the South. This one is one of our favorites. It is known for the source of the river Sorgue, a beautiful spring. There is also the paper museum, a museum that shows how to make paper out of water wheels. I love to buy paper from there as a souvenir. There is a history museum about WW2 and the Resistance. They have lots of shops that sell the santons (Provencal figurines). This village is literally a hidden gem for those who want to visit a traditional French village. La Sainte Victoire La Sainte Victoire is the name of the rocky mountain by Aix en Provence. It is very symbolic of the region of Provence. There are many hiking trails for different levels, but there is also a large grass area where people have picnics on a spring day. It is such a fun place to go to with kids if you just want to spend a simple day in the South of France. If possible, you can hike the mountain up to the top and enjoy a breathtaking panorama of Provence and the Mediterranean sea. It is definitely a must do! Those are only a few ideas of what you can do in Provence with little kids. Of course there is so much more to explore. Not that I’m biased, but Provence is such a beautiful region of France in my opinion, and a must do if you visit France one day, even with kids. Let me know in the comments if you can think of anything else to do with kids in Provence! The first time we traveled to France with our kids was when Celestine was about 18 months old. At the time we only had one kid, so it was much easier to deal with, but it was also our first trip with her. I had never lived in France with a child of my own, so it was also new territory for me. We have learned so much from that first trip, but also from the following ones. We now have a 6 year old, a 4 year old, and an 8 month old baby. Here are some tips on traveling to France with kids. Allow more time for adjustment to jetlag As an adult, jetlag can be rough and can take a couple days to get over it. It takes twice as long for kids, especially young ones. We live in Utah, so there is an 8 hour difference between there and France. Whenever we go to France, we allow ourselves about 4 days to recover from jetlag, just to make sure we are all rested enough so we can then enjoy the rest of our trip. Only one or two activities per day With kids, especially with babies and toddlers, it is always much better to only plan on one or two activities a day. You have to consider the time to travel to the destination, getting in and out of transport, nap times, mealtimes… I prefer one activity a day and then stay home for the rest of the day. You can spend time with family, go to the hotel pool, watch a movie, or catch up on naps. The kids are in a better mood when their energy isn’t strained to the max. Plan on meals This is especially for France and some countries in Europe, but something that is good to know is that most restaurants do not have a kids menu available. Most don’t even have high chairs. We do have kids that like to eat almost anything (my French culture couldn’t allow myself to feed them only chicken nuggets), so most of the time we can go to any restaurant and easily find something that the girls will like, but if your kids are picky eaters, here are some options. You could pack a lunch for them, but in that case, call the restaurant ahead and ask if it is ok for them to eat something that isn’t served from their kitchen. You could have picnics (France has some beautiful parks). You can also check the menu if available online before going to a restaurant. Also make sure that your kids can and know how to behave in a restaurant. Yes, most French kids do know how to behave in a restaurant. Plan on travel accessories Between our many trips to France with our kids, we have been able to test some accessories depending on the kid's age and the destination. In Paris, I do not recommend a stroller. Paris has a lot of stairs or little steps and it makes it hard to deal with a stroller. Some metro stations don’t even have elevators. Also going in and out of a metro during rush hour and a stroller is a nightmare. If you go with a baby, use a baby carrier. We liked the Ergobaby from Target because the baby can be front facing and it is easy to put on. With a toddler, you can use a stroller that folds and can be carried easily if needed, and in a compact size. A very common stroller in France that works well for the French streets is the Yoyo stroller, available on Amazon. Also, make sure to check on your destination if strollers are allowed. For example, strollers are not allowed inside the castle of Versailles when it is full of people. For smaller cities and villages in France, a normal stroller will be just fine. It would still be better if it’s a small stroller (some sidewalks can be very narrow). I do not recommend traveling with a double stroller. We preferred to use two different single strollers rather than bringing our double one. Adjust to mealtime In France, breakfast is between 7 and 9 in the morning, lunch is between 12 and 2 pm, and dinner starts after 6:30 pm. If you are like me and you are used to an American mealtime, you might be ok for breakfast and lunch, but not for dinner. It is really up to you if you want to change their dinner time at night. For our babies, we keep the same time as it is easier and they only have a bottle or baby food. For our older kids, we try to adjust them to mealtime in the country we are visiting as much as we can. As a side note, most restaurants are only open during mealtime, meaning they are not open between lunch and dinner time. It might be rough at first, but it is worthwhile in my opinion as it will make lunch and dinner much easier for everybody. Plan on activities during transport In Europe, we like to use public transportation a lot. Most people use the train over the car when they’re traveling. It is cheaper and less tiring. Plan on having some fun activities depending on the kids’ age. In the train, kids are expected to behave and be quiet. We are not super tablet fans, but the girls like to color, solve puzzles, build legos, read books, listen to books… On our last trip, we used the mini voyager bags from www.minivoyager.com. Our oldest also likes to listen to stories now, so we got her a Lunii box on Amazon. We like this one the most because you can download stories from different languages. Plan on security for your kids
Have you seen the movie Taken? Yes, it takes place in Paris. If you have never been to France before and you are used to leaving your kids outside without supervision (as a reminder, we live in Utah), then I would suggest you to invest in some products that will put your mind at ease. Nobody wants to lose a child so I would rather be safe than sorry. We have used a backpack leash for kids before. Those can be easily found on Amazon. We have also used a GPS tracker. I would suggest buying one from France so it will have the European map available. It is cheaper that way since GPS trackers bought from the US will only have the US map and would need an extra cost for the European map, if available. We have used the Weenect bought on Amazon.fr. It was the cheapest option I could find and it is connected to an app on your phone so you can see where they are. You can pay for a 3 month subscription for 10 euros a month and then you can stop it anytime after that. My favorite product that worked well with my kids was the safety wrist. It is cheap, actually comfortable to have, and I don’t have to think about it. As soon as it is on their wrist, they can’t take it off. It was so useful whenever we went to the market. Rest days It is so important for kids (and for parents in my opinion) to rest some days. Some people like to use that method: one day we go out and do something, then the next day we rest, then the next day we go out, then the next day we rest. We don’t always do that with our kids, and there were some times when I would tell the kids to get ready to go out, and they would actually respond by: “mom, I’m tired, I don’t want to do anything today”. And no, we don’t have teenagers yet. It is so much more enjoyable to rest a few days, even if it is just staying at the hotel or with family, so then you can enjoy the next day well rested and in a better mood. Have a plan B This one is valid everytime you travel with kids. Sometimes, the weather is not what you were expecting. Sometimes one of your kids is sick. Or you didn’t check before, and the place you wanted to see that day is closed. We have experienced all of those situations and more. When it happens, either have a rest day, or have a plan B. When we go to France, I make a list of things that we want to do or see. So everyday when something happens at the last minute and we need a change of plan, I pull out my list, we go through it and decide what we want to do instead. It makes it so much easier and it doesn’t feel like the day is ruined anymore. If you can, have someone buy essentials for your kids beforehand This is a great one if you know someone already there. In my case, my entire family lives in France, so whenever we go, I ask my mother or father to go to the store and buy some essentials, just so we don’t have to worry about it after we land. We didn’t do that on our first trip with Celestine, and we had to find a store that was open at 8 pm (stores are usually closed at 7 pm except for a few rare ones) and then find everything we needed for our 18 month old baby like diapers, baby food, wipes… We were tired, annoyed to not find a store right away, and it was after Celestine’s bedtime. I would not suggest doing that. Bonus: On our last trip, we wanted to stay for a month in France. Cameron couldn’t because of work, so he went home a week early. My mother in law was also with us, so I didn’t fly alone with 3 kids. We actually loved doing that because Cam was already over jet lag by the time we went home so he was able to take over when we arrived and I was able to get some sleep. I would totally recommend that if it was a possibility for you. |
AuthorMy name is Melanie Ashby. I am from France and I currently live in the US. Here are some tips about traveling to France from a French and an American perspective! Archives
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