10 more ideas for AUTUMN FAMILY HIKES & STROLLS with small children (beyond le Pays du Mont-Blanc)
A couple of weeks ago, I shared with you 10 ideas for 🍁 autumn stroll with young children 🏔 au Pays du Mont-Blanc . . . and promised you a follow-up article with 🍁 10 more suggestions for autumn hikes and strolls en famille a bit further away . . . This has been a particularly colourful autumn so far, with the 🍁 the burnt seasonal colours adorning the … Continue reading 10 more ideas for AUTUMN FAMILY HIKES & STROLLS with small children (beyond le Pays du Mont-Blanc)
10 ideas for AUTUMN FAMILY HIKES & STROLLS with small children au Pays du Mont-Blanc
🍁 Autumn, before ❄️ the snow arrives (and even when ❄️ the snow arrives!), is a lovely time for a family stroll or hike here 🏔 au Pays du Mont-Blanc . . . the temperatures are (usually) fresher than the ☀️ summertime, and 🍁 the burnt seasonal colours adorning the trees and covering the ground are just beautiful. Next to a lake, you’ll perhaps see 🍂 autumn colours … Continue reading 10 ideas for AUTUMN FAMILY HIKES & STROLLS with small children au Pays du Mont-Blanc
FAMILY HIKES: La Passerelle Himalayenne to Lac Vert (Passy)
I have now been on this hike a couple few time, en famille, and with friends. I can assure you that each time, friends are wowed by the 🌉 Himalayan suspension bridge, 🏔 the fabulous views of Mont-Blanc, and the ethereal 💦 Lac Vert. The altitude gain (dénivelé) on this hike is fairly minimal, making it a great short hike for families with young children or older … Continue reading FAMILY HIKES: La Passerelle Himalayenne to Lac Vert (Passy)
“Le Mystère de la Montre”: treasure hunt in Mont-Saxonnex!
MBFF has tried out another of Cluse Arve & Montagne’s jeux ! This time we chose another jeu d’aventure: ⏱ Le Mystère de la Montre, in ⛰ Mont-Saxonnex! After having had so much fun doing the previous two jeux, ⚔️ Le Chevalier Maudit (in Châtillon-sur-Cluses; read about our experience here) and 🥚 L’Œuf de Plume la Gypaète (in Le Reposoir; read about our experience here), … Continue reading “Le Mystère de la Montre”: treasure hunt in Mont-Saxonnex!
« Le Chevalier Maudit »: medieval knightly fun and Geocaching® en famille! (Châtillon-sur-Cluses)
In February this year, we headed to ⛰ Le Reposoir to do one of the Cluses Arves & Montagnes 🗺 jeux d’orientation (L’Œuf de Plume la Gypaète – see here for MBFF article), and we really enjoyed it! As well as the fun of the orienteering game, we really delighted in getting to know a new mountain village and the pretty ⛪️ La Chartreuse du … Continue reading « Le Chevalier Maudit »: medieval knightly fun and Geocaching® en famille! (Châtillon-sur-Cluses)
FAMILY HIKES: la Gorge du Glacier (Argentière)
I don’t know about you, but I like to stay off 🏔 the busy mountain paths in ☀️ the summertime, social-distancing regulations in place or not! Earlier this week, my boys were at their 🎨 Art & Nature workshop with local artist Cat Kartal in Argentière, and so I took the opportunity to have a day out by myself, hiking and then reading my book in nature. I … Continue reading FAMILY HIKES: la Gorge du Glacier (Argentière)
Le Site des Ponts de la Caille (CRUSEILLES)
You may well have spotted these two bridges – 🌁 Les Ponts de la Caille – from the motorway (A41 Annecy-Genève) on a trip to 💦 Lac d’Annecy from 🏔 Le Pays du Mont-Blanc? Have you ever come off the motorway to explore? MBFF certainly has – my curious nature would never leave such incredible looking bridges unexplored! 🌁 Les Ponts de la Caille are two … Continue reading Le Site des Ponts de la Caille (CRUSEILLES)
FAMILY HIKES: « Sur les traces des Graniteurs » (COMBLOUX)
I had been wanting to do the short themed walk ⚒ « Sur les traces des Graniteurs » in Combloux for a while, and last springtime MBFF finally managed to go . . . At the time, I was looking for a lower altitude hike (and not too long!) to do en famille, as there was still lots of ❄️ snow up high . . … Continue reading FAMILY HIKES: « Sur les traces des Graniteurs » (COMBLOUX)
20+ SUMMER TERRACES for families in the Chamonix Valley!
Our 🥗 local restaurants and cafés are beginning to re-open to the public after a long second and third Covid-enduced closure, with socially distanced tables and other modifications. Restaurants with terraces are therefore a particularly attractive option for people to head to, who want to eat out again, but are less keen to be seated indoors. Last summer, I put together this article, detailing some … Continue reading 20+ SUMMER TERRACES for families in the Chamonix Valley!
An AIRE de JEUX, a MARE aux TÊTARDS and a PARCOURS ORIENTATION (Argentière)
Sunday’s family outing started somewhat late in the day, as Daddy MBFF had to go and vote in the mayoral elections! By the time that we had sorted out 🍏 our picnic lunch, it was already midday and by the time we ate the picnic lunch it was 14h! A true Spanish lunch hour; no wonder Mr 6 was so grumpy! But the later lunch … Continue reading An AIRE de JEUX, a MARE aux TÊTARDS and a PARCOURS ORIENTATION (Argentière)
ACCROBRANCHES ®, GRIMPE d’ARBRE & TYROLIENNES au Pays du Mont-Blanc
With all of our wonderful 🧗♂️ rock climbing and Via-Ferrata routes 🏔 au Pays du Mont-Blanc, it is only natural that so many 🌳 accrobranches ® should also appear over recent years! We’ve tried out a few of them, and they are very popular with our 🐵 monkey climbing boys . . . 🌳 some tree climbing terminology: 🌳 accrobranches ® – it is a rope course … Continue reading ACCROBRANCHES ®, GRIMPE d’ARBRE & TYROLIENNES au Pays du Mont-Blanc
SUMMER AGENDA 2021 (festivals, events & programmes) au Pays du Mont-Blanc
[ DISCLAIMER: do check the restrictions in place due to Covid this summer (booking of tickets may be required as there is a limit to numbers, mask-wearing is now required in the centre of towns and villages . . . pass sanitaire: some events have already decided to cancel . . . and and always check the running of the event (weather and current pandemic … Continue reading SUMMER AGENDA 2021 (festivals, events & programmes) au Pays du Mont-Blanc
SPORTS EVENTS for families au Pays du Mont-Blanc (summer & autumn 2021)
It is officially ☀️ SUMMERTIME, and despite many of 🚵♂️ the sporting events 🏔 au Pays du Mont-Blanc and beyond having been cancelled over the springtime, we still have (for now!) a rich calendar of 🚵♂️ sporting events to participate in, or be a spectator at, over ☀️ the summer and 🍁 autumn months (we hope!). 🏃♂️ trail running, marathons and half-marathons; 🚵♂️ road-biking and VTT … Continue reading SPORTS EVENTS for families au Pays du Mont-Blanc (summer & autumn 2021)
FAMILY HIKES: La Cascade de Bérard (LE BUET)
The short hike up to 💦 La Cascade de Bérard, located just above the village of Le Buet (near Vallorcine), is the perfect family outing on a hot ☀️ summer’s day or after 🌧 strong rain – you’ll either be refreshed or you’ll see 💦 the waterfall in its rawest, most powerful form! If you head off on this hike in late spring or in early summer, then … Continue reading FAMILY HIKES: La Cascade de Bérard (LE BUET)
OUTDOOR ART EXHIBITIONS au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond)
All that we really need to do to enjoy art 🏔 au Pays du Mont-Blanc, is to open the window, as outside is 🖼 the most exquisite work of art of them all: 🌿 Mother Nature, Dame Nature! It is no wonder why so many 🎨 famous artists have been – and are still are – attracted to our 🏔 alpine scenery: 🍂🍃 the changing seasons, and … Continue reading OUTDOOR ART EXHIBITIONS au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond)
FAMILY HIKES: La Cabane du Cerro (CHAMONIX)
There are so many wonderful 🏔 hikes au Pays du Mont-Blanc and several of them are the perfect length for families with very young (or reluctant) walkers! I have always found (actually, I still do!) that hiking to ☕️ a mountain buvette, with the reward of 🍨 an ice cream or 🍓 a slice or fruit tart, is a great incentive to hike. As are … Continue reading FAMILY HIKES: La Cabane du Cerro (CHAMONIX)
BIKE PARKS au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond)
There are 🚵♀️ some wonderful VTT routes 🏔 au Pays du Mont-Blanc – some easily accessible, some that you need to take 🚡 a télécabine to access . . . and now we have electric bikes to make certain routes more accessible, and 🚵♀️ Fat Bikes to head out on the snow, mud or sand! Pop in to your local tourist office to pick up 🗺 … Continue reading BIKE PARKS au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond)
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
MBFF’s 20 favourite PICNIC SPOTS (with small children) au Pays du Mont-Blanc!
[ NOTE: for now, in adherance with regulations, you are NOT allowed to picnic at our local lakes ] I was lying in bed last night thinking of all of the lovely places that I’d like 🍏 to go for a picnic en famille; I’ve missed this activity these last two months! A picnic gets everyone outdoors and is often accompanied by a short walk or … Continue reading MBFF’s 20 favourite PICNIC SPOTS (with small children) au Pays du Mont-Blanc!
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)
BUGGY STROLLS: Parcours de l’Eau Artistique (Arve River, PASSY)
Each new spring season, ❄️ the snow melts and the 🌷 first spring flowers peep up shyly from the lawns; this re-awakening of nature is the perfect invitation for a buggy stroll . . . Early in 🌷 the spring season there may still be too much ❄️ snow along the river paths at higher altitude in 🏔 the Pays du Mont-Blanc, but there is a lovely stretch … Continue reading BUGGY STROLLS: Parcours de l’Eau Artistique (Arve River, PASSY)
FAMILY HIKES: l’Alpage de Charousse (Les Houches)
The hike to 🌼 l’Alpage de Charousse (alpage means high mountain meadow) in Les Houches is one of my favourite short hikes in the Chamonix Valley, and one that MBFF has really enjoyed en famille with two small hikers. Description of hike The main highlight of this walk is arriving at the postcard perfect meadow – 🌼 the Alpage de Charousse (1200m)- when the blue, pink … Continue reading FAMILY HIKES: l’Alpage de Charousse (Les Houches)
GEOGRAPHY, HISTORY & CULTURE LESSON – learning about Paris (primary level)
I woke up a few weeks back now, on my 🐿 10th Groundhog Day, and decided that I would like to take the boys to 🗺 Paris . . . They have been asking to go for a while now, and I’ve always told them that we would go once they were old enough to be able to walk a fair distance without complaining (as … Continue reading GEOGRAPHY, HISTORY & CULTURE LESSON – learning about Paris (primary level)
EASTER CRAFT with children
I put together this article last 🐰 Easter, when we were in our first 🏘 CONFINEMENT . . . With some of us yet again confined, and in need of some home activities, here is the updated article! Easter Eggs – dye kits A few years ago, we were given 🥚🎨 an Easter egg dye kit . . . we had a lot of fun … Continue reading EASTER CRAFT with children
ZOOLOGY (animal groups) & GEOGRAPHY LESSON (for 5 to 6 year olds)
I shared a short Facebook post a few weeks ago about some lesson ideas for teaching children about the 🌎 world (continents, the globe, atlases), and the specific 🦒 animals found in certain continents . . . Following on from that, and having played some more games surrounding the world and animal groups, I thought I would elaborate and write a longer article, with more … Continue reading ZOOLOGY (animal groups) & GEOGRAPHY LESSON (for 5 to 6 year olds)
