Category: Sallanches

Biking, Scooting & Skating, Forest & Woodland, Gorges, Rivers & Waterfalls, Hiking & Strolling, Lacs des Ilettes, Lakes & Swimming, Sallanches, Sallanches & Environs, Sallanches Hikes & Strolls

FAMILY HIKES: Lacs des Ilettes, la Cascade de l’Arpenaz & Luzier

This Sallanches hike is ideal for this time of year, as 🌸 in early springtime many of our 🗻 higher (and even mid-range) altitude mountain hikes are still snow-covered. The hike (which is also 🚵‍♂️ a bike trail) is ideal for families for several reasons: 🗺 short distance – about 5km; relatively flat (except for the slightly uphill 🌳 forest section at 💦 the Cascade … Continue reading FAMILY HIKES: Lacs des Ilettes, la Cascade de l’Arpenaz & Luzier

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"Made in", Chamonix, Combloux, Le Fayet, Megève, Passy, Sallanches, St Gervais

EASTER CHOCOLATE: chocolatiers artisanaux au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and a bit beyond)

How do you celebrate 🐣 Easter? Do you organise 🐣 a little Easter egg hunt in your garden or in a local park? Here 🗻 au Pays du Mont-Blanc, we live on the border with 🇨🇭 Switzerland, one of the most famous chocolate producing nations in the world! Those 🐄 happy alpine cows produce 🥛 a rich creamy milk, perfect to mix with cacao, to … Continue reading EASTER CHOCOLATE: chocolatiers artisanaux au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and a bit beyond)

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Biking, Scooting & Skating, Forest & Woodland, Hiking & Strolling, Sallanches, Sallanches & Environs, Sallanches Hikes & Strolls

FAMILY HIKES: Les Golettes, La Vigne & La Fley (SALLANCHES)

During this 🏡 second confinement, we all (apart from those lucky mountain leaders and other sporting folk!) have to find 🏡 walks within a 1km radius from home . . . as with the first confinement, I am lucky to have found one 🏔 local hike that adheres to the distance and time authorised (if I run part of it, which is a major challenge for … Continue reading FAMILY HIKES: Les Golettes, La Vigne & La Fley (SALLANCHES)

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"Made in", Animal Antics, Argentière, Babies & Toddlers, Chamonix Valley Nature Reserves, Combloux, Combloux Hikes & Strolls, Combloux Playgrounds, Forest & Woodland, Hiking & Strolling, La Réserve Naturelle de Passy, La Réserve Naturelle des Contamines, Lac des Chavants, Lac Vert, Lacs des Ilettes, Lakes & Swimming, Le Jardin des Cimes, Les Contamines, Les Contamines & Environs, Les Houches, Megève, Megève & Environs, Passy, Passy & Environs, Plaine-Joux, Plan d'Eau Biotope, Plateau d'Assy, Playgrounds & Softplay, Praz-sur-Arly, Praz-sur-Arly Hikes & Strolls, Sallanches, Sallanches & Environs, Sallanches Hikes & Strolls

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

Last year at this point in late May, MBFF went for 🍏 a picnic with friends up at 🎣 Lac de Javen in Megève – it was a much milder May! 🎣 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 and restaurant; … Continue reading Where to observe TADPOLES & FROGS au Pays du Mont-Blanc

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Forest & Woodland, Hiking & Strolling, Sallanches, Sallanches & Environs, Sallanches Hikes & Strolls, Uncategorized

FAMILY HIKES: Bois de Fessy et les Blocs de La Pesse (Sallanches)

During confinement, we all had to find 🏡 walks within a 1km radius from home . . . though perhaps I was not able to go quite as far as I desired, this did encourage me to try out some of the 🏔 very local hikes, and one that we did en famille (though with much whining and shoulder support at times!) was this one: 🌳 … Continue reading FAMILY HIKES: Bois de Fessy et les Blocs de La Pesse (Sallanches)

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Agendas & Events, Aosta Valley, Aosta Valley Castles, Arboretum de Ripaille, Arboretum National du Vallon de l’Aubonne, Aubonne, Chamonix, Chamonix Hikes & Strolls, Chamonix Parks & Gardens, Chamonix Valley, CJBG - Geneva's Botanical Gardens, Evian, Geneva, Hiking & Strolling, Italy, Jaÿsinia Jardin Alpin in Samoëns, Lac d'Annecy & environs, Lago Maggiore, Le Jardin des 5 Sens, Le Jardin des Cimes, Les Houches, Les Houches Hikes & Strolls, Les Jardins de l'Eau du Pré Curieux, Les Jardins Secrets Vaulx, Morges, Parc La Grange, Parks & Gardens, Passy, Passy & Environs, Plateau d'Assy, Saillon, Salève & environs, Sallanches, Sallanches & Environs, Sallanches Hikes & Strolls, Samoëns, Switzerland, Thonon-les-Bains, Weekend Escapes, Yvoire

SPRING & SUMMER BLOSSOMS and FLOWERS au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond)

It’s official in Geneva: 🌺 SPRINGTIME has ARRIVED ! The 🌳 Marronier de la Treille’s first bud appeared this year on Friday 12th March 2021 – 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 first timidly reach out … Continue reading SPRING & SUMMER BLOSSOMS and FLOWERS au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond)

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Babies & Toddlers, Biking, Scooting & Skating, Hiking & Strolling, Lac de Passy, Lacs des Ilettes, Lakes & Swimming, Passy, Passy & Environs, Passy Hikes & Strolls, Playgrounds & Softplay, Sallanches, Sallanches & Environs, Snowy Days

WINTER BUGGY STROLLS: Lac de Passy & Lacs des Ilettes

If you live at altitude 🗻 au Pays du Mont-Blanc, it can be a challenge to find a suitable path for buggy walks in nature over the ❄️ winter months: snow, ice, muddy ground underfoot . . . Luckily, if you head down to the Arve Valley, then you’ll descend about 500m in altitude . . . and here you will find our 💦 two … Continue reading WINTER BUGGY STROLLS: Lac de Passy & Lacs des Ilettes

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Agendas & Events, Babies & Toddlers, Chamonix, Chamonix Events, Chamonix Valley, Les Houches, Les Houches Events, Passy, Passy & Environs, Passy Events, Rainy Days, Sallanches & Environs, Sallanches Events, Salle Léon Curral, Servoz, Servoz Events, St Gervais & Environs, St Gervais Events, Theatre, Dance & Music, Vallorcine, Vallorcine Events, Workshops & Stages

Festival « Les Petits Asticots » 17th ⇒ 23rd October 2020 (Pays du Mont-Blanc)

🎭 Les Petits Asticots – the fabulous annual children’s festival 🏔 au Pays du Mont-Blanc, which takes place during the 🍁 Toussaint school holidays – will be yet again offering families seven inspirational days of theatre, music, dance, circus and workshops from 17th ⇒ 23rd October 2020! The MBFF family absolutely LOVE 🎭 Les Petits Asticots – not only are the shows of high quality, the festival … Continue reading Festival « Les Petits Asticots » 17th ⇒ 23rd October 2020 (Pays du Mont-Blanc)

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Hiking & Strolling, Parks & Gardens, Sallanches, Sallanches & Environs, Sallanches Hikes & Strolls

MAGICAL MÉDONNET & LA PESSE: the ethereal woods & boulders

The MBFF tribe is a huge fan of 🌳 woodland . . . for me personally, entering a forest immediately brings back memories of childhood visits en famille to 🌳 Fontainebleau, and other magical worlds inhabited by fairies and elves – with 🧗‍♀️ bouldering, 🍏 picnics all year-round, and cabane-making on the agenda . . . We are so lucky 🏔 au Pays du Mont-Blanc to have 🌳 woodland all around, … Continue reading MAGICAL MÉDONNET & LA PESSE: the ethereal woods & boulders

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Agendas & Events, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Chamonix Museums, Chamonix Valley Nature Reserves, Cluses & environs, Further France, Geneva, Geneva Museums, Haute-Savoie, La Réserve Naturelle de Passy, Lac d'Annecy & environs, Lausanne, Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle, Museums & Exhibitions, Rainy Days, Sallanches Museums, Switzerland, Weekend Escapes, Workshops & Stages

SCIENCE ACTIVITIES & MUSEUMS 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 🧪 La Fête de la Science approaching fast! 🧪 La Fête de la Science – from 2nd ⇒ 12th October 2020 (annual); 🧪 La Nuit des Sciences – every two years in Geneva; 🧪 CERN Open Days – every few years, CERN opens to the public; This got me thinking … Continue reading SCIENCE ACTIVITIES & MUSEUMS for families au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond)

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Agendas & Events, Babies & Toddlers, Playgrounds & Softplay, Sallanches, Sallanches & Environs, Sallanches Events, Sallanches Museums, Theatre, Dance & Music, Workshops & Stages

Festival « Les Enfants d’Abord » (Sallanches)

As residents of Sallanches, we have watched the 🎭 children’s festival « Les Enfants d’Abord » get bigger and better each year! (the festival has now been running for 24 years!). Over 4 days – this year from Tuesday 6th to Friday 9th August 2019 – every afternoon and evening (15h30 until 18h30) the pedestrian streets of Sallanches, as well as the quais, the Pré de Foire, the Place de … Continue reading Festival « Les Enfants d’Abord » (Sallanches)

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Aiguille du Midi, Chamonix, Chamonix Hikes & Strolls, Chamonix Valley, Combloux, Combloux Hikes & Strolls, Cordon, Cordon Hikes & Strolls, Hiking & Strolling, Lacs des Ilettes, Les Contamines, Les Contamines & Environs, Les Houches, Les Houches Hikes & Strolls, Montenvers Train & Mer de Glace, Passy, Passy & Environs, Passy Hikes & Strolls, Praz-sur-Arly, Praz-sur-Arly Hikes & Strolls, Sallanches, Sallanches & Environs, Sallanches Hikes & Strolls, Servoz, St Gervais, St Gervais & Environs, Vallorcine

MBFF’s recommended family hikes au Pays du Mont-Blanc

With a now nine year old and a six year old in tow, the MBFF family is beginning to find its 🏔 hiking mojo (we hope). Here, below, you will find some of MBFF’s favourite (and tried and tested!) family hikes 🏔 au Pays du Mont-Blanc, with suggestions for 🥤 buvettes and 🏚 refuges for a snack, lunch or overnight! For general tips on hiking with small children see MBFF … Continue reading MBFF’s recommended family hikes au Pays du Mont-Blanc

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Babies & Toddlers, CJBG - Geneva's Botanical Gardens, Combloux Playgrounds, Le Parc Thermal, Les Contamines Playgrounds, Megève Playgrounds, Playgrounds & Softplay, Praz-sur-Arly Playgrounds, Sallanches Playgrounds, St Gervais Playgrounds

10 of MBFF’s FAVOURITE PLAYGROUNDS au Pays du Mont-Blanc

MBFF has now spent about 9 years discovering and testing 🌈 playgrounds 🏔 au 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!). At certain points on our journey of discovery, we had to avoid certain playgrounds, as with two … Continue reading 10 of MBFF’s FAVOURITE PLAYGROUNDS au Pays du Mont-Blanc

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Babies & Toddlers, Biking, Scooting & Skating, Hiking & Strolling, Lacs des Ilettes, Lakes & Swimming, Sallanches

Lacs des Ilettes (SALLANCHES)

Officially known as the Base de Loisir des Ilettes, the 💦 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), 🎣 fishing, 🏃‍♂️ or a jog and workout. In ☀️ summertime, the middle lake is a popular choice for swimmers and … Continue reading Lacs des Ilettes (SALLANCHES)

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Gorges, Rivers & Waterfalls, Hiking & Strolling, Sallanches, Sallanches & Environs, Sallanches Hikes & Strolls, Uncategorized

La Cascade de l’Arpenaz (SALLANCHES)

You have quite probably passed the 💦 Cascade de l’Arpenaz on several occasions, on a trip between the 🏔 Pays du Mont-Blanc and 🇨🇭 Geneva or 🇫🇷 Annecy on the autoroute. The 💦 Cascade de l’Arpenaz is one of the most visible and iconic of our waterfalls in the region . . . but have you ever come off the motorway and headed onto the local road past the village … Continue reading La Cascade de l’Arpenaz (SALLANCHES)

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Aosta Valley Castles, Babies & Toddlers, Barryland - St-Bernard Museum, Centre Sportif Richard Bozon, Chamonix, Chamonix Médiathèque, Chamonix Museums, Cinemas, Forte di Bard, Geneva Museums, La Fondation Pierre Gianadda, Lac Léman, Le Musée Montagnard Les Houches, Le Palais des Sports, Les Gorges de la Diosaz, MAH - Musée d'Art et d'Histoire, Maison de la Créativité, Martigny Museums, Médiathèque Ange Abrate Sallanches, MEG - Musée d'Ethnographie de Genève, Megève Ice-Skating, Megève Médiathèque, Megève Swimming, Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle, Museums & Exhibitions, Rainy Days, Sallanches, Sallanches Bowling, Sallanches Cinema, Sallanches Museums, Sallanches Softplay, St Gervais Ice-Skating, Switzerland, Vallorcine Swimming & Spa, Vitam (Neydens), Workshops & Stages, Yoga & Spas

RAINY DAYS au Pays du Mont-Blanc

[ note: please check Covid-19 restrictions for entrance (online reservations, face-masks, limited numbers, etc . . . ) ] You have perhaps heard that saying ☔️ “ there’s no such thing as bad weather; just badly dressed people “ ? (I heard this several times on a couple of work trips to 🇮🇸 Iceland!) . . . that may well be, but even the strongest of resolves can be … Continue reading RAINY DAYS au Pays du Mont-Blanc

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Hiking & Strolling, Sallanches, Sallanches & Environs, Sallanches Hikes & Strolls, Sallanches Sport & Adventure, Sledging & Ice-Skating

REFUGE du TORNIEUX: a 4km luge descent (Sallanches)

I had visited the ☕️ Refuge du Tornieux (1450m) on a ☀️ summer hike a few years ago . . . but heading there on a ❄️ winter hike last year was an entirely different experience! I was on my own, which is a rare pleasure . . . but as I am always thinking ahead for fun family activities, as I stopped to take photos, … Continue reading REFUGE du TORNIEUX: a 4km luge descent (Sallanches)

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Combloux Swimming, Geneva, Lac d'Annecy & environs, Lac de Passy, Lac Léman, Lacs des Ilettes, Lakes & Swimming, Les Contamines Sport & Adventure, Plan d'Eau Biotope, Weekend Escapes

LAKES & WATERSPORTS au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond)

🏔 Au Pays du Mont-Blanc we are lucky to have 💦 several swimming lakes with stunning mountain views . . . while the perfect spot for strolling and biking in autumn and winter, come the balmy days of spring and summer, the water warms and the lakes start to get busy with bathers and ⛵️ watersport enthusiasts (at Lac de Passy and Lacs des Ilettes: windsurfing, paddle boarding, SUP yoga, … Continue reading LAKES & WATERSPORTS au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond)

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Babies & Toddlers, Centre Sportif Richard Bozon, Chamonix, Chamonix Swimming, Chamonix Valley, Cluses & environs, Evian, Lac Léman, Lakes & Swimming, Le Palais des Sports, Le Paradis des Praz, Megève, Megève Swimming, Parc La Grange, Sallanches Swimming, St Gervais & Environs, Vitam (Neydens), Weekend Escapes

SUMMER SPLASH! – waterslides, wibit games, paddling pools and parcs aquatiques au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond)

It is now ☀️ officially summertime, we’ve been having some really hot days, and 💦 paddling pools have become fixtures in gardens – so I thought this the opportune moment to update an article about the 💦 WATERSLIDES, WATER GAMES & WIBIT PARKS, PADDLING POOLS, SWIMMING POOLS & AQUATIC CENTRES 🏔 au Pays du Mont-Blanc and beyond!  In the following article, you will find information about: 🌈 summer waterslides – over the … Continue reading SUMMER SPLASH! – waterslides, wibit games, paddling pools and parcs aquatiques au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond)

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Babies & Toddlers, Médiathèque Ange Abrate Sallanches, Rainy Days, Sallanches, Sallanches & Environs, Theatre, Dance & Music, Workshops & Stages

Médiathèque «Ange Abrate» in Sallanches

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 new médiathèque is spacious, with a very open-plan, bright and modern style of architecture. The Section Adulte is located on the ground floor, where you will also find 15 mulitimedia spots, … Continue reading Médiathèque «Ange Abrate» in Sallanches

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2KM3 Car Park, Agendas & Events, Annemasse & environs, Barryland - St-Bernard Museum, Chamonix Museums, Forte di Bard, Geneva Museums, La Fondation Pierre Gianadda, Lac d'Annecy & environs, Le Musée Montagnard Les Houches, MAH - Musée d'Art et d'Histoire, Maison de la Créativité, Martigny Museums, MEG - Musée d'Ethnographie de Genève, Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle, Museums & Exhibitions, Parent Pampering, Rainy Days, Saint Nicolas de Véroce, Sallanches Museums, Weekend Escapes, Workshops & Stages

MUSEUMS & EXHIBITIONS au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond)

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 Salève, to Annecy, to … Continue reading MUSEUMS & EXHIBITIONS au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond)

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Babies & Toddlers, Biking, Scooting & Skating, Chamonix Hikes & Strolls, Combloux, Combloux Hikes & Strolls, Hiking & Strolling, Lac de Passy, Lac des Chavants, Lacs des Ilettes, Lakes & Swimming, Parcours d'Orientation Lac des Chavants, Passy, Passy Hikes & Strolls, Plaine-Joux, Sallanches, Sallanches Hikes & Strolls

BUGGY WALKS & FAMILY STROLLS: lakes in autumn au Pays du Mont-Blanc

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 … Continue reading BUGGY WALKS & FAMILY STROLLS: lakes in autumn au Pays du Mont-Blanc

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Chamonix Hikes & Strolls, Combloux Hikes & Strolls, Cordon Hikes & Strolls, Hiking & Strolling, Le Fayet Hikes & Strolls, Le Jardin des Cimes, Le Parc Thermal, Les Gorges de la Diosaz, Parc de Merlet Animal Park, Parks & Gardens, Passy Hikes & Strolls, Praz-sur-Arly Hikes & Strolls, Sallanches Hikes & Strolls

FAMILY HIKES – tips for hiking with small children

[ ⭐️ 2021 update ⭐️ this appears to be a very popular article 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 … Continue reading FAMILY HIKES – tips for hiking with small children

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Babies & Toddlers, Chamonix Playgrounds, Further France, Lac de Passy, Les Contamines Playgrounds, Passy, Playgrounds & Softplay, Rainy Days, Sallanches Playgrounds, Sallanches Softplay, Sallanches Softplay, Vallorcine Playgrounds, Vitam (Neydens)

SOFTPLAY & INDOOR PLAY au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond)

[ during these Covid days, please check opening hours and regulations for these establishments (reservations, restricted numbers, mask-wearing, pass sanitaire ] 🏔 Au Pays du Mont-Blanc, we are lucky to have 🌈 a softplay option in the industrial zone of Sallanches for those ☔️ RAINY DAYS all year round . . . and in the ☀️ summer months, plenty of bouncy castles spring up in lovely locations too (separate … Continue reading SOFTPLAY & INDOOR PLAY au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond)

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Agendas & Events, Cafés & Restaurants, Hiking & Strolling, Sallanches Events, Sallanches Hikes & Strolls, Sallanches Playgrounds

The BEAUTIFUL QUAIS of the Sallanche river (Sallanches)

A walk along the 💦 quais in Sallanches makes for a perfect buggy walk or stroll with a toddler on a draisienne (see MBFF article 🌸 BUGGY WALKS – Sallanches springtime family stroll here for a suggested route). All is very compact in the 🏛 centre of Sallanches – so you can take in (and all in one morning or afternoon visit, thought be sure to … Continue reading The BEAUTIFUL QUAIS of the Sallanche river (Sallanches)

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