If you are staying in the South of France with your children or grandchildren, here is our guide to the 10 best places for children in Languedoc, as compiled following extensive research and much debate by our 3 boys.

If you are in Languedoc with your children or grandchildren and you're looking for things to do to occupy their time, then here is our guide to the 10 best places for children in the South of France. The list has been compiled following extensive research and much debate by our 3 boys, Cameron 8, Archie 6 and Finlay 3. There were many other items that didn't make it into the Top 10 and we have over 2 years experience of touring around Languedoc and the South of France entertaining our little monkeys. If you are looking for a particular activity or want some ideas for your vacation, then please drop me a line (Iain Laverock) and I will be happy to send you some suggestions. Enjoy your visit.

1. France for kids - Canoeing up the Ravine

This is our boys' favourite day out in the South of France. Near to St Guilhem-le-Desert the Herault river has cut a dramatic ravine through the rock. Where the river emerges under the Pont du Diable, it has been dammed to form a small lake, complete with beach. The water is cool, crystal clear and wonderful for swimming in during the hot summer months. It makes an excellent alternative to the beach. There is a Canoe Hire kiosk here, where you can rent a canoe for €10 per hour. You canoe across the lake and then about 1km up the ravine. It is a bit windy in places, but this all adds to the fun. After about 20 minutes canoeing you will arrive at a big rock in the middle of the river. This is the turnaround point. Our kids love to scramble up on the rocks and jump into the river complete with dramatic screams.Just watch out for people jumping off the Pont du Diable as you canoe under it. This seems to be a bit of a tradition in France (see Canoeing up the Ravine for further details on this activity).

2. France for kids - Accrobranche

If you're looking for an activity for your children with a bit of a difference, then Accrobranche could be for you. Set in dense forest close to Motagnac, Accrobranche specialises in tree climbing adventures, encompassing abseiling, tree canopy walks and rope ladders. Whilst this may not be for those fearful of heights (like me!), this is great fun. It takes you back to being 10 years old again. Oh and the kids will enjoy it as well. Our lot thought it was brilliant and they slept like Pandas in the car on the way home (see Accrobranche for more information).

3. France for kids - Cycling along the Canal du Midi

The Canal Midi is one of the South of France's most famous sites. It also makes a great day out for the kids and gets them away from the Playstation or Gameboy for a few hours. Our favourite spot is to park up in Colombiers on the D11 west of Beziers. From here we cycle west towards Capestang. After about 15 mins you will reach the Oppidum d'Ensurune, a pre-Roman settlement perched on a hill above the vineyards. From here you get a spectacular view of the Basin du Montady. This is a Wagon-wheel shaped formation of fields (or like the 'triangle cheese wedges in a Dairylea cheese box' as Cameron describes it). We usually have our sandwiches here looking down on the Basin, before cycling on to the next village for a drink. The return leg home is always quicker with a Stella Artois inside you! Also see Canal du Midi for more information on the Canal du Midi.

4. France for kids - Montpellier Zoo

Montpellier Zoo - or Parc Zoologique Henri de Lunaret, to give it its full title - is a free day out in a lovely parkland setting in the North of Montpellier. Zoos are always a hit with our boys and we easily spent 4 hours walking round and we still didn't see all of the animals. There are bears, lions, cheetahs, leopards, rhinos, antelope - you name it. I suppose the only thing that slightly lets it down is that when we went there is nowehere to go to get a drink or an ice cream. But it is free, so you can't expect too much. They're also going through a period of building work and I believe that new facilities will be open from 2007. Anyway, it is a good day out, our boys loved it and it is certainly a cheap alternative to Sigean African Safari. Did I mention that it was free? For more details and directions please visit : http://zoo.montpellier.fr/

5. France for kids - Sigean African Safari

The Arican Safari Park in Sigean is very well laid out and has all the animals you can think off: Lions, Giraffes, Rhinos, Gorillas, Elephants (Archie's favourite), Emus with attitude and lots and lots of Monkeys. When we went the Pink Flamingos were flying in. It is well worth the visit, although I can imagine it gets busy in the Summer.For further details please visit: Sigean African Safari

6. France for kids - Meze Dinosaur Museum

Not to be confused with 'DinoPark' located in Cap d'Agde, this Museum is the largest museum in Europe devoted entirely to dinosaurs. The park is well laid out and there is lots of information. The museum is located on the site of an important discovery of dinosaur eggs and fossils. Our 3 boys loved walking around and seeing all the real-scale reconstructed models located in amongst the tress and trying to find all the dinosaur eggs in the sand pit. There is a nice sheltered picnic area, a cafe bar, shop and outside cinema area. Connected to the Dinosaur Museum there is another park area devoted entirely to the development of Man. Personally I found this very informative, but the boys had probably had enough by then. However, the collection of arrow heads and axes kept their interest for a bit. You can buy a dual ticket that covers both parks.

The Dinosaur Park ranked highly with our crew. Even though when we went it was scorchingly hot, we still managed to grab some welcome shade as we walked around. Informative as well as entertaining.Visit http://www.musee-parc-dinosaures.com/for more details.

7. France for kids - Le Petit Paradis

This park is a real gem if you're at a loose end trying to find an activity for the kids to do. We took our kids (Cameron 8, Archie 5 and Finlay 2) together with some friends and their children. Set amongst the beautiful landscaped gardens and canals you can discover a real oasis here. The children will love all the animals (horses, cows, goats and ducks) wandering free in their own spaces. The kids will also enjoy the play area with its castle trampoline (for under 6 years only), a floating bridge and swings. Best of all though your children will enjoy the rowing boats (the water is not deep, only 1 meter or so and you can borrow life jackets from the kiosk). The park is accessible for wheel chairs and buggies/strollers. There is a snack bar here but you'd be better off bringing your own food and sitting out and having a picnic (see Best Picnic Spots in South of France). If you get a hot day then walking around this park with its shaded greenery is perfect. The rowing boats are fun and kids always enjoy pony rides and seeing aniumals wandering free. See Petit Paradis for further information

8. France for kids - Having a Picnic at the Pont du Gard

Pont du Gard, situated just north of Nimes, is one of the most dramatic monuments of the Roman architecture in France. This Roman aqueduct, was built around AD50 to carry water over 50 km from Uzes to Nimes. There are two alternative places to eat at this famous Roman Aqueduct. You can either eat on the banks of the river with a fantastic view of the bridge in all its glory, or you can pick a nice shady spot on the botanical trail through the Mediterranean garden. Once you've finished with your picnic, you children can be entertained swimming in the river under the bridge, visiting the childrens activity centre in the Pont du Gard visitors centre or just lazing in the sun besides one of the most famous sites in the South of France (see Pont du Gard for more details). For other Picnic ideas see our article Best Picnic Spots

9. France for kids - Aqualand

Our favourite rides at the Aqualand waterparkwere the Niagra - absolutely terrifying, a straight slide that takes you down from about 50m to zero in about 2 seconds!; the Colarado - you sit in a long rubber canoe and your whizzed round in the dark before descending like a bullet down the slide; and the Black hole - a massive flume. Don't bother with the Congo River - unless you have young kids or you're a bit of a girl. You also get a nice view over Cap d'Agde from on top of the rides. The wave machine pool is very good and the toddler pools are safe and entertaining. There was not too much to go on if you were under 1.10m. If you do have small children, you might be better visiting La Grande Bleu in Grande Motte, as I doubt they will get their money's worth here (see below)

Despite all the queueing we had a good day out. It is not something I want to do every day, but it is good fun nonetheless. It certainly brings out the big kid in you. See Aqualand for more information.

10. France for kids - Espace Grande Bleu

If you want an alternative to the beach or an economical alternative to Aqualand, then La Grande Bleu in La Grande Motte could be just the place for you. La Grande Bleu is an indoor and outdoor swimming pool complex with 'flumes'(or 'toboggans' in French), up to 48m in length, 3-4 swimming pool areas, a toddler pool, sun terrace, solarium, steam room & sauna, jaccuzis, water jets, wave machine, etc. There is also a cafeteria and ice cream bar inside the swimming pool area. We went about 2 months ago and all our children (ages 3, 5 & 8) had a great time. We've not been outdoors in the summer, but from what we saw it looked good. For more information (see Espace Grande Bleu).

Other best places for kids in South of France:

Planetarium Galilee -Montpellier's own superb planetarium. We have not been ourselves, but we've heard good reports about it. There is an excellent website for the Planetarium (http://www.planetarium-galilee.com/).

Train Juane - a yellow train that snakes its way up the Pyrenees from Villefranche-de-Conflet and climbs up to the highest train station in France at Bolquere. Further details can be obtained from the website at :Train Juane

Aquarium, Le Grau-du-Roi - one of the best aquariums around this area (do not go to the Aquarium in Cap d'Agde as it is rubbish). Visit http://www.seaquarium.fr for more information

Crocodile farm - this is a good day out. It is situated between Avignon and Orange. Make sure you go on a cool day because it is bloody hot inside!