« VAN GOGH ALIVE – the experience » en famille (LAUSANNE)
Just before the holidays MBFF had the great privilege of being invited to experience the world-famous sensory exhibition Van Gogh Alive – the experience in Lausanne . . . in this exhibition, you literally step into Dutch born painter Vincent Van Gogh’s world, his life brought alive by bright digital renditions of his paintings. Did you know that Van Gogh Alive – the experience, developed by … Continue reading « VAN GOGH ALIVE – the experience » en famille (LAUSANNE)
10 outdoor activities en famille (apart from ski alpin!) this winter au Pays du Mont-Blanc
Last winter season, with the remontées mécaniques shut in France, many of us took to new winter sports . . . ski rando had never been so popular, and sledging was a regular outing! Living 🗻 au Pays du Mont-Blanc, even without ski alpin, there are still a multitude of activities around to enjoy ❄️ in wintertime en famille. For now, we’re being told that … Continue reading 10 outdoor activities en famille (apart from ski alpin!) this winter au Pays du Mont-Blanc
CHRISTMASTIME chez vous au Pays du Mont-Blanc
This is a whole article dedicated to 🎄 Christmastime chez vous au Pays du Mont-Blanc, and you’ll find information about : 🎄 where to buy your own Christmas tree locally; ✨ where to buy your Christmas decorations locally; ✉️🎅 where to post your letters to Santa; 📦 Les Boites de Noël – Secours Populaire; 🎨 some ideas for Christmas craft chez vous; ⇒ for more … Continue reading CHRISTMASTIME chez vous au Pays du Mont-Blanc
Château de Saint-Michel: castle ruins, forest and a parcours d’orientation (SERVOZ)
Did you know that there were 🏰 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!). … Continue reading Château de Saint-Michel: castle ruins, forest and a parcours d’orientation (SERVOZ)
Musée des Confluences (LYON)
A while back (in those pre-pandemic days!), MBFF had the absolute pleasure to be invited to explore the 🖼 Musée des Confluences! I had heard so many great things about this museum, and was eager to go and explore en famille – and it truly lived up to all of my high expectations! Before our visit, I’d had a really friendly exchange with the museum’s … Continue reading Musée des Confluences (LYON)
FAMILY STROLLS : Sentier des Arpelières (VAL d’ARLY)
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)
10 ideas for JEUX de PISTE and CHASSES au TRÉSOR au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond)
🗺 Outdoor games can be a great way to keep youngsters entertained while exploring a hike en famille, or used as an educational approach to learning about one of our mountain villages or towns here 🏔 au Pays du Mont-Blanc. These 🗺 outdoor games take all sorts of different forms: 🦌 thematic trails to learn about the local patrimoine or nature & animals; 🗺 informative … Continue reading 10 ideas for JEUX de PISTE and CHASSES au TRÉSOR au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond)
FAMILY HIKES: boucle from Lintre ⇒ la Pierre Fendue (SALLANCHES)
This boucle is one of my favourite Sallanches hikes. I’ve actually yet to do it en famille, but I’ve now hiked it a few times with friends, and I know that it would be the perfect family hike with older kids (even younger ones, if they are good hikers!). There is not a huge dénivelé on this hike (the steepest part is at the start), … Continue reading FAMILY HIKES: boucle from Lintre ⇒ la Pierre Fendue (SALLANCHES)
TÉLÉCABINE du JAILLET in summertime : aire de jeux panoramique, relaxation zone, hikes & activities (Megève)
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 new 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)
ARLY-PLAGE: the perfect spot for splashing & paddling ! (PRAZ-sur-ARLY)
Last summer, 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 The 💦 Arly … Continue reading ARLY-PLAGE: the perfect spot for splashing & paddling ! (PRAZ-sur-ARLY)
Téléphérique du Salève – a day out with superb views of Lac Léman & the Alps! (Etrembières)
[ autumn 2021 update: 🚠 the Téléphérique du Salève is now SHUT for a 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 by … Continue reading Téléphérique du Salève – a day out with superb views of Lac Léman & the Alps! (Etrembières)
WATERFALLS & GORGES au Pays du Mont-Blanc
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
La Cascade du Rouget (SIXT-FER-à-CHEVAL)
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 … Continue reading La Cascade du Rouget (SIXT-FER-à-CHEVAL)
FAMILY HIKES: Lacs des Ilettes, la Cascade de l’Arpenaz & Luzier
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
BUGGY WALKS & FAMILY STROLLS: La Réserve Naturelle du Bout-du-Lac (Doussard, Lac d’Annecy)
🏞 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)
BUGGY WALKS: 10 winter ones au Pays du Mont-Blanc
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: 10 winter ones au Pays du Mont-Blanc
BAPTÊME SNOOC au DOMAINE des PLANARDS (Chamonix)
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)
FOODTRUCKS & FOOD HUTS au Pays du Mont-Blanc (2021)
Over the last few years, 🥗 FOOD TRUCKS & FOOD HUTS have multiplied 🏔 au Pays du Mont-Blanc, and have become welcome additions to our mountain playground. You may have spotted them over the years – in ❄️ wintertime, on the ⛄️ fronts de neige and on the ⛷ ski pistes, by 🚡 télécabines and télésièges departure and arrival points, along main roads in designated spots, or perhaps a slot at … Continue reading FOODTRUCKS & FOOD HUTS au Pays du Mont-Blanc (2021)
SEASONAL ICE-SKATING au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond)
It’s that time of year when the ⛸ seasonal ice-skating rinks begin to appear in town centres throughout the 🏔 Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond) . . . a lovely way to spend some time en famille . . . Sometimes, next to the ice-skating rink, you might find yourself rewarded with 🥃 a vin chaud stand or a small 🎄 Christmas market! [ ⇒ for more information about … Continue reading SEASONAL ICE-SKATING au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond)
BOIS du BOUCHET – strolls, bike rides, a parcours d’orientation, snowy options & MORE !
A 1km confinement radius is a different surface area for each family . . . some will have access to 💦 a waterfall, others 💦 a river walk, hopefully all can find some 🌿 green space or 🌳🌲 woodland . . . I realised during confinement that I had never written a full article about the 🌳🌲 Bois du Bouchet in Chamonix, which is certainly … Continue reading BOIS du BOUCHET – strolls, bike rides, a parcours d’orientation, snowy options & MORE !
10 ideas for NATURE GAMES & CREATIVITY en famille
Living in the 🏔 Pays du Mont-Blanc, we always have some 🌳 woodland or green space nearby, so here are some ideas for 🌳 nature-inspired activities for your next outing! 1. Build a CABANE We don’t all live near 🌳 woodland with copious branches available to make a solid cabane, but if you do . . . this activity will keep your brood amused for a … Continue reading 10 ideas for NATURE GAMES & CREATIVITY en famille
FAMILY HIKES: Les Golettes, La Vigne & La Fley (SALLANCHES)
During the 🏡 second confinement last year, we all (apart from those lucky mountain leaders and other sporting folk!) had to find 🏡 walks within a 1km radius from home . . . I was lucky to find one 🏔 local hike that adhered to the distance and time authorised (if I ran part of it, which iwas a major challenge for someone not keen on … Continue reading FAMILY HIKES: Les Golettes, La Vigne & La Fley (SALLANCHES)
FAMILY HIKES: « Forest Discovery Trail » / « Sentier Découverte de la Forêt » (Cordon)
Last autumn, MBFF headed to Cordon, to walk the « Sentier Découverte de la Forêt à Cordon » (« Forest Discovery Trail »). We first discovered this trail about 5 years ago, 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 (a predominantly spruce forest, with a … Continue reading FAMILY HIKES: « Forest Discovery Trail » / « Sentier Découverte de la Forêt » (Cordon)
FAMILY HIKES: Boucle de la Chapelle d’Ormaret (Combloux ⇒ Ormaret)
This is a lovely bucolic family hike, a boucle leaving from ⛪️ the baroque church of Combloux, and heading to ⛪️ the little chapel in the hamlet of Ormaret. It’s an easy stroll, with 🌿 wide open spaces for running, little bridges to cross, 🐄 farm animals to see (and the possibility of visiting a farm along the way), and ⛪️ a small chapel to … Continue reading FAMILY HIKES: Boucle de la Chapelle d’Ormaret (Combloux ⇒ Ormaret)
10 MORE ideas for AUTUMN FAMILY HIKES & STROLLS with small children (beyond le Pays du Mont-Blanc)
This is the follow-up article for 10 ideas for 🍁 autumn stroll with young children 🏔 au Pays du Mont-Blanc (see here). Autumn is certainly arriving, and I love this season of 🍁 burnt seasonal colours adorning the trees and covering the ground accompanied by early ❄️ snow powdered on the nearby 🏔 summits! And so, here are some ideas to head out and enjoy those 🍁 dazzling colours … Continue reading 10 MORE ideas for AUTUMN FAMILY HIKES & STROLLS with small children (beyond le Pays du Mont-Blanc)
Mont Blanc Family Fun 