25+ SUMMER ACTIVITIES au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond)

I thought it might be useful to have at hand in one article some of ☀️ the activities available for families & children 🏔 au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond) over the ☀️ summertime . . . So, if you reside 🏔 au Pays du Mont-Blanc, or if you are visiting the 🏔 Pays du Mont-Blanc this July or August, here are some (perhaps) fresh ideas – or reminders of great activities … Continue reading 25+ SUMMER ACTIVITIES au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond)

LIGHT SHOWS & ILLUMINATIONS au Pays du Mont-Blanc ( and beyond )

There are some beautiful holiday light shows au Pays du Mont-Blanc and in 🇫🇷 neighbouring France, 🇨🇭 Switzerland and 🇮🇹 Italy, and every year they seem to get more innovative : mapping, son & lumières . . . Mostly these light show take place over the winter holidays and in January and February, and light up villages, towns and cities ( and in one case … Continue reading LIGHT SHOWS & ILLUMINATIONS au Pays du Mont-Blanc ( and beyond )

CHRISTMAS MARKETS au Pays du Mont-Blanc ( and beyond )

It’s official: the 🎄 Christmas season is kicking off this weekend au Pays du Mont-Blanc ! The ❄️ snow has begun to fall and settle up high, ❄️ the mountain lakes are beginning to freeze, and not too far from the Pays du Mont-Blanc, 🎁 Villages & 🎄 Marchés de Noël have begun to appear in the centre of bigger towns and villages ( 🇨🇭 Geneva, Montreux, … Continue reading CHRISTMAS MARKETS au Pays du Mont-Blanc ( and beyond )

CHRISTMASTIME & HOLIDAY SEASON au Pays du Mont-Blanc ( and beyond )

At 🎄 Christmastime we are spoiled 🏔 au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond) with 🎄 fabulous Christmas & holiday events ! In this article, you will find information about : 🎄 the lighting of town and village CHRISTMAS TREES ( illuminations du sapin ) in December; 🎅🎄 local Pays du Mont-Blanc Christmas events – Santa’s arrival, workshops, spectacles, storytelling etc . . .; ✨ dazzling holiday light shows … Continue reading CHRISTMASTIME & HOLIDAY SEASON au Pays du Mont-Blanc ( and beyond )

MUSEUMS & EXHIBITIONS in nearby SWITZERLAND

We are lucky to have some 🖼 wonderful museums 🏔 au Pays du Mont-Blanc, many housed in architectural gems (old, renovated and new) . . . and as well as their permanent collections, they also offer 🖼 temporary exhibitions and 🎨 workshops for children and families over the school holidays! We are also lucky if we live in (or are visiting!) the 🏔  Pays du Mont-Blanc, as we … Continue reading MUSEUMS & EXHIBITIONS in nearby SWITZERLAND

MUSEUMS & EXHIBITIONS in nearby FRANCE

We are lucky to have some 🖼 wonderful museums 🏔 au Pays du Mont-Blanc, many housed in architectural gems (old, renovated and new), and as well as their permanent collections, many also offer 🖼 temporary exhibitions and 🎨 workshops for children and families over the school holidays! [ ⇒ see MBFF article about 🖼 MUSEUMS & EXHIBITIONS au Pays du Mont-Blanc here and 🖼 OUTDOOR ART EXHIBITIONS & EPHEMERAL OUTDOOR … Continue reading MUSEUMS & EXHIBITIONS in nearby FRANCE

MUSEUMS & EXHIBITIONS au Pays du Mont-Blanc

We are lucky to have some 🖼 wonderful museums 🏔 au Pays du Mont-Blanc and in the Chamonix Valley, many housed in architectural gems (old, renovated and new). . . and as well as their permanent collections, they also offer 🎨 temporary exhibitions and workshops for children and families over the school holidays! ⇒ see also MBFF articles: 🖼 OUTDOOR ART EXHIBITIONS & EPHEMERAL OUTDOOR ART au Pays du … Continue reading MUSEUMS & EXHIBITIONS au Pays du Mont-Blanc

ALTA LUMINA en famille (Les Gets)

One Saturday evening last January, MBFF walked through a sparkling enchanted forest, courtesy of Les Gets Tourisme! I’d been wanting to experience this night-time son & lumières parcours since its opening, and finally we managed to get there! The unique trail is located in the forest behind the Lac des Écoles in Les Gets . . . and it is just M A G I C … Continue reading ALTA LUMINA en famille (Les Gets)

CHRISTMASTIME chez vous au Pays du Mont-Blanc

This is a whole article dedicated to 🎄 Christmastime chez vous au Pays du Mont-Blanc, and here you’ll find information about : 🎄 where to buy your own Christmas tree locally; ✨ where to buy your Christmas decorations locally; ✉️🎅 where to post your letters to Santa; 📦 Les Boites de Noël – Secours Populaire; 🎨 some ideas for Christmas craft chez vous; Head over … Continue reading CHRISTMASTIME chez vous au Pays du Mont-Blanc

SEASONAL ICE-SKATING au Pays du Mont-Blanc

It’s that time of year when the ⛸ seasonal ice-skating rinks begin to appear in town centres throughout the 🏔 Pays du Mont-Blanc . . . a lovely way to spend some time en famille . . .  Sometimes, next to the ice-skating rink, you might find yourself rewarded with 🥃 a vin chaud stand or a small 🎄 Christmas market! Some of these ⛸ seasonal ice-skating rinks will be … Continue reading SEASONAL ICE-SKATING au Pays du Mont-Blanc

THEATRE & SPECTACLES au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond)

We are so lucky here 🗻 au Pays du Mont-Blanc to have such high quality 🎭 theatre on our doorstep !  I sometimes have to pinch myself as I’m watching acrobats flip across the stage, or listening to a well-known musician, when I realise I am a 5mins walk from home, and NOT in a big city like 🇫🇷 Lyon or 🇨🇭 Geneva ! And … Continue reading THEATRE & SPECTACLES au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond)

SPORTS EVENTS for families au Pays du Mont-Blanc ( autumn 2023 )

So, the UTMB has come and gone, so now we can focus on September and 🍁 later autumn sports events . . .  September kicks off every year with the Fêtes du Sport of our local communes au Pays du Mont-Blanc and in the Chamonix Valley, a chance to try out new sports and possibly sign up to a club for the coming year. You’ll find lots … Continue reading SPORTS EVENTS for families au Pays du Mont-Blanc ( autumn 2023 )

SPRING & SUMMER BLOSSOMS and FLOWERS au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond)

It’s official in Geneva: 🌺 SPRINGTIME has ARRIVED ! The 🌳 Marronnier de la Treille’s first leaf appeared last week, on the 3rd March 2024 – and this is seen in the Helvetian city as the first official day of 🌺 spring! (see below for further explanations). And here are the 🌺 first buds on our Sallanches co-property tree too: 🌷 Springtime: when 🌱 crocuses & snowdrops … Continue reading SPRING & SUMMER BLOSSOMS and FLOWERS au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond)

Marché de Noël au Château de Coppet (SWITZERLAND)

I can’t quite remember how we first heard about 🎄 Noël au Château de Coppet – a delightful Christmas market, located between 🇨🇭 Geneva and Nyon, on 💦 Lac Léman in Switzerland. But I’m so glad that we did, as we had a lovely experience there a few years ago! What makes this 🎄 Christmas market so special? 🏰 its location within the grounds of a castle … Continue reading Marché de Noël au Château de Coppet (SWITZERLAND)

LYON – 72 hours of fun & visits en famille !

During the 🍂 Toussaint holidays of 2019, MBFF spent a long weekend in the beautiful city of 🏙 Lyon. As Daddy MBFF had some work meetings in the beautiful city, we decided to head there en famille, arriving at our hotel (located in the 7è arrondissement, just across the river from 🖼 the Musée des Confluences) at 8h in the morning (eek!), in time for me … Continue reading LYON – 72 hours of fun & visits en famille !

« Les Petits Asticots » children’s festival – 21st ⇒ 27th October 2023 ( Pays du Mont-Blanc & Chamonix Valley )

🎭 Les Petits Asticots – the fabulous annual children’s festival 🏔 au Pays du Mont-Blanc & in the Chamonix Valley, which takes place during the 🍁 Toussaint school holidays – will be yet again offering families seven inspirational days of theatre, music, dance, circus and workshops from 21st ⇒ 27th October 2023 ! This year is the 21st edition of the festival! The MBFF family have bsolutely … Continue reading « Les Petits Asticots » children’s festival – 21st ⇒ 27th October 2023 ( Pays du Mont-Blanc & Chamonix Valley )

SCIENCE MUSEUMS, EVENTS & ACTIVITIES for families au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond)

There are several 🧬 BIG SCIENCE EVENTS that occur regularly 🏔 au Pays du Mont-Blanc and beyond, and we have the annual 🧪 La Fête de la Science in autumn ! 🧪 La Fête de la Science – in October (annual); 🧪 La Nuit des Sciences – every two years in Geneva; 🧪 CERN Open Days – every few years, the CERN opens to the public; This got me thinking … Continue reading SCIENCE MUSEUMS, EVENTS & ACTIVITIES for families au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond)

« ANNECY PAYSAGES » en famille (ANNECY)

I had been wanting to see and experience 🖼 « Annecy Paysages » ever since its conception in the summer of 2018 . . . and a few summers ago, on ☀️ a beautiful sunny day, we finally found a window for a visit en famille. Despite it still being ☀️ summer holiday season, and BUSY, we still had a fabulous time. 🖼 « Annecy Paysages » is a … Continue reading « ANNECY PAYSAGES » en famille (ANNECY)

Festival « Les Enfants d’Abord » (SALLANCES) – August 2024

As residents of Sallanches, we have watched the 🎭 children’s festival « Les Enfants d’Abord » get bigger and better each year! ( the festival has now been running for a quarter of a century, with a couple of years of absence due to Covid! ). Over 4 days, every afternoon and evening ( 15h30 until 18h30 ) the pedestrian streets of Sallanches, as well as the … Continue reading Festival « Les Enfants d’Abord » (SALLANCES) – August 2024

Plan d’Eau de Flumet (VAL d’ARLY)

Have you ever been to 💦 Flumet’s Plan d’Eau? If not, then MBFF highly recommends a visit! The little swimming lake is located within the 🌈 Base de Loisirs de l’Arrondine . . . which means that, as well as the lake, you’ll find a playground, skatepark and a terrain multi-sports on-site. Swimming lake The 💦 lake is just lovely! It is surrounded by plenty of grass to … Continue reading Plan d’Eau de Flumet (VAL d’ARLY)

Parc de Loisirs du Pontet (Les Contamines-Montjoie)

The MBFF tribe is a huge fan of the ⛳️ Parc de Loisirs du Pontet, the largest parc de loisirs 🏔 au Pays du Mont-Blanc. This giant leisure park in the beautiful Les Contamines-Montjoie offers more than 20 sports and leisure activities and also has 💦 a small swimming lake and boating lake. Being located next to Notre Dame de la Gorge, opposite the 🚡 Téléphérique de la … Continue reading Parc de Loisirs du Pontet (Les Contamines-Montjoie)

Les Grandes Médiévales d’Andilly (27th ⇒ 29th May and 3rd & 4th June 2023!)

A few years ago now, the MBFF tribe headed to the 🎪 Les Grandes Médiévales d’Andilly with some friends and their children. We had a fabulous day ; it was a memorable day . . . So, what do you need to know about this 🎪 fabulous family event? What are Les Grandes Médiévales d’Andilly? 🎪 Les Grandes Médiévales d’Andilly is a medieval event for the whole family, which … Continue reading Les Grandes Médiévales d’Andilly (27th ⇒ 29th May and 3rd & 4th June 2023!)

Montreux Noël ( SWITZERLAND ) – 23rd November ⇒ 24th December 2023

🇨🇭🎄 Montreux Noël 2023 will be running from 23rd November ⇒ 24th December 2023. I had wanted to go to the 🎄 Marché de Noël de Montreux ( part of the wider🎄 Montreux Noël celebrations ) for a very long time, and we finally managed to go en famille five years ago. We were not disappointed; it was quite simply féérique! So let me share with you … Continue reading Montreux Noël ( SWITZERLAND ) – 23rd November ⇒ 24th December 2023

LA MAISON PUGIN – a local Christmas tree farm ( Reignier )

Choosing a 🌲 Christmas tree to take pride and place in one’s home is a special family tradition . . . it takes a while to find the perfect tree – small, tall, full . . . we all have different taste and requests! Once chosen, we take home our new Christmas friend and get prepared to 🎄 decorate it with our treasured decorations and lights . . … Continue reading LA MAISON PUGIN – a local Christmas tree farm ( Reignier )

GENEVA, NYON & VALAIS (Switzerland) – FREE museums on first Sunday of the month!

Throughout the year in 🇨🇭 Geneva, Nyon & Valais many of the 🖼 museums and their temporary exhibitions are 🗓 FREE on the FIRST Sunday of the month! In addition, the 🖼 museums often put on some 🎨 wonderful workshops & guided tours for children and families (also FREE!) on this day. NB – this initiative does not apply to private museums & collections. The next FREE Sunday will … Continue reading GENEVA, NYON & VALAIS (Switzerland) – FREE museums on first Sunday of the month!