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Some like Paris in the springtime, but Paris in the winter isn’t bad either.

True, the city can be rather gray and cold during the winter months, but Parisian city officials do a good job of keeping spirits high by setting up various family-friendly activities throughout the city. Here are a few things you can do en famille:

1. Go Ice-Skating

Every December, two large ice-skating rinks appear in the city almost overnight. One rink is set up in front of the supremely elegant Hôtel de Ville (City Hall). This rink is in such a well-placed, central location – a stone’s throw from the Seine, within view of the towers of Notre Dame – you can practically sightsee as you skate. The other, slightly smaller, rink is located before the Montparnasse train station. As this rink is not as well known to tourists, the lines are generally shorter: a good thing if you’re traveling with little kids. Both rinks are free, although you can rent skates for 5 Euros if you don’t have your own.

2. Get on a Merry-Go-Round

In addition to ice-skating rinks, merry-go-rounds spring up in almost every district of the city during the winter months. The plaza of the Hôtel de Ville plays host to a double-decker one that has traditional wooden horses, as well as old-fashioned cars, motorcycles, and other whimsical items that will please adults and children alike. For other merry-go-round locations, go to the official website of the office of the mayor of Paris. All merry-go-rounds are free from December 20-January 4th.

3. Take a Ride on a Ferris Wheel

Back in 1900, a Ferris Wheel (La Grande Roue) with a diameter of 100-meters was built for the universal exhibition of Paris. That wheel was dismantled in 1937, but in the year 2000, a wheel with a 60-meter diameter was built at Place de la Concorde to celebrate the millennium. The millennium wheel was taken down in 2002, but has reappeared every holiday season since 2007 to beautifully illuminate the foot of the Champs-Elysees and to offer spectacular panoramic Paris views to thousands of people. Price: 9 euros.

4. Visit a Christmas Market

Kids will be fascinated with the various Christmas markets that begin to appear in Paris at the end of November. The little wooden stalls that comprise the market are bursting with eye-catching objects, from Christmas ornaments to brightly-colored sweaters to handcrafted wooden toys. Wander from stall to stall while snacking on beautifully decorated Christmas cookies (the kiddos) or sipping vin chaud (adults).

Christmas Markets can be found at:

• Place St. Germain-des-Prés (6th arrondissement)
• Place St. Suplice (6th arrondissement)
• Avenue des Champs-Elysées (8th arrondissement)
• Gare de l’Est (10th arrondissement)
• Place de la Nation (11th arrondissement)
• Gare Montparnasse (14th arrondissement)
• Place des Abbesses (18th arrondissement)
• Parvis de la Défense (La Défense, line 1 metro, just outside of central Paris)

5. Tour Notre Dame Cathedral

Get into the Christmas spirit by paying a visit to Notre Dame Cathedral with your family. Every year, there is a towering Christmas tree in the esplanade before the great old church, and millions come to visit the enormous “Crèche de Noël” (Nativity Scene) inside the cathedral. Be sure to have the kids write a message of hope and peace and place it in the large urn beside the manger. Some 300,000 messages are left there each year.

For more information on Paris Tours check out localparistours.com

Top 5 Paris hotels near Notre Dame

• Hotel de Notre-Dame – 3-star hotel – double room from €100
• Hotel Abbatial Saint-Germain – 3-star hotel – double room from €116
• Hotel Les Rives de Notre Dame – 4-star hotel – double room from €220
• Hotel Henri IV Rive Gauche – 3-star hotel – double room from €139
• Hotel Best Western La Tour Notre Dame – 3star hotel – double room from €113

Photo of iceskating ring in Paris, France, by Meg Zimbeck