Okay friends, let’s be real, planning stuff with kids is always an adventure, huh? We just got back from Toulouse with our two little tornadoes (ages 5 and 8), and honestly, we found some gems that actually worked! Forget the stiff museum tours – here’s what we actually did, step-by-step.
The Landing & First Impressions
First off, flying into Blagnac was surprisingly easy. Kids were already buzzing, so instead of dumping bags at the rental flat right away, we headed straight into town. Grabbed some pain au chocolat from a random boulangerie near Capitole. Immediate win – sticky fingers and happy faces.
Space City Dreams (Cité de l’Espace)
Day one was all about the big ticket item: Cité de l’Espace. Hopped the bus (#37, I think? The purple one heading east from Jeanne d’Arc). Pro tip: pack snacks. The line looked long but moved fast once they opened. Inside?
- Moonwalk Simulation: Our 8-year-old spent 20 minutes jumping in low gravity. Pure joy.
- Giant Rocket Playground: Climbed all over replicas. Got great pics.
- Planetarium Show: Heads tilted back, totally quiet for 30 mins. Miracle.
Was it expensive? Yeah, kinda. Worth it? For the exhausted-parent-quiet-planetarium-time alone, YES.
Finding Green Spots (Parks)
Kids get restless. Needed parks. Found two winners:
Jardin Japonais: Tiny but magical. Hidden red bridge, koi fish, quiet paths. Kids pretended they were ninjas sneaking through bamboo. We sat for coffee while they explored. Perfect recharge spot.
Grand Rond Gardens: Huge lawns! Ran around chasing pigeons (the dog was very offended). Playground was solid – slides, swings, the basics. Packed a picnic lunch here. Cheap, cheerful sunshine.
River Walks & Ice Cream Breaks
The Garonne river saved us. Walked along the Quai de la Daurade on the left bank. Views are nice, wide path for scooting/cycling. Main goal? Get ice cream. Found a little place near Pont Neuf selling cups for €2.50. Kids happy. Sat on the steps watching boats. Simple, effective.
Canal du Midi stroll: Another afternoon, walked part of the canal path near Ponts des Demoiselles. Flat, shaded parts. Lots of runners, bikers. Kids liked spotting ducks. Important: Bring water – not many vendors on our stretch.
Muséum de Toulouse (Dino Drama)
Thought we’d try a museum. Muséum de Toulouse was the pick because DINOSAURS. Ground floor has giant skeletons – kids went nuts pointing at the T-Rex teeth. Upper floors? More “look but don’t touch” stuff. Started losing the little one after 45 mins. Ended up in their little garden area again running in circles. Verdict? Good for a rainy day visit, but start with the dinosaurs.
Food Pit Stops
Eating out with kids? Here’s survival mode:
- Food Courts in Markets: Victor Hugo Market upstairs. Loud, bustling, quick. Grabbed pizzas and pasta. No one cared about noise.
- Crêpe Stands: Everywhere. Nutella crêpe = portable bribery tool. Essential.
- Super U Picnics: Seriously, did this twice. Baguette, cheese, ham, fruit. Ate by the river. Kids loved the “choosing” part, we loved the price.
The “Almost Meltdown” Save
Late afternoon, youngest was fading. Saw a street performer doing bubbles near Place du Capitole. Massive, shimmering bubbles everywhere. Kids completely transfixed for 15 solid minutes. Free entertainment win. Moral? Sometimes the best moments aren’t planned.
Final Thoughts & Reality Check
Did we see “everything”? Heck no. Didn’t even try the Airbus tour (age limits and attention spans said nope). Did we push too hard one day? Yep, paid for it with a dinnertime whine-fest. Key was:
- Pace SLOW. One “big” thing per day max.
- Snacks ALWAYS. Hangry kids ruin everything.
- Embrace the Parks. Free energy burn is priceless.
- Left Bank > Right Bank for easier strolling with kiddos.
Toulouse is actually pretty chilled with kids. The pink city vibe? They just liked the ice cream colours. We came back tired but with zero regrets. And hey, that robot at the science museum that made our son laugh? That alone was worth the trip.
