10 of MBFF’s FAVOURITE PLAYGROUNDS au Pays du Mont-Blanc
MBFF has now spent 8 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 energetic boys … Continue reading 10 of MBFF’s FAVOURITE PLAYGROUNDS au Pays du Mont-Blanc
Le Lac des Chavants (Les Houches)
The 💦 Lac des Chavants in Les Houches is a relaxating destination for families throughout the year (NB -please note that Lac des Chavants is NOT a swimming lake!) These days, the lake is referred to as a Base de Loisirs, as there are so many activities available there: you can 🎣 fish (with a permit) and you will find: 🍏 picnic tables and BBQ facilities, 🌲 walking paths through … Continue reading Le Lac des Chavants (Les Houches)
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 the 3rd lake for windsurfers. 🎣 Le Lac … Continue reading Lacs des Ilettes (Sallanches)
Le Paradis des Praz (Les Praz-de-Chamonix)
🌲 Le Paradis des Praz is a natural playground, a hidden jewel cocooned in the woods, well-known to families living in the region, but perhaps not to those visiting. As well as being a popular spot in the ☀️ summertime, over the winter school holidays the buvette is also often open – so you can have a magical walk through the ❄️ snowy forest and then warm up with … Continue reading Le Paradis des Praz (Les Praz-de-Chamonix)
Le Parc de Loisirs du Pontet (Les Contamines-Montjoie)
The MBFF tribe is a huge fan of the ⛳️ Le Parc de Loisirs du Pontet, the largest parc de loisirs 🏔 au Pays du Mont-Blanc. This giant leisure park in the beautiful Les Contamines-Montjoie, offers more than 20 sports and leisure activities and also has a small swimming lake and boating lake. Being located next to Notre Dame de la Gorge, opposite the 🚡Téléphérique de la Gorge, it … Continue reading Le Parc de Loisirs du Pontet (Les Contamines-Montjoie)
Le Parc des Épouvantails (Andilly)
I first went to the Parc des Épouvantails a couple of years ago, when I accompanied my elder son’s school class on his sortie de fin d’année. I’ll admit that I hadn’t heard much about it until that point and when I heard that it was a fun park ” inhabited by resident scarecrows “, I was expecting something a little spooky! I could not … Continue reading Le Parc des Épouvantails (Andilly)
Lac de l’Étape (Les Contamines-Montjoie)
We had our first ☀️ summer visit to the 💦 Lac de l’Etape in Les Contamines-Montjoie back in 2015, with a four and a half year old and an 18 month old . . . I remember that it was the last August weekend of the holidays before La Rentrée, and I wanted to spend a special time en famille . . . and as there is a hotel and … Continue reading Lac de l’Étape (Les Contamines-Montjoie)
La Cascade d’Arpenaz (Sallanches)
You have quite probably passed the 💦 Cascade d’Arpenaz on several occasions, on a trip between the 🏔 Pays du Mont-Blanc and 🇨🇭 Geneva or 🇫🇷 Annecy on the autoroute. The 💦 Cascade d’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 of Luzier … Continue reading La Cascade d’Arpenaz (Sallanches)
Les Grandes Médiévales d’Andilly
Nearly a year ago now, the MBFF tribe headed to the 🎪 Les Grandes Médiévales d’Andilly with some friends and their children. We had a fabulous day (the whole family concurred and all of the friends too!). It really was a memorable day . . . and the 2019 edition is nearly here! So, what do you need to know about this extraordinary family event? What are Les … Continue reading Les Grandes Médiévales d’Andilly
ANIMAL PARKS & AQUARIUMS au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond)
We are 🐯 HUGE ANIMAL LOVERS here at MBFF . . . and we are lucky to share our home with a couple of affectionate (and fairly tolerant!) 🐱🐱 felines. But perhaps some of you don’t have the home set-up to accommodate animal friends, or perhaps allergies are preventing you from doing so . . . Luckily – whether you live 🗻 au Pays du Mont-Blanc or you are visiting – … Continue reading ANIMAL PARKS & AQUARIUMS au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond)
SPORTS EVENTS for families au Pays du Mont-Blanc (2019 ⇒ 2020)
There are plenty of 🚵♂️ SPORTS EVENTS for families and children au Pays du Mont-Blanc, and this article currently concentrates on those from autumn 2019 until winter 2020 – short runs, parcours for draisiennes, fun runs, obstacle races, colourful runs, charity events, husky dogsledding . . . In this updated article, you will first find: 🏊 a SPORTS EVENTS CALENDAR (I have included a few events that don’t … Continue reading SPORTS EVENTS for families au Pays du Mont-Blanc (2019 ⇒ 2020)
SPRINGTIME ACTIVITIES au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond)
The ❄️ snow on the ski pistes starts to soften under the golden state spring sunshine, and slowly disappears from alpine town and village centres . . . and then the ski stations shut . . . 🌷 spring flowers shoot up overnight . . . and 🌳 parks and 🌷 gardens re-open . . . and then it is the season once again for hiking . . . a season when we can sometimes … Continue reading SPRINGTIME ACTIVITIES au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond)
BUGGY WALKS – La Braconne, the Pré Curral & the Bialle river path (Sallanches)
When you are living in the 🏔 ❄️ snowy mountains in WINTERTIME with a newborn or young baby, your quotidien can feel tough . . . getting out for a buggy walk is more challenging than usual, with icy pavements or snow impeding certain routes you would normally take. Of course, using a baby-carrier or baby-carrying scarf is one brilliant alternative (as baby keeps warm and you … Continue reading BUGGY WALKS – La Braconne, the Pré Curral & the Bialle river path (Sallanches)
FOOD TRUCKS & FOOD HUTS au Pays du Mont-Blanc
You may have spotted them this ❄️ 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 a 🍏 market . . . and come 🌷 springtime and ☀️ summertime, some of them will move to new locations: 💦 lakes or perhaps another 🏔 mountain location . . . FOOD TRUCKS & FOOD HUTS have multiplied 🏔 au Pays … Continue reading FOOD TRUCKS & FOOD HUTS au Pays du Mont-Blanc
RAINY DAYS au Pays du Mont-Blanc
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 broken by days and days of 🌧 rainy weather in the mountains (especially when you can no longer actually see … Continue reading RAINY DAYS au Pays du Mont-Blanc
REFUGE du TORNIEUX: a 4km luge descent (Sallanches)
I had visited the Refuge du Tornieux (1450m) on a ☀️ summer hike a couple of years ago . . . but heading there last week on a ❄️ winter hike 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, I was … Continue reading REFUGE du TORNIEUX: a 4km luge descent (Sallanches)
FAMILY STROLLS: winter wonderlands au Pays du Mont-Blanc
The ❄️ SNOW falls and drapes our 🗻 mountain peaks with dazzling white blankets . . . some ❄️ snowflakes fall to the ground and form sparkling white forest carpets, some snowflakes cling to the 🌲sapins, before fluttering slowly to the ground . . . magical, féerique, ❄️ winter wonderland Narnias everywhere you look 🗻 au Pays du Mont-Blanc! This article gives you some ideas for ❄️ winter wonderland spots ❄️ to head with … Continue reading FAMILY STROLLS: winter wonderlands au Pays du Mont-Blanc
« Wildlife Photographer of the Year » (Forte di Bard, ITALY)
It was quite by chance in the spring of 2014 that we discovered that we could enjoy the 📷 « Wildlife Photographer of the Year » exhibition fairly close to home, right near the 🏔 Pays du Mont-Blanc! I had always enjoyed visiting the London-based exhibition at the Natural History Museum (NB « Wildlife Photographer of the Year » competition / exhibition was developed and is produced by the Natural History Museum, London), … Continue reading « Wildlife Photographer of the Year » (Forte di Bard, ITALY)
LES HOUCHES – SAINT-GERVAIS Skiing
The ⛷ Domaine Skiable Les Houches – Saint-Gervais is one of MBFF’s favourite spots to ski in the Chamonix Valley. With plenty of gentle pistes to ski en famille, superb Beginner areas and authentic retaurants on the pistes, it’s a winner! Nestled in the heart of the Mont-Blanc massif, Les Houches – Saint-Gervais offers spectacular panoramic 360° views of 🏔 Mont-Blanc, Mont Joly, les Aravis, Les Fiz, and les Aiguilles Rouges . … Continue reading LES HOUCHES – SAINT-GERVAIS Skiing
WEEKLY PLANNER for babies & toddlers au Pays du Mont-Blanc
Here it is: the 🗓 WEEKLY PLANNER for babies & toddlers au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond) . . . hopefully, this will be easy to use . . . ⌈ DISCLAIMER – please always confirm sessions before attending, as all are subject to change at the last minute! ⌋ ➡️ see also: MBFF articles BABY & TODDLER ACTIVITIES au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond) AND BABY & TODDLER PLAYGROUPS … Continue reading WEEKLY PLANNER for babies & toddlers au Pays du Mont-Blanc
BABY & TODDLER activities au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond)
When I had my first baby 8 years ago, I had just moved to a new town 🏔 au Pays du Mont-Blanc . . . I was quite lonely and keen to find baby activities and playgroups in order to get out and about and to socialise a bit! Progressively, I discovered the 🌈 playgroups that were available locally for parents and babies . . . but … Continue reading BABY & TODDLER activities au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond)
LES CONTAMINES-MONTJOIE / HAUTELUCE Skiing
⛷ Les Contamines-Montjoie / Hauteluce is one of our family’s favourite ski areas – some broad, sunny pistes, excellent snow, panoramic views of the Mont-Blanc Massif and Beaufortin, lovely restaurants on the slopes . . . just great! Snow machines also ensure good snow at the start and end of the season. The ski station straddles over both sides of the Col du Mont Joly, linking Haute Savoie … Continue reading LES CONTAMINES-MONTJOIE / HAUTELUCE Skiing
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 🏔 le Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond) . . . 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 a small🎄Christmas market! As well as the ⛸ ice-skating … Continue reading SEASONAL ICE-SKATING au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond)
« Montreux-Noël » (Switzerland)
🎄«Montreux-Noël»🎄officially opened yesterday, 22nd November, and will run until the 24th December . . . so this is the ideal day for me to share with you MBFF’s experience at this fabulous Christmas event and market, and some astuces too . . . I had wanted to go to the🎄Marché de Noël de Montreux🎄(part of the🎄«Montreux-Noël»🎄celebrations) for a very long time, and we finally managed to … Continue reading « Montreux-Noël » (Switzerland)
LA MAISON PUGIN – « venez choisir & couper votre sapin! »
Choosing a 🌲Christmas tree to take pride and place in one’s home is a special family tradition . . . it takes a while to find the perfect tree – small, tall, full . . . we all have different demands and taste! Once chosen, we take home our new Christmas friend and get prepared to 🎄 decorate it with our treasured decorations and lights . . . slowly … Continue reading LA MAISON PUGIN – « venez choisir & couper votre sapin! »
