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Kids of all ages who prefer to keep both feet on the ground can try flying a kite. You’ll have to go out to the Bois de Boulogne (16th) or Bois de Vincennes (12th) to find enough space free of cars and trees. Kids with small (non-acrobatic) kites can fly in the Parc de la Villette (19th) or on the fields of the Cité Universitaire across from the Parc du Montsouris (14th). For inspiration, check out the Maison du Cerf-Volant (House of Kites), 7 Rue Prague, 12th, M° Ledru Rollin, ☎ 01 44 68 00 75, open Tuesday through Saturday, 11am to 2pm and 3 to 7pm, with displays of beautiful, hand-made kites of all shapes and sizes, as well as advice on where to fly them. Have a peek next door in the atelier of Pan Gang (☎ 01 43 41 88 88), an expert craftsman of traditional Chinese kites. Two other notable kite shops include Vire Volé (31 Rue Raymond Losserand, 14th, M° Pernety, ☎ 01 43 20 15 38) and Le Ciel est à Tout le Monde (10 Rue Gay Lussac, 5th, M° Luxembourg, ☎ 01 46 33 21 50). And the best part is that they don’t weigh too much to take home!
AIR & SPACE MUSEUM France is quite proud of its contribution to the aeronautics industry, and has a whole museum – the Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace – dedicated to aircraft, space objects and life-size rocket replicas. Exhibitions highlight the first balloon ascent, vintage flying machines, and the now-retired Concorde. There is also a planetarium, and a 3-D cinema with a 12-minute flight-simulation film. The museum is about five miles north of Paris at Le Bourget Airport (follow signs from the A1 motorway or take Bus 350 from Gare de l’Est). ☎ 01 49 92 71 99, www.mae.org. Open every day except Monday from 10am to 5pm (until 6pm May to October). Tickets €7, €5 for students, free for kids under 18, €2 extra to tour the Boeing 747. |
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