Versailles, with room to breathe

The palace is of course extraordinary, but with four kids I would make the huge park the backbone: Grand Canal, bikes, rowboat, picnic/ice cream, then Trianon and Marie-Antoinette’s hamlet if everyone still has energy. Add the Hall of Mirrors only if the Canadians genuinely want the classic interior.

Drive

≈ 30–35 min

Before leaving

Check the day’s palace, park, bike and boat opening times on the official site.

Historic kitchen garden created for Louis XIV: much more human-scale than the palace and a nice way to show how Versailles actually fed itself.

This is the most dependable rental plan. The official Petite Venise point rents bikes seasonally, and rowboats are also offered on the Grand Canal. Check the day’s availability and last departure before promising either activity.