If amusement park roller coasters make you queasy, you can always take your children to theme parks and enjoy other kinds of experiences. From northern to southern France, follow us and solve brain-twisters, learn about plants, volcanoes and dinosaurs, and discover scale models of France.

What more could you ask for than a park that lets kids brush up on their geography? In the Yvelines department, west of Paris, France Miniature showcases 117 famous French monuments at a 1/30 scale. While some models could use a new coat of paint, all of them are well worth a look, including Mont-Saint-Michel, a typical village of the Savoie region, the Palace of Versailles, the Eiffel Tower and the port of Saint-Tropez. The miniature trains on the 4 kilometers of tiny tracks are a huge hit with smaller children, as are the 20 or so attractions that provide a nice change of pace.

France Miniature, boulevard André-Malraux, in Elancourt (Yvelines department). Prices: €22 for children aged 4 to 12, €28 for adults. The park is open from late March to early November.

In northeastern France, Angers' Terra Botanica is a park devoted to plants and biodiversity, divided into five different themes over 20 hectares: Unusual vegetation (carnivorous plants); great explorations (butterfly and tropical greenhouse); the origins of life (the oldest plants), a journey through the Anjou region (rose garden) and, the latest addition, the mysteries of the forest (a trail among the trees). Each world has its own attractions, games and activities. The park also includes a one-hour nocturne show, a 15-minute magic spectacle, and the beloved explosive vegetable garden, which also lasts 15 minutes.

Terra Botanica, route d'épinard, Angers. Prices: €18 for children aged 3 to 17, €24 for adults. The park is open from late March to early November.

West of Lyon in southern France, Vulcania is a gateway to the world of volcanoes. It offers scientific activities (on the volcanoes of Auvergne, information about becoming an astronaut or a volcanologist, natural phenomena, the Sun and the Earth), dynamic and immersive thrilling activities (chief among which is the roller coaster Namazu) and films on giant screens (Beholding Volcanoes, Hurricane and Mission Vulcania, for small children). The park's centerpiece is France's largest planetarium, which offers a selection of shows and films.

Vulcania, 2, route de Mazayes, Saint-Ours (Puy-de-Dôme department). Prices: between €6 and €8 depending on the season for children aged 3 to 5, between €22 and €26.50 for children aged 6 to 16, between €27 and €32 for adults. The park is open from mid-March to mid-November.

You have 39.33% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only.