Category: Further France

Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Babies & Toddlers, Haute-Savoie, Lac d'Annecy & environs, Lago Maggiore, Lakes & Swimming, Savoie, Weekend Escapes, Yvoire

LAKES & WATERSPORTS beyond the Pays du Mont-Blanc

We have some fabulous 💦 swimming lakes 🏔 au Pays du Mont-Blanc, some large enough to practise watersports like ⛵️ windsurfing, sailing and paddle-boarding. [ ⇒ for more information about 💦 swimming lakes 🏔 au Pays du Mont-Blanc, see separate MBFF article here ] And not too far away, you’ll find some 💦 larger lakes in 🇫🇷 Haute-Savoie & Savoie, in Isère, 🇨🇭 in Switzerland, and in 🇮🇹 … Continue reading LAKES & WATERSPORTS beyond the Pays du Mont-Blanc

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3D Nordic - Husky Dog Sledding & Canirando, Animal Antics, AQUATIS Aquarium & Vivarium, Élevage de Saint-Bernards,  Il Parco Villa Pallavicino (Stresa), Barryland - St-Bernard Museum, Chenil 3D Nordic, CJBG - Geneva's Botanical Gardens, Copponex, Domaine le Coulairon - Élevage de Rennes, Flumet, Kerzers, La Ferme aux Crocodiles (Pierrelatte), La Ferme de Chosal, La Ferme les Montagnards, La Réserve Naturelle de Passy, La Réserve Naturelle des Contamines, Lago Maggiore, Lausanne, Le Parc Zoologique (Lyon), Les Aigles du Léman (Sciez-sur-Léman), Les Marécottes, Lyon, Martigny Museums, Musée du Léman et Aquarium, Nyon, Papiliorama Butterfly Park, Parc Animalier d’Introd, Parc aux Animaux du Bois-de-la-Bâtie, Parc de Merlet Animal Park, Parc de la Tête d'Or, Parc des Oiseaux (Villars-les-Dombes), Parc du Chien Polaire, Safari de Peaugres, Tropicaland (Viry), Tropicarium de Servion, Vivarium de Meyrin Elapsoïdea, Zoo de Servion, Zoo des Marécottes, Zoo la Garenne

ANIMAL PARKS & AQUARIUMS further afield

We are 🐯 HUGE ANIMAL LOVERS here at MBFF . . . And so we are lucky to have some 🦌 fabulous animal parks, farms and kennels 🗻 au Pays du Mont-Blanc, [ ⇒ for more information about 🗻 animal parks au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and a little beyond), see separate article here ] As we are at the crossroads with 🇫🇷 Further France, 🇨🇭 Switzerland and … Continue reading ANIMAL PARKS & AQUARIUMS further afield

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Further France, Museums & Exhibitions, Weekend Escapes

DINOSAURS & PREHISTORY near the Pays du Mont-Blanc

Did you ever wonder why I placed 🦕 a dinosaur in the MBFF logo ? It wasn’t simply because kids tend to love 🦖🦕 dinosaurs; it was also because near the Pays du Mont-Blanc, just across the border in 🇨🇭 Emosson, you’ll find some 🦕 dinosaur prints, vestiges of 💦 a great ocean that once covered our 🗻 mountains . . . But where else … Continue reading DINOSAURS & PREHISTORY near the Pays du Mont-Blanc

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Forest & Woodland, Further France, Gorges, Rivers & Waterfalls, Hiking & Strolling

MORE AMAZING WATERFALLS & GORGES beyond le Pays du Mont-Blanc

💦 Waterfalls and gorge hikes are in abundance here 🏔 au Pays du Mont-Blanc . . . [ ⇒ separate MBFF article 💦 WATERFALLS & GORGES 🏔 au Pays du Mont-Blanc here ] But it is still worth highlighting some 💦 waterfalls and gorges to explore that are a  bit further away, in 🇫🇷 further France and in 🇨🇭 neighbouring Switzerland and the 🇮🇹 Aosta Valley (Italy) . … Continue reading MORE AMAZING WATERFALLS & GORGES beyond le Pays du Mont-Blanc

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Annecy Paysages, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Forest & Woodland, Further France, Gorges, Rivers & Waterfalls, Haute-Savoie, Hiking & Strolling, Lac d'Annecy & environs, Lac d'Annecy Hikes & Strolls, Réserve Naturelle du Bout-du-Lac (Doussard), Saint-Jorioz, Sentier des Roselières (Saint-Jorioz), Weekend Escapes

10 family strolls & easy hikes around LAC d’ANNECY

💦 Lac d’Annecy is a super place to head from 🗻 the Pays du Mont-Blanc for a stroll or a hike – perhaps for a bit of culture in the old town of Annecy, perhaps to escape the winter snow of the mountains, or perhaps for a FLAT stroll along the lakeside with a buggy. You’ll find lots of flat walks around the lake, perfect … Continue reading 10 family strolls & easy hikes around LAC d’ANNECY

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"Made in", Further France, Skiing, Snowy Days

Piste X Code – let’s be safe on the pistes !

What is Piste X Code ? Piste X Code is a new, and long overdue, 🗻 on-piste safety campaign! We all know that 🏂 skiing and ⛷ snowboarding and other downhill mountain sports carry risk. Perhaps we’ve had an accident on the pistes or we know someone that has been injured. The nature of 🗻 winter piste sports ie downhill, slippery and varied terrain (some … Continue reading Piste X Code – let’s be safe on the pistes !

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Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Babies & Toddlers, Biking, Scooting & Skating, Castles & Fortresses, Further France, Haute-Savoie, Hiking & Strolling, Le Jardin des 5 Sens, Playgrounds & Softplay, Uncategorized, Weekend Escapes, Yvoire

YVOIRE – a lakeside family day out ! (Lac Léman)

Yvoire is  a 14th century medieval fishing village, located on the southern shores of the  French coast of  Lac Léman. Known as « la perle du Léman » and classified as one of the « plus beaux villages de la France » (see here), with its narrow streets filled with pretty stone buildings, their wooden balconies overflowing with  flowers, Yvoire attracts a fair number of tourists, especially over  the summer months. Yvoire: a little geography & history  Lac Léman – this  Swiss –  French … Continue reading YVOIRE – a lakeside family day out ! (Lac Léman)

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Agendas & Events, Forest & Woodland, Further France, Museums & Exhibitions, Theatre, Dance & Music, Weekend Escapes

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)

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Further France, Lyon, Musée des Confluences, Museums & Exhibitions, Weekend Escapes

Musée des Confluences (LYON)

A while back (in those pre-pandemic days!), MBFF had the absolute pleasure to be invited to explore the 🖼 Musée des Confluences! I had heard so many great things about this museum, and was eager to go and explore en famille – and it truly lived up to all of my high expectations! Before our visit, I’d had a really friendly exchange with the museum’s … Continue reading Musée des Confluences (LYON)

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Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Crest-Voland, Forest & Woodland, Further France, Haute-Savoie, Hiking & Strolling, Savoie, Weekend Escapes

FAMILY STROLLS : Sentier des Arpelières (VAL d’ARLY)

A couple of 🍁 Novembers ago, MBFF set off on a short hike that I’d been wanting to do for a while: Le Sentier des Arpelières in Crest-Voland (or Les Saisies), Val d’Arly. I have hiked all over the world, but – hand on heart – 🍁 the autumn colours and 🍄 the magical nature of the terrain on this hike make this 🍂 one … Continue reading FAMILY STROLLS : Sentier des Arpelières (VAL d’ARLY)

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Argentière, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Chamonix, Chamonix Hikes & Strolls, Chamonix Valley, Combloux, Combloux Hikes & Strolls, Forest & Woodland, Further France, Haute-Savoie, Hiking & Strolling, Lac des Chavants, Le Fayet, Le Fayet Hikes & Strolls, Le Parc Thermal, Les Houches, Les Houches Hikes & Strolls, Megève, Megève & Environs, Parcours d’Orientation Bois du Bouchet, Praz-sur-Arly, Saint Nicolas de Véroce, Sallanches, Sallanches & Environs, Sallanches Hikes & Strolls, Servoz, St Gervais, St Gervais & Environs, Vallorcine

10 ideas for JEUX de PISTE and CHASSES au TRÉSOR au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond)

🗺 Outdoor games can be a great way to keep youngsters entertained while on a hike en famille, or used as an educational approach to learning about one of our mountain villages or towns here 🏔 au Pays du Mont-Blanc. These 🗺 outdoor games take all sorts of different forms: 🦌 thematic trails to learn about the local patrimoine or nature & animals; 🗺 informative … Continue reading 10 ideas for JEUX de PISTE and CHASSES au TRÉSOR au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond)

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Annemasse & environs, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Babies & Toddlers, Biking, Scooting & Skating, Cable Cars, Chairlifts & Tramways, Forest & Woodland, Further France, Haute-Savoie, Hiking & Strolling, Sledging & Ice-Skating, Snowy Days, Weekend Escapes

Téléphérique du Salève – a day out with superb views of Lac Léman & the Alps! (Etrembières)

[ spring 2023 update : 🚠 the Téléphérique du Salève is still SHUT for its huge 2 year long renovation programme . . . but you can still visit the iconic ⛰ Salève mountain, either by driving up there or by hiking up / the 🚠 cable car is due to re-open in 2023 ! ] A couple of weekends back, MBFF was kindly invited … Continue reading Téléphérique du Salève – a day out with superb views of Lac Léman & the Alps! (Etrembières)

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Animal Antics, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Babies & Toddlers, Forest & Woodland, Further France, Gorges, Rivers & Waterfalls, Haute-Savoie, Hiking & Strolling, Lac d'Annecy & environs, Lac d'Annecy Hikes & Strolls, Lakes & Swimming, Réserve Naturelle du Bout-du-Lac (Doussard), Weekend Escapes

BUGGY WALKS & FAMILY STROLLS: La Réserve Naturelle du Bout-du-Lac (Doussard, Lac d’Annecy)

🏞 La Réserve Naturelle du Bout-du-Lac in Doussard is a tranquil 🐸 wetland area, with marshes, 💦 rivers and 🌾 unique flora and 🦆 fauna, offering superb views of 💦 Lac d’Annecy and 🏔 the surrounding mountains. For 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 families, it is ideal: wide wooden walkways perfect for buggies or wheelchairs, 🗺 explanatory panels along the way . . . children will remain engaged and you’ll all learn … Continue reading BUGGY WALKS & FAMILY STROLLS: La Réserve Naturelle du Bout-du-Lac (Doussard, Lac d’Annecy)

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Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Cluses & environs, Forest & Woodland, Further France, Haute-Savoie, Lac d'Annecy & environs, Lac d'Annecy Hikes & Strolls

10 MORE ideas for AUTUMN FAMILY HIKES & STROLLS with small children (beyond le Pays du Mont-Blanc)

This is the follow-up article for 10 ideas for 🍁 autumn stroll with young children 🏔 au Pays du Mont-Blanc (see here). Autumn is certainly arriving, and I love this season of 🍁  burnt seasonal colours adorning the trees and covering the ground accompanied by early ❄️ snow powdered on the nearby 🏔 summits! And so, here are some ideas to head out and enjoy those 🍁 dazzling colours … Continue reading 10 MORE ideas for AUTUMN FAMILY HIKES & STROLLS with small children (beyond le Pays du Mont-Blanc)

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Forest & Woodland, Further France, Gorges, Rivers & Waterfalls, Hiking & Strolling, Weekend Escapes

« Le Mystère de la Montre » : a treasure hunt in Mont-Saxonnex!

MBFF tried out another of Cluse Arve & Montagne’s jeux last autumn! This time we chose another jeu d’aventure: ⏱ Le Mystère de la Montre, in ⛰ Mont-Saxonnex! After having had so much fun doing the previous two jeux, ⚔️ Le Chevalier Maudit (in Châtillon-sur-Cluses; read about our experience here) and 🥚 L’Œuf de Plume la Gypaète (in Le Reposoir; read about our experience here), … Continue reading « Le Mystère de la Montre » : a treasure hunt in Mont-Saxonnex!

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Castles & Fortresses, Cluses & environs, Forest & Woodland, Further France, Hiking & Strolling, Weekend Escapes

« Le Chevalier Maudit »: medieval knightly fun and Geocaching® en famille! (Châtillon-sur-Cluses)

In February this year, we headed to ⛰ Le Reposoir to do one of the Cluses Arves & Montagnes 🗺 jeux d’orientation (we’ve also done the jeux L’Œuf de Plume la Gypaète – see here for MBFF article), and we really enjoyed it! As well as the fun of the orienteering game, we really delighted in getting to know a new mountain village and the … Continue reading « Le Chevalier Maudit »: medieval knightly fun and Geocaching® en famille! (Châtillon-sur-Cluses)

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Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Further France, Haute-Savoie

Site des Ponts de la Caille (CRUSEILLES)

You may well have spotted these two bridges – the 🌁 Ponts de la Caille – from the motorway (A41 Annecy-Genève) on a trip to 💦 Lac d’Annecy from the 🏔 Pays du Mont-Blanc? Have you ever come off the motorway to explore? MBFF certainly has – my curious nature would never leave such incredible looking bridges unexplored! The 🌁 Ponts de la Caille are two … Continue reading Site des Ponts de la Caille (CRUSEILLES)

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Castles & Fortresses, Further France, Hiking & Strolling, Museums & Exhibitions, Parks & Gardens, Rainy Days, Theatre, Dance & Music, Weekend Escapes

GEOGRAPHY, HISTORY & CULTURE LESSON – learning about Paris (primary level)

I woke up a few weeks back now, on my 🐿 10th Groundhog Day, and decided that I would like to take the boys to 🗺 Paris . . . They have been asking to go for a while now, and I’ve always told them that we would go once they were old enough to be able to walk a fair distance without complaining (as … Continue reading GEOGRAPHY, HISTORY & CULTURE LESSON – learning about Paris (primary level)

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Agendas & Events, Aosta Valley, Aosta Valley Castles, Arboretum de Ripaille, Arboretum National du Vallon de l’Aubonne, Aubonne, Chamonix, Chamonix Hikes & Strolls, Chamonix Parks & Gardens, Chamonix Valley, CJBG - Geneva's Botanical Gardens, Evian, Geneva, Hiking & Strolling, Italy, Jaÿsinia Jardin Alpin in Samoëns, Lac d'Annecy & environs, Lago Maggiore, Le Jardin des 5 Sens, Le Jardin des Cimes, Les Houches, Les Houches Hikes & Strolls, Les Jardins de l'Eau du Pré Curieux, Les Jardins Secrets Vaulx, Morges, Parc La Grange, Parks & Gardens, Passy, Passy & Environs, Plateau d'Assy, Saillon, Salève & environs, Sallanches, Sallanches & Environs, Sallanches Hikes & Strolls, Samoëns, Switzerland, Thonon-les-Bains, Weekend Escapes, Yvoire

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 Thursday 9th March 2023 – 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)

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Babies & Toddlers, Cluses & environs, Further France, Hiking & Strolling, Playgrounds & Softplay, Weekend Escapes

PARCOURS d’ORIENTATION: L’Œuf de Plume La Gypaète (Le Reposoir)

I used to get some inspiration for family visits from my boys’ outings with their garderies, and I remembered that one summer my younger son had headed up to Le Reposoir (between Cluses and Le Grand-Bornand) to do a parcours d’orientation with his local garderie, and that he had loved this excursion . . . I also knew that Cluses Arve & Montagnes had developed … Continue reading PARCOURS d’ORIENTATION: L’Œuf de Plume La Gypaète (Le Reposoir)

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Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Biking, Scooting & Skating, Further France, Le Parc Zoologique (Lyon), Lyon, Mini World Lyon, Museums & Exhibitions, Parc de la Tête d'Or, Rainy Days, Weekend Escapes

MINI WORLD LYON – a unique & fabulous family visit!

Back in 2019, when my friend heard that we were to spend a weekend in Lyon over the Toussaint holidays, she asked if we were heading to Mini World Lyon, to see the Harry Potter Lego® exhibition: « L’expo-dont-on-ne-doit-pas-prononcer-le-nom » . . . and that got me wondering if I would be able to fit in a visit to our already busy weekend in Lyon, as … Continue reading MINI WORLD LYON – a unique & fabulous family visit!

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Agendas & Events, Animal Antics, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Biking, Scooting & Skating, Further France, Hiking & Strolling, Le Parc Zoologique (Lyon), Lyon, Museums & Exhibitions, Parc de la Tête d'Or, Parks & Gardens, Theatre, Dance & Music, Weekend Escapes

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 !

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Animal Antics, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Babies & Toddlers, Cinemas, Further France, Lyon, Rainy Days, Weekend Escapes

L’Aquarium de Lyon (LYON)

On our recent trip to Lyon, MBFF was treated to some tickets to experience the 🐟 Aquarium de Lyon. Did you think that aquariums were the reserve of 🌊 sea or ocean located cities? Think again – though Lyon is far from the sea or ocean, do remember that this beautiful city is located at the 💦 strategic confluence of the Rhône and Saône rivers, and this … Continue reading L’Aquarium de Lyon (LYON)

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Agendas & Events, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Chamonix Museums, Chamonix Valley Nature Reserves, Cluses & environs, Further France, Geneva, Geneva Museums, Haute-Savoie, La Réserve Naturelle de Passy, Lac d'Annecy & environs, Lausanne, Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle, Museums & Exhibitions, Rainy Days, Sallanches Museums, Switzerland, Weekend Escapes, Workshops & Stages

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)

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Aosta Valley, Arboretum de Ripaille, Arboretum National du Vallon de l’Aubonne, Babies & Toddlers, Biking, Scooting & Skating, Castello Gamba (modern & contemporary art), Castles & Fortresses, CJBG - Geneva's Botanical Gardens, Evian, Geneva, Hiking & Strolling, Italy, Jaÿsinia Jardin Alpin in Samoëns, La Fondation Pierre Gianadda, La Maison du Salève, Le Jardin des 5 Sens, Le Jardin des Cimes, Le Parc Thermal, Le Parc Zoologique (Lyon), Les Jardins de l'Eau du Pré Curieux, Les Jardins Secrets Vaulx, Lyon, Maison de la Créativité, Martigny, Parc Animalier d’Introd, Parc aux Animaux du Bois-de-la-Bâtie, Parc de Loisirs du Pontet, Parc de Merlet Animal Park, Parc de la Tête d'Or, Parc La Grange, Parks & Gardens, Plateau d'Assy, Playgrounds & Softplay, Switzerland, Weekend Escapes, Yvoire, Zoo des Marécottes, Zoo la Garenne

AUTUMN PARKS & GARDENS au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond)

🍁 Autumn is a lovely season to visit 🌳 parks and gardens: on the trees, a rich palette of gold, rust, brown, red, orange and yellow . . . underfoot, 🍂 a blanket of leaves crunching and sent fluttering when the children find a mound to run through . . . a crisp, and often ☀️ sunny day to accompany your exploits: playing and running, tree-climbing, LandArt, cabane-making . … Continue reading AUTUMN PARKS & GARDENS au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond)

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