With a now seven year old and a four year old in tow, the MBFF family is beginning to find its hiking mojo (we hope). The snow levels at altitude are still quite impressive this spring/summer season 2018 au Pays du Mont-Blanc, and our local refuges have had their work cut out to open in time to accommodate hikers, but we hope to get out in … Continue reading MBFF’s recommended family hikes au Pays du Mont-Blanc
We have one more bank holiday this May 2018: Pentecôte . . . and then it is full steam ahead with school and work . . . until the summer holidays! Until the summer activities post, I thought it might be useful to have a general list of activities available for families & children au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond) at hand in one list . … Continue reading Springtime Activities for families au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond)
The season for trail running, triathlons, half-marathons, marathons, bike races, ultra races is now upon us . . . and if you like taking part IN (or being a spectator AT) sports events, then there are plenty of options au Pays du Mont-Blanc and beyond . . . Many of the upcoming sporting events have options for families and children, big and small . . . … Continue reading Sports Events for Families au Pays du Mont-Blanc
With the plentiful snowfall of this winter season au Pays du Mont-Blanc, it is hard to imagine that we have now officially entered a new season . . .🌷🌹🌺🌱SPRING🌹🌺🌷🌱 !!! When crocuses first timidly reach out to the sun from their bed of grass, when the first almond and cherry blossoms appear in their splendid hues of pink, when magnolia trees blossom in splendid glory, when spring flower … Continue reading Springtime Blossoms & Flowers au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond)
It has teased us with its opening date for quite some months . . . and finally the Pays du Mont-Blanc has a new médiathèque to add to its list! The Médiathèque «Ange Abrate» in Sallanches finally opened its doors to the public on a rainy morning – Saturday 17th March 2018 – with a day of animations for the whole family . . . The … Continue reading Médiathèque «Ange Abrate» in Sallanches
We are lucky to have some wonderful museums au Pays du Mont-Blanc, many housed in architectural gems (old, new and renovated) . . . and as well as their permanent collections, they also offer temporary exhibitions and workshops for children and families over the school holidays! And if we venture further than the Pays du Mont-Blanc – to Cluses, to Annemasse, to la Maison du … Continue reading Museums & Exhibitions au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond)
Every Wednesday afternoon during the French school holidays, the Centre de la Nature Montagnarde in Sallanches organises worshops for children aged 6 to 12 years called Les P’tits Experts de la Nature. Children are given a certificate booklet when they do their first workshop and they collect a stamp for each completed workshop. During their 2-hour workshop, they become little “experts” in different fields of nature! My son … Continue reading Les P’tits Experts de la Nature workshops (Sallanches)
It’s that time of year when the ⛸ seasonal ice-skating rinks ⛸ begin to appear in town centres throughout le Pays du Mont-Blanc . . . a lovely way to spend some time en famille, or to let the youngsters play with their friends. Sometimes, next to the ice-skating rink, you might find yourself rewarded with a mulled wine stand or small Christmas market! As well as … Continue reading Seasonal Ice-Skating au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond)
After a visit to Japan during the magical time of «autumn leaves», I never thought that autumn would inspire me in the same way again . . . But then I returned home to the Pays du Mont-Blanc, and was charmed all over again by the palette of red, ochre, gold and orange covering the trees, crunching under my feet and reflected in the lakes of … Continue reading Family strolls with small children: lakes in autumn au Pays du Mont-Blanc
«Les Petits Asticots» – is an annual children’s festival au Pays du Mont-Blanc – it takes place during the Toussaint school holidays and provides families with six inspirational days of theatre, music, dance, circus and workshops! The MBFF team absolutely LOVE «Les Petits Asticots» – not only are the shows of high quality, the festival is local and its timing during the Toussaint holidays is just so welcome … Continue reading Festival «Les Petits Asticots» (Pays du Mont-Blanc)
2018 update: this appears to be a very popular post on the MBFF website, so I have updated it with a few new suggestions for family walks! Family hiking with small children is not 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 … Continue reading Family Hikes – tips for hiking with small children
Au Pays du Mont-Blanc, we are now lucky enough to have two softplay options – one in Chamonix and one in Sallanches – for those RAINY DAYS all year long . . . and in the summer months, plenty of bouncy castles spring up in lovely locations: Indoor Softplay Centres La Petite Folie softplay (Chamonix) This softplay café in Chamonix Sud opened its doors in the summer of 2016 … Continue reading Softplay & Bouncy Castles au Pays du Mont-Blanc
I was walking along the quais in Sallanches last week and the chataignes (chestnut trees) were all in bloom and had formed a tapestry above my head . . . and I thought how I must write a post about how NOW is the time to experience Sallanches’s riverside at its most lush! A trip to Sallanches’s Saturday morning market (which is lovely; a post to come) … Continue reading The beautiful quais of Sallanches
What you’ll find in this post is a list of baby & toddler playgroups, including music and dance groups for pre-schoolers, au Pays du Mont-Blanc. I have also compiled a list of some of the regular storytelling sessions that take place au Pays du Mont-Blanc. For a much more detailed list of Baby & Toddler Activities au Pays du Mont-Blanc, see post. Colour code for listings: … Continue reading Baby & Toddler Playgroups & Storytelling 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. Chamonix Chamonix’s Cinéma VOX is a bit of an institution. There are VO … Continue reading Cinemas au Pays du Mont-Blanc
There are two bowling alleys au Pays du Mont-Blanc: one in Chamonix, and one in Sallanches. Chamonix Chamonix’s Bowling has 8 bowling alleys, as well as an indoor mini-golf, a pool room (“billards”) and a games room. The entrance includes obligatory bowling shoes and you must wear socks! Opening hours: High season: open every day from 17h to 2h in the morning, or from 14h in the … Continue reading Bowling au Pays du Mont Blanc
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 walk 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 you … Continue reading Sallanches – Springtime Family Stroll
On some beautiful sunny afternoons this spring, we have found ourselves down at the Sallanches skatepark! I must admit to having been somewhat ignorant regarding our local skatepark, and so I was pleasantly surprised with the discovery! It has been recently renovated, and there is lots of space for skateboards, scooters and BMX bikes. I was also pleasantly surprised by the range of ages present – little ones on … Continue reading Sallanches Skatepark
Set in the historic 14th century Château des Rubins, just behind the Eglise Saint-Jacques in Sallanches, the Centre de la Nature Montagnarde is a museum dedicated to the Alps. Set across 5 floors, an interactive journey transports visitors rom glaciology and geology, to some close encounters with the resident taxidermy (a wolf, a lynx and a bear, among others!). As well as panels explaining … Continue reading Centre de la Nature Montagnarde (Sallanches)
MBFF has spent seven years discovering and testing playgrounds in the Pays du Mont-Blanc. We are fairly confident that we have tested most of them (please let us know of any treasures we may have missed along the way!). The following list highlights our personal favourites; this is clearly subjective . . . and I’ll admit that at certain points on our journey of discovery, we had to avoid … Continue reading MBFF’s Favourite Playgrounds au Pays du Mont-Blanc
Officially known as Base de Loisir des Ilettes, les Lacs des Ilettes actually consist of three lakes and this is a popular place year-round for locals to come for a stroll en famille, for a bike ride, a dog-walk (permitted around the 3rd lake) or a jog and workout. In summertime, the middle lake is a popular choice for swimmers and the 3rd lake for windsurfers. Le … Continue reading Lacs des Ilettes (Sallanches)
You don’t have to head as far as Geneva to get your fill of culture (though there is certainly much culture to be had there too!). Head to Sallanches’ Salle Léon Curral for some excellent (and very reasonably priced!) entertainment. Here you will find concerts (recent concerts have included: Ayo, Irma, L.E.J), theatre, comedy, dance, circus acts . . . Recently renovated, and with spectacular views of … Continue reading Salle Léon Curral (Sallanches)
Sallanches has four fantastic playgrounds and we visit them regularly! There is also a softplay centre in the industrial zone of Sallanches, called Le Parc en Folie. There are two playgrounds in the centre of town: Aire de Jeux des Quais This playground is next to the river (near the Mairie) and boasts a climbing frame/web for older children and, for the little ones, a fire … Continue reading Sallanches Playgrounds
