Hang on, aren’t 🛝 ALL playgrounds 🗻 au Pays du Mont-Blanc 🛝 mountain playgrounds ? I mean, we live in 🗻 the mountains, so every 🛝 playground has mountain views ! 🛝 Mountain playgrounds sounds like a misnomer for the 🗻 Pays du Mont-Blanc? For the sake of argument, this article concentrates on 🗻🛝 the mountain playgrounds that are less easily accessible – ie you … Continue reading MOUNTAIN PLAYGROUNDS au Pays du Mont-Blanc
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)
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)
A few times now, MBFF has headed to Cordon, to walk the « Sentier Découverte de la Forêt à Cordon » (« Forest Discovery Trail »). We first discovered this trail about 8 years ago, when we had a baby in a backpack and a little boy in tow, and I had been meaning to write a full article about it every since! The « Forest Discovery Trail » is an annotated trail through the forest … Continue reading FAMILY HIKES: « Forest Discovery Trail » / « Sentier Découverte de la Forêt » (Cordon)
Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval (Vallée du Giffre) is known as the land of 30 waterfalls, and la Cascade du Rouget figures prominently on that list; in 2009 was voted the most beautiful waterfall in France! It is affectionately referred to as « la reine des Alpes » (the Queen of the Alps). Located at an altitude of 960m, and with its +80m of height set across two levels of flowing water, the La Cascade du Rouget flows all year … Continue reading La Cascade du Rouget ( Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval )
Are you aware that there are castle ruins in the Chamonix Valley ? You’ll find the ruins of the Château de Saint-Michel, a 14th century fortress built under the orders of Béatrix de Savoie, dame de Faucigny, in Servoz. The castle ruins sit on a hilltop (860m), surrounded by trees, and the only remaining vestiges are the tower and parts of the wall, now covered in vegetation (especially verdant in summertime!). The castle was built … Continue reading Château de Saint-Michel: castle ruins, forest and a parcours d’orientation (SERVOZ)
🌸 Springtime has arrived . . . and while I dream of one day being in Japan for its famous 🌸 springtime cherry blossoms, for now I am excited to share this little 🏛 Sallanches town stroll with you. While there is still snow on the higher altitude walks, why not take a leisurely amble through the streets of Sallanches, enjoy the 🌸 spring blossoms, and discover a little history as … Continue reading BUGGY WALKS : a springtime stroll in Sallanches
MBFF hiked this trail a couple of times last year, and we can confirm that it is fabulous for families with small children! It would be lovely to do in 🍂 autumn, with the changing colours, but do leave it for a dry day, as it could be quite slippery underfoot after rain! You get a mixture of religious history, art & architecture and nature … Continue reading FAMILY HIKES: le Sentier Nature du Calvaire & le Creux Saint-Jean (MEGEVE)
When the kids are small, we are often limited in the hikes that we undertake: not too far, not too high, not too much dénivelé . . . some of us can hike further, but some of us have problematic backs and knees, meaning that baby backpacks can be more of a challenge . . . or, perhaps we have toddlers that like to hike, … Continue reading 20 SHORT FAMILY HIKES with a BUVETTE (CHAMONIX VALLEY)
💦 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
The MBFF team players are huge fans of the 🌳 Parc Thermal in Le Fayet . . . as well as the famous 💦 Thermes de Saint-Gervais-Mont-Blanc, this park has so much to offer: hikes & strolls, 🧗♂️ climbing & via ferrata, a newly renovated sports complex, a playground, le petit train du Parc Thermal, lots of green grass for running and ball games, art … Continue reading 3 FAMILY STROLLS & HIKES in the Parc Thermal (Le Fayet)
Ahhh, 🌳 forests . . . strolling in nature, listening to the forest sounds, a huge playground for family exploration, and so much scope to learn about 🌳🦌 trees and wildlife . . . With the 🍃🍁 change of seasons, 🌳 our forests offer us something new every few months weeks : the 🍃 rich green of spring and summer; 🍂 the shedding of leaves in … Continue reading 10 FOREST & WOODLAND STROLLS au Pays du Mont-Blanc
💦 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 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)
A couple of years ago in November, MBFF headed to Le Bettex (Saint-Gervais Mont-Blanc), to walk the family-designed « Sur la piste de Charlotte la Marmotte ». This family walk is 🗺 an annotated trail, and it can be done all year round ( in winter with snowboots or raquettes), with a baby carrier if needed! The path leaves from Le Bettex (1400m) and heads to … Continue reading FAMILY HIKES: « Sur la piste de Charlotte la Marmotte » (Le Bettex, Saint-Gervais 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
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)
With the Télécabine du Jaillet (Megève, Portes du Mont-Blanc), you can swiftly get up to ⛰ the altitude 1585m, while exerting minimal energy! And, at the arrival station, so much FUN awaits : the aire de jeux panoramique, a chill-out zone, a superb view of Mont-Blanc, picnic spots ( and a foodtruck on-site and a restaurant option a short stroll away ) and plenty of … Continue reading TÉLÉCABINE du JAILLET in summertime : aire de jeux panoramique, relaxation zone, hikes & activities (Megève)
A couple of summers ago, on ☀ a very hot day, I finally ventured to 💦 Arly-Plage for some river fun with the boys . . . We’d visited 🌈 the Base de Loisirs des Belles several times, and we’d been ⛷ skiing in Praz-sur-Arly, but we’d never gone for 💦 a paddle and a splash around in the shallow Arly river! Arly-Plage: splashing fun … Continue reading ARLY-PLAGE & BERGES d’ARLY: the perfect spot for splashing & paddling ! (PRAZ-sur-ARLY)
[ 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)
A visit to a 💦 waterfall or gorge is often an awe-inspiring and sensory experience, allowing you to appreciate nature in its wildest, purest form. It can also be a great option for a family hike, or a chance to escape ☀️ the heat of summer, with a cool breeze and brume emanating from the cascade of water. We are lucky 🗻 au Pays du Mont-Blanc, as we … Continue reading WATERFALLS & GORGES au Pays du Mont-Blanc
This Sallanches hike is ideal any time of year (except on an icy winter’s day!); in 🌸 early springtime, many of our 🗻 higher (and even mid-range) altitude mountain hikes are still snow-covered, but the paths on this trail should be snow-free; in autumn, the colours are just spectacular! The hike (which is also 🚵♂️ a bike trail) is ideal for families for several reasons: … Continue reading FAMILY HIKES: Lacs des Ilettes, la Cascade de l’Arpenaz & Luzier
🏞 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)
You LOVE the beautiful ❄️ SNOW, but sometimes you feel frustrated as it is restricts your movements with a buggy? You’re tired of heading to 💦 Lac de Passy (lovely as it is!), where you do loop after loop with a buggy, because you are in need of some ground without ❄️ SNOW ? I’m sure you’re not alone! ❄️ Wintertime can feel ever so LONG … Continue reading BUGGY WALKS & FAMILY STROLLS : 10 winter ones au Pays du Mont-Blanc
The 🌲 Bois du Bouchet is a young forest, witness to the retreat of ❄️ ancient glaciers, and with vestiges of the granite-workers from Italy of the 19th and 20th century . . . And this 🌳🌲 woodland it is also a window from which to gaze upon the majestic 🏔 Mont-Blanc and the other peaks of Chamonix. The 🌲 Bois du Bouchet is located … Continue reading BOIS du BOUCHET – strolls, bike rides, a parcours d’orientation, snowy options & MORE !
Mont Blanc Family Fun 