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 . . . NB (disclaimer) – please always confirm sessions before attending, as all are subject to change at the last minute! Colour Code for Listings Chamonix Valley (Chamonix, Argentière, Les Houches, Servoz) & Vallorcine Passy & environs Sallanches, Combloux, … 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 socialise a bit! Progressively, I discovered the 🌈 playgroups that were available locally for parents and babies (not many!) . . . … 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 . . . 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 rinks au … 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! Once chosen, we take home our new Christmas friend and get prepared to decorate it with our treasured decorations and lights . . . slowly it comes … Continue reading LA MAISON PUGIN – «venez choisir & couper votre sapin!»
Le Lac Vert (Plaine-Joux)
The MBFF family members are regular visitors to 💦 Le Lac Vert in Plaine-Joux (Passy), and a visit last 🍂 autumn reminded me that I should write a post exclusively about this lovely alpine lake! A family visit is a great day out: a short walk, with fun wooden walkways and some scrambling too, boulders to climb,🌲trees and 🏔 snowy mountain peaks reflected in the green waters of the lake, and … Continue reading Le Lac Vert (Plaine-Joux)
AUTUMN LEAVES orienteering (Chamonix Valley)
Over the summer holidays, MBFF asked Baby-Cham (a babysitting service in the Chamonix Valley) to head out on one of the new Chamonix Valley orienteering circuits and to report back on the experience. Its team braved ☀️ the summer heat and did a superb job testing out the 🌲 Bois du Bouchet (Chamonix) and the 💦 Lac des Chavants (Les Houches) parcours. Read about Baby-Cham’s experience here. Just this … Continue reading AUTUMN LEAVES orienteering (Chamonix Valley)
FILENVOL – capers high up in the trees (near Annemasse)
During the 🍁Toussaint holidays of 2017, on a 🍂 sunny autumn afternoon, the MBFF tribe (+ one friend) visited Filenvol for the first time . . . I was personally won over by the location – before the fun in the trees even began – as the afternoon light filtering through the 🍂 golden leaves was magical. And then I heard the laughter of children and adults alike, as … Continue reading FILENVOL – capers high up in the trees (near Annemasse)
Baby-Cham goes orienteering in the Chamonix Valley!
Over the summer holidays, Baby-Cham (the owner of the company and her little helpers) went to test out a couple of the new 🧭 parcours d’orientation (orienteering routes) in the 🏔 Chamonix Valley. You may have seen some of the maps in your local tourist offices or on large panels on-site? The Chamonix Valley has developed 6 orienteering routes for you to enjoy, many of them in … Continue reading Baby-Cham goes orienteering in the Chamonix Valley!
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)
SUMMER SPLASH! – waterslides, wibit games, paddling pools and parcs aquatiques au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond)
It is now ☀️ officially summertime, scorching hot, and paddling pools have become fixtures in gardens – so I thought this the opportune moment to re-post 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 last few years, some ephemeral … Continue reading SUMMER SPLASH! – waterslides, wibit games, paddling pools and parcs aquatiques au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond)
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 gardens 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, … 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 a few summers ago, 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, right next to our parking spot . . . Adventure Playground This playground is by far one of our favourites in the 🏔 Pays du Mont-Blanc. … Continue reading Combloux Playgrounds
Parc d’Attractions de Chamonix
The Parc d’Attractions de Chamonix, Chamonix’s very own little 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 a 💦 water-themed rides In addition, during the ❄️ winter season, ⛷ Domaine des Planards ski area is located … 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 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, once moving). Not just for cyclists (BMX, VTT), it is also open … 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
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
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
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
A couple of years ago 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 headed off to new adventures in 🇸🇪 Lapland . . . so I seized the opportunity and booked us a baptême chiens de traîneau! What a treat … 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 … Continue reading Domaine des Planards (Chamonix Centre)
