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

FAMILY HIKES: La Passerelle Himalayenne ⇒ Lac Vert (Passy)

I have now been on this hike a few times en famille, and with friends. I can assure you that each time, friends are wowed by the 🌉 Himalayan suspension bridge, 🏔 the fabulous views of 🗻 Mont-Blanc, and the ethereal 💦 Lac Vert. The altitude gain (dénivelé) on this hike is fairly minimal, making it a great short hike for families with young children or older … Continue reading FAMILY HIKES: La Passerelle Himalayenne ⇒ Lac Vert (Passy)

Where to observe TADPOLES & FROGS au Pays du Mont-Blanc

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

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)

La Passerelle Himalayenne du Nant Bordon (PLATEAU d’ASSY)

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)

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

🍁 A U T U M N 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, … Continue reading AUTUMN PARKS & GARDENS au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond)

FAMILY HIKES: Jardin des Cimes ⇒ Refuge de Varan (PLATEAU d’ASSY)

[ note 2023: ☕️ Refuge de Varan is SHUT for the 2023 summer season for renovation, but there is lots of gorgeous alpine pasture surrounding it for picnics! ] For a family hike, MBFF finds it a good idea to have a clear point of interest along the way: 💦 a waterfall, ❄️ a glimpse of a glacier, a ride in 🚡 a télécabine or on a télésiège, 🦌 wildlife … Continue reading FAMILY HIKES: Jardin des Cimes ⇒ Refuge de Varan (PLATEAU d’ASSY)

Lac Vert (PLAINE-JOUX)

The MBFF family members are regular visitors to 💦 Lac Vert in Plaine-Joux (Passy), and a visit a couple of🍂 autumns ago reminded me that I should write an article exclusively about this lovely alpine lake! A visit here is a great family day out: a short walk, with fun wooden walkways and some scrambling too, boulders to climb, 🌲 trees and 🏔 snowy mountain peaks reflected … Continue reading Lac Vert (PLAINE-JOUX)

Jardin des Cimes (PLATEAU d’ASSY)

🌻 Le Jardin des Cimes is a truly 🌷 magical alpine garden, with breathtaking views of 🏔 the Mont-Blanc massif. These very special gardens have captured our imagination on each of our visits and our children are always eager to show them off to our visitors! 🌻 Le Jardin des Cimes never loses its charm and each season brings new surprises 🌻 Le Jardin des Cimes (“ Garden of … Continue reading Jardin des Cimes (PLATEAU d’ASSY)

FAMILY HIKES – MBFF’s tips for hiking with small children

⛰ FAMILY HIKING with small children is not always a simple task! Well, perhaps it is for some families . . . perhaps your children were born hikers! But for many of us, getting our children to 🏔 LOVE hiking in the mountains is not a given. Both of my sons had periods around the age of 18 months when they decided that the backpack was no … Continue reading FAMILY HIKES – MBFF’s tips for hiking with small children

CINEMAS au Pays du Mont-Blanc

🏔 Au Pays du Mont-Blanc, there is one large cinema complex in Sallanches – the 🎥 Ciné Mont-Blanc – and then a scattering of smaller screens, which have lots of personality! During the summer months, many of the communes screen 🎬 FREE outdoor films, so be sure to look at Tourist Office agendas for this lovely initiative. Colour code for listings Pays du Mont-Blanc Chamonix Valley (Chamonix, … Continue reading CINEMAS au Pays du Mont-Blanc

Passy Mont-Blanc PLAYGROUNDS

Jardin des Cimes in Plateau d’Assy This is not a conventional playground – and neither is it free (as you have to pay an entrance fee to enter the gardens) . . . but I’ve included it in this Passy Playgrounds article, as you can’t find many playgrounds with such an incredible view of 🏔 the Mont-Blanc massif . . . These wooden structures at … Continue reading Passy Mont-Blanc PLAYGROUNDS