LAC de MONTRIOND – a beautiful alpine lake (Vallée d’Aulps)

Have you ever been to the 💦 Lac de Montriond ? Located at 1072m, this 💦 alpine lake – known as the green lake – is nestled under dramatic cliffs. In ☀️ summertime, you can 🏊‍♀️ swim and you’ll find 🚣‍♂️ watersports and other activites, ❄️ winter brings ice-diving, and 🌸 spring & 🍁 autumn are lovely for strolls . . . 💦 Lac de Montriond is … Continue reading LAC de MONTRIOND – a beautiful alpine lake (Vallée d’Aulps)

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

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

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

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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!

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 !

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)

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)

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)

Le Grand Parc d’Andilly (ANDILLY)

I first went to the 🌈 Grand Parc d’Andilly (back then known as the 🌈 Parc des Épouvantails) a few years ago, when I accompanied my elder son’s school class on his sortie de fin de l’année scolaire. I’ll admit that I hadn’t heard much about it until that point and when I heard that it was a fun park ” inhabited by resident scarecrows … Continue reading Le Grand Parc d’Andilly (ANDILLY)

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!)

ANIMAL PARKS & FARMS au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and a little beyond)

We are 🐯 HUGE ANIMAL LOVERS here at MBFF  . . . and we are lucky to share our home with a couple of affectionate (and fairly tolerant!) 🐱🐱 felines. But perhaps some of you don’t have the home set-up to accommodate animal friends, or perhaps allergies are preventing you from doing so . . . Luckily – whether you live 🗻 au Pays du Mont-Blanc or you are visiting – … Continue reading ANIMAL PARKS & FARMS au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and a little beyond)