Here 🗻 au Pays du Mont-Blanc, we live on the border with 🇨🇭 Switzerland, one of the most famous chocolate producing nations in the world ( though neighbouring countries do outweigh this small country in chocolate production! ). Those happy 🇨🇭 Swiss 🐄 alpine cows produce 🥛 a rich creamy milk, perfect to mix with cacao, to form delicious chocolate . . . And here … Continue reading CHOCOLATIERS ARTISANAUX au Pays du Mont-Blanc
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 !
Having already re-opened under the L’Oréal Paris label, 💦 Les Thermes de Saint-Gervais Mont Blanc underwent a huge renovation project a couple of years ago . . . These 💦 thermal baths are nestled in a verdant and bucolic spot at the bottom of 🌳 the Parc Thermal in Le Fayet : 💦 in the gorge du Bonnant and next to the Cascade des Thermes. … Continue reading Les Thermes de Saint-Gervais Mont Blanc en famille (LE FAYET)
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
In March 2020, the week before life was to change across the world due to Covid-19, a friend and I had a super morning in Chamonix: we had been invited to try out the 🛷 snooc au ❄ Domaine des Planards! At the time, the ❄ Domaine des Planards was the only ski station 🗻 au Pays du Mont-Blanc set up to use it safely. … Continue reading BAPTÊME SNOOC au DOMAINE des PLANARDS (Chamonix)
A couple of years ago in late May, MBFF went for 🍏 a picnic with friends up at 🎣 Lac de Javen in Megève – it was a mild May that year! 🎣 Lac de Javen is a popular picnic spot for families in the summertime, as it is just a short hike to get there and there are plenty of activities on offer: ☕️ buvette … Continue reading Where to observe TADPOLES & FROGS au Pays du Mont-Blanc
I put together this article a couple of 🐰 Easters ago, when we were in our first 🏘 CONFINEMENT . . . But it’s still relevant, for some fun 🐰 Easter and springtime craft with youngsters: Easter Eggs – dye kits A few years ago, we were given 🥚🎨 an Easter egg dye kit . . . we had a lot of fun with this … Continue reading EASTER CRAFT with children
I used to be a secondary school teacher . . . but I have had little experience teaching younger children (the fact that I became a secondary school teacher indeed suggests that I chose not to teach younger children!). In these days of confinement, for my own sanity, I need to have a morning routine with my boys (9 and 6 years). My CM1 boy … Continue reading ALPHABET & PHONICS LESSON – for 4 to 6 year olds
The 🌉 Passerelle Himalayenne in Plateau d’Assy, which straddles the 💦 Nant Bordon ravine and allows you to access the 💦 Lac Vert via the original route du Lac Vert, was inaugurated on the 21st December 2019 . . . and since then, MBFF has been across it (and back) THREE times! On our most recent crossing, some Tibetan prayer flags had been attached to the … Continue reading La Passerelle Himalayenne du Nant Bordon (PLATEAU d’ASSY)
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)
During the 2019 Toussaint holidays, MBFF was invited to test out the ⛷ new indoor ski centre in Passy: Ski Indoor 4810! The boys were really excited to dig out their 🎿 ski boots, helmets and gloves ahead of the official ski season, and to try out something so novel! Being a pretty mediocre skier myself, I was somewhat more apprehensive, but I was certainly intrigued … Continue reading SKI INDOOR 4810 – perfect your skiing INDOORS! (PASSY)
🇫🇷 Français – J’ai tout d’abord entendu parler de la ferme pédagogique 🐮 La Ferme Les Montagnards, située dans le petit village d’Ormaret à Combloux, grace à la crèche et à la garderie de mes fils – les deux y sont allées en excursion et sont rentrés avec des histoires sur leur “journée à la ferme”. . . J’ai ensuite découvert la ferme moi-même avec mon fils … Continue reading BIENVENUE à La Ferme Les Montagnards (Ormaret, COMBLOUX)
Did you know that there was a 📚 university in the Chamonix Valley ? It’s called 📚 La Petite Université – Chamonix Mont-Blanc ! What is La Petite Université ? 📚 La Petite Université is an association offering cultural courses and complementary talks, events, outings and 🎨 workshops to people in their leisure time. The aim is to make learning accessible to everyone, and to create a social … Continue reading La Petite Université (CHAMONIX VALLEY)
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 )
The 🦅 gypaète barbu celebrated two big birthdays in 2017 : 🦅 30 years since its successful re-introduction into France (1987); 🦅 and 20 years since the first gypaète was born in the Alps (1997); Some gypaète barbu facts: 🦅 NAME – the gypaetus barbatus is what is known as an « Old World vulture »; ie it resides in Africa, Asia and Europe, as opposed … Continue reading Bon Anniversaire, Gypaète Barbu! (© Antoine Rezer Photography)
🎨 Le Chalet des Créateurs in Saint-Gervais-les-Bains is a fabulous venture, bringing together: 🖼 a gallery showcasing local creative talent (45+ créateurs, with collections changing with each season); 🎁 a boutique with unique hand-made, local goods and gifts to buy; 🎨 a centre providing workshops for children and adults throughout the year (and especially during the school holidays); 🎨 workshop facilities for local artists; A little history Charlotte Paget is the protagonist in … Continue reading Le Chalet des Créateurs (SAINT-GERVAIS MONT-BLANC)
Mont Blanc Family Fun 