GENEVA & NYON – FREE museums on first Sunday of the month!
Throughout the year in 🇨🇭 Geneva (and also from October until May in 🇫🇷 Cluses & Annecy) many of the 🖼 museums and their temporary exhibitions are FREE on the FIRST Sunday of the month! In addition, the museums often put on some wonderful workshops & guided tours for children and families (also FREE) on this day. See here for more details about this fantastic initiative! NB – this initiative does … Continue reading GENEVA & NYON – FREE museums on first Sunday of the month!
Le Jardin des Cimes (Plateau d’Assy)
Le Jardin des Cimes is a truly magical garden at altitude, with breathtaking views of the Mont Blanc Massif. Le Jardin des Cimes (“Garden of the Summits”) has revitalised the area of Plateau d’Assy; not only are the garden and café a delight for locals and tourists alike, but jobs have been created and there are plenty of activities and workshops on offer for families and schools, as well … Continue reading Le Jardin des Cimes (Plateau d’Assy)
BUGGY WALKS: « Sentier thématique des roselières » (by Randos en Famille)
Here at MBFF, we have been on some lovely hikes 🏔 au Pays du Mont-Blanc and beyond . . . but certainly we have not tried and tested them all! So, today, I would like to share with you a hike (perfect for families, buggies and draisiennes), tried and tested by Marine from the excellent website Randos en Famille: the 🌱 « sentier thématique des Roselières » in Saint-Jorioz, on Lac … Continue reading BUGGY WALKS: « Sentier thématique des roselières » (by Randos en Famille)
Combloux Playgrounds
On a short family hike in Combloux last summer, we found ourselves playground-hopping before we’d even begun walking (quite difficult, hence, to get our boys walking!). First of all, we headed to the playground we already knew and loved . . . Adventure Playground This playground is by far one of our favourites in the Pays du Mont-Blanc. Perched just above the Lac Biotope, and … Continue reading Combloux Playgrounds
Parc d’Attractions de Chamonix
The Parc d’Attractions de Chamonix, Chamonix’s very own amusement park with views of Mont Blanc, makes for a great family day out! As well as the Chamonix Luge-Alpine Coaster, which is open year-round, there is a FREE playground, great slides, motorbikes and cars to ride, diggers to operate, trampolines, and various water-themed rides. In addition, during the winter season, Domaine des Planards ski area is located right … Continue reading Parc d’Attractions de Chamonix
PUMPTRACKS au Pays du Mont-Blanc
I shall be honest; I had never even heard of a 🚲 pumptrack before last summer, when we discovered the pumptrack in Combloux!!! So, what is a pumptrack? It is a circuit, with ups and downs and turns, on which the cyclist / skater / scooter can keep moving simply through “pumping” (no need for pedal action!). Not just for cyclists (BMX, VTT), it is also … Continue reading PUMPTRACKS au Pays du Mont-Blanc
SPRINGTIME BLOSSOMS & FLOWERS au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond)
According to the 🌳 Marronier de la Treille’s first blossom (Geneva), yesterday – Tuesday 12th March 2019 – was the first official day of 🌺 spring! (see below for more explanations). 🌷 Springtime – 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)
« Fête de la Tulipe » in Morges (from 30th March until 5th May 2019)
La 🌷 « Fête de la Tulipe » in 🇨🇭 Morges kicks off this year on 30th March, and those first buds are expected to be in full bloom by mid-April. You don’t have to travel too far from the 🏔 Pays du Mont-Blanc to experience total dépaysement, to distance yourself from the mountain valleys and high snowy peaks; just the other side of Lac Léman takes you to a … Continue reading « Fête de la Tulipe » in Morges (from 30th March until 5th May 2019)
Médiathèque «Ange Abrate» in Sallanches
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
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 … Continue reading MUSEUMS & EXHIBITIONS au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond)
3D Nordic – husky sledding in Praz-sur-Arly
This year for Christmas, I offered the MBFF family a husky dog-sledding outing with 3D Nordic in Praz-sur-Arly. I had noticed that this was to be 3D Nordic‘s last winter season in Praz-sur-Arly, before they head off to new adventures in Lapland next winter season . . . so I seized the opportunity and booked us a baptême chiens de traîneaux! What a treat for … Continue reading 3D Nordic – husky sledding in Praz-sur-Arly
Domaine des Planards (Chamonix Centre)
Domaine Skiable des Planards, a two minute walk from the centre of town, and with its own FREE parking, is one of Chamonix’s two Beginner ski areas (the other being at the Savoy slopes, connected to Domaine Skiable de Brévent). In addition, it is the site of the year-round Chamonix-Luge Alpine Coaster, set within the Parc des Attractions de Chamonix (re-opens in April). The ski area is comprised of: … Continue reading Domaine des Planards (Chamonix Centre)
La Poya Ski Area (Le Buet, Vallorcine)
*NB La Poya will shut for the 2017/2018 season on 15th April 2018* La Poya is a small family-run ski area in the hamlet of Le Buet (not far from the train station), near to Vallorcine. It comprises: two drag lifts, a rope tow for Beginners and a pulley lift for small children, with 2km of pistes, including green, blue, red and even a black … Continue reading La Poya Ski Area (Le Buet, Vallorcine)
La Vormaine Beginner/Nursery Skiing (Le Tour)
La Vormaine, “the biggest of the small ski slopes“, is the splendid Beginner/Nursery ski area, nestled in the village of Le Tour (1432m), next to the Charamillon bubble lift. Ski pass options at La Vormaine La Vormaine is a good value ski area, as it allows families to opt for 2h30, 4 hours (often enough with toddlers to entertain!), a day or more, at a … Continue reading La Vormaine Beginner/Nursery Skiing (Le Tour)
COMBLOUX skiing
Combloux is definitely one of the most ⛷ family-friendly ski areas in the Pays du Mont-Blanc, and skiing here will reward you with some of the most beautiful views of Mont Blanc and the mountains of Les Aravis and Les Fiz! ⛷Ski Pass Options⛷ You have different ski pass options to suit your family’s needs at Combloux: 🎿 Les Portes du Mont-Blanc – 100km of pistes link … Continue reading COMBLOUX skiing
Les P’tits Experts de la Nature workshops (Sallanches)
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)
Cordon Skiing
The village of Cordon is known as 🗻 Le Balcon du Mont-Blanc 🗻because of its magnificent views of Mont-Blanc, and it has a small, family-friendly ski station with 11km of ski pistes. A favourite ski station for the locals, it is perfect for tiny skiers and Beginners, as well as having a good selection of pistes for the more experienced skier. Cordon ski area normally opens towards the end of … Continue reading Cordon Skiing
Plaine-Joux Skiing (Passy)
While the children are young and learning how to ski, or if you have beginner skiers in your group, then ⛷ Plaine-Joux in Passy is the ideal ski station 🗻 au Pays du Mont-Blanc for multiple reasons: ⛷ it’s a small, family-oriented ski resort; ⛷ there are 12km of wide, gentle, sunny pistes (green, blue and red) with stunning views of the Mont Blanc Massif; ⛷ this is an affordable ski resort, … Continue reading Plaine-Joux Skiing (Passy)
PISTES de LUGE au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond)
❄️ DECEMBER SNOWFALL ❄ au Pays du Mont-Blanc . . . often we have a snow flurry in October or November, but the snow of autumn 2018 is teasing us! When the ❄ first snow arrives, the delight and excitement is catching: walks knee-deep (or shoulder-deep for the little ones!) in the white fluffy stuff, snowball fights, ⛄️ making a snowman (or perhaps a snowcat or other snow animal) . … Continue reading PISTES de LUGE au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond)
Ice-Skating au Pays du Mont-Blanc
Le Pays du Mont-Blanc has three indoor ice-skating rinks that are open all year round, and so are good places to head to escape the heat or rain during the summer months, as well as to visit in the wintertime! In addition, during the winter holiday season, there are several seasonal outdoor ice-skating rinks (usually set up right in the centre of towns au Pays du Mont-Blanc), that open for … Continue reading Ice-Skating au Pays du Mont-Blanc
PRAZ-sur-ARLY Skiing
🏔 Praz-sur-Arly is another of our local ski resorts 🏔 au Pays du Mont-Blanc that ticks all of the boxes for family skiing: a mixture of gentle and more difficult pistes (60% of the pistes are GREEN and BLUE!), the Opoualand & Waouland pistes reserved for children (adults are only permitted here if they accompany a child!), an outdoor softplay games area called the 🐉 Dragon Tirecorde, 🛷 a sledging … Continue reading PRAZ-sur-ARLY Skiing
Bon Anniversaire, Gypaète Barbu! (© Antoine Rezer Photography)
The gypaète barbu is celebrating two big birthdays this year: 30 years since its successful re-introduction into France (1987); and 20 years since the first gypaète was born in the Alps (1997). And so, to celebrate within the domain of the convention Rencontres Internationales du Gypaète Barbu (10th to 12th November 2017), Asters, Conservatoire d’Espaces Naturels has put together a fantastic programme for the whole family … Continue reading Bon Anniversaire, Gypaète Barbu! (© Antoine Rezer Photography)
La Maison de la Créativité (Conches, Geneva)
The MBFF family visited La Maison de la Créativité in Conches on the outskirts of Geneva, on a crisp, sunny day in 2016 . . . what a magical discovery, for children and adults alike! A house (Villa Calandrini) set in copious grounds and surrounded by woodland, with views of the Salève mountain, and it even has its very own Faraway Tree ® (reference to Enid … Continue reading La Maison de la Créativité (Conches, Geneva)
Family strolls with small children: lakes in autumn au Pays du Mont-Blanc
YAfter 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
Festival «Les Petits Asticots» (Pays du Mont-Blanc)
The 18th edition of Les Petits Asticots – the annual children’s festival au Pays du Mont-Blanc, taking place during the Toussaint school holidays – will be yet again offering families six inspirational days of theatre, music, dance, circus and workshops from 20th to 26th October! 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 … Continue reading Festival «Les Petits Asticots» (Pays du Mont-Blanc)
