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 … Continue reading Lac de l’Étape (LES CONTAMINES-MONTJOIE)
La Cascade de l’Arpenaz (SALLANCHES)
You have quite probably passed the 💦 Cascade de l’Arpenaz on several occasions, on a trip between the 🏔 Pays du Mont-Blanc and 🇨🇭 Geneva or 🇫🇷 Annecy on the autoroute. The 💦 Cascade de l’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 … Continue reading La Cascade de l’Arpenaz (SALLANCHES)
Les Grandes Médiévales d’Andilly (27th ⇒ 29th May and 3rd & 4th June 2023!)
A few years ago now, the MBFF tribe headed to the 🎪 Les Grandes Médiévales d’Andilly with some friends and their children. We had a fabulous day ; it was a memorable day . . . So, what do you need to know about this 🎪 fabulous family event? What are Les Grandes Médiévales d’Andilly? 🎪 Les Grandes Médiévales d’Andilly is a medieval event for the whole family, which … Continue reading Les Grandes Médiévales d’Andilly (27th ⇒ 29th May and 3rd & 4th June 2023!)
ANIMAL PARKS & FARMS au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and a little 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 & FARMS au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and a little 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 can be 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 wrap is one brilliant alternative (as baby keeps warm … Continue reading BUGGY WALKS – La Braconne, the Pré Curral & the Bialle river path (Sallanches)
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 “ ? Well, I heard this several times on a couple of work trips to 🇮🇸 Iceland . . . and 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 … Continue reading RAINY DAYS au Pays du Mont-Blanc
REFUGE du TORNIEUX: a 4km luge descent (Sallanches)
You may know the ☕️ Refuge du Tornieux (1450m) as ☀️ a summer hike destination . . . but heading there on a ❄️ winter hike is an entirely different experience! The first time I hiked in ❄ winter, I was on my own, which is always a pleasure . . . but as I am always thinking ahead for fun family activities, as I stopped … Continue reading REFUGE du TORNIEUX: a 4km luge descent (Sallanches)
FAMILY STROLLS: winter wonderlands au Pays du Mont-Blanc
The ❄️ SNOW is currently falling and draping our 🗻 mountain peaks with dazzling white blankets . . . some ❄️ snowflakes are falling to the ground and forming sparkling white forest carpets, some snowflakes clinging to the 🌲 sapins, before fluttering slowly to the ground . . . . . . 🌟 magical, féerique, ❄️ winter wonderland Narnias everywhere you look 🗻 au Pays du Mont-Blanc! This article … Continue reading FAMILY STROLLS: winter wonderlands au Pays du Mont-Blanc
Les Houches – Saint-Gervais Mont-Blanc SKIING
The ⛷ Domaine Skiable Les Houches – Saint-Gervais is a great spot 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 Mont-Blanc SKIING
Les Contamines-Montjoie / Hauteluce SKIING & WINTER SPORTS
If you haven’t already done so, time to dust off your skis and go and enjoy one of our family’s favourite ski areas: ⛷ Les Contamines-Montjoie / Hauteluce. Here you’ll find : ❄️ excellent snow conditions and snow machines to ensure good snow at the start and end of the season; ❄️ broad, sunny pistes; 🗻 panoramic views of the Mont-Blanc Massif and Beaufortin,; ☕️ lovely … Continue reading Les Contamines-Montjoie / Hauteluce SKIING & WINTER SPORTS
Montreux Noël ( SWITZERLAND ) – 23rd November ⇒ 24th December 2023
🇨🇭🎄 Montreux Noël 2023 will be running from 23rd November ⇒ 24th December 2023. I had wanted to go to the 🎄 Marché de Noël de Montreux ( part of the wider🎄 Montreux Noël celebrations ) for a very long time, and we finally managed to go en famille five years ago. We were not disappointed; it was quite simply féérique! So let me share with you … Continue reading Montreux Noël ( SWITZERLAND ) – 23rd November ⇒ 24th December 2023
LA MAISON PUGIN – a local Christmas tree farm ( Reignier )
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 taste and requests! Once chosen, we take home our new Christmas friend and get prepared to 🎄 decorate it with our treasured decorations and lights . . … Continue reading LA MAISON PUGIN – a local Christmas tree farm ( Reignier )
Lac Vert (PLAINE-JOUX)
The MBFF family members are regular visitors to 💦 Lac Vert in Plaine-Joux (Passy), and a visit a couple of🍂 autumns ago reminded me that I should write an article exclusively about this lovely alpine lake! A visit here is a great family day out: a short walk, with fun wooden walkways and some scrambling too, boulders to climb, 🌲 trees and 🏔 snowy mountain peaks reflected … Continue reading Lac Vert (PLAINE-JOUX)
PARCOURS d’ORIENTATION au Lac des Chavants (Les Houches)
A few years ago no, 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 … Continue reading PARCOURS d’ORIENTATION au Lac des Chavants (Les Houches)
FILENVOL – capers high up in the trees (near Annemasse)
🌳 Filenvol is a FABULOUS place to go with children, and especially with 🍁 the colours of autumn in full swing! On our visits in autumn, 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!
A couple of years ago, 🌈 Baby-Cham (the owner of the company and her little helpers) went to test out a couple of the (then) 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, … Continue reading BABY-CHAM goes orienteering in the Chamonix Valley!
LAKES & WATERSPORTS au Pays du Mont-Blanc
🏔 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 you’ll find: … Continue reading LAKES & WATERSPORTS au Pays du Mont-Blanc
SUMMER SPLASH! – waterslides, wibit games, paddling pools and parcs aquatiques au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond)
🏔 Au Pays du Mont-Blanc and in the 🏔 Chamonix Valley, we have lots of great 💦 swimming pools, and over the ☀️ summer months you’ll find that they organise plenty of animations for families and children. In addition, over the ☀️ summer months you’ll find some 💦 outdoor pools open to the public, and there are 💦 ephemeral water slides, water games, wibit parks and … Continue reading SUMMER SPLASH! – waterslides, wibit games, paddling pools and parcs aquatiques au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond)
GENEVA, NYON & VALAIS (Switzerland) – FREE museums on first Sunday of the month!
Throughout the year in 🇨🇭 Geneva, Nyon & Valais 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. NB – this initiative does not apply to private museums & collections. The next FREE Sunday will … Continue reading GENEVA, NYON & VALAIS (Switzerland) – FREE museums on first Sunday of the month!
Jardin des Cimes (PLATEAU d’ASSY)
🌻 Le Jardin des Cimes is a truly 🌷 magical alpine garden, with breathtaking views of 🏔 the Mont-Blanc massif. These very special gardens have captured our imagination on each of our visits and our children are always eager to show them off to our visitors! 🌻 Le Jardin des Cimes never loses its charm and each season brings new surprises 🌻 Le Jardin des Cimes (“ Garden of … Continue reading Jardin des Cimes (PLATEAU d’ASSY)
BUGGY WALKS & FAMILY STROLLS: « Sentier des Roselières » (Saint-Jorioz, LAC d’ANNECY)
Last springtime, MBFF finally headed to Saint-Jorioz (Lac d’Annecy), to enjoy the gentle spring-like weather, and to walk part of the 🌱 « Sentier des Roselières », which leaves from its Port d’Embarcadère. I originally heard about this family stroll from Marine from the excellent website Randos en Famille, and I’m adding to this article some of our own photos and astuces learned from our promenade. … Continue reading BUGGY WALKS & FAMILY STROLLS: « Sentier des Roselières » (Saint-Jorioz, LAC d’ANNECY)
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 The adventure playground is by far one of our favourites in the 🏔 Pays … Continue reading Combloux PLAYGROUNDS
DOMAINE des PLANARDS in summertime (Chamonix)
The 🌈 Domaine des Planards, 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 💦 water-themed rides. In addition, during the ❄️ winter season, ⛷ Domaine des Planards … Continue reading DOMAINE des PLANARDS in summertime (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 … Continue reading PUMPTRACKS au Pays du Mont-Blanc
« Fête de la Tulipe » in Morges ( 29th March ⇒ 12th May 2024 )
🇨🇭🌷 « La Fête de la Tulipe » in Morges celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2020, and this year’s 53rd edition will run from 29th March ⇒ 12th May 2024 . . . 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 🇨🇭 … Continue reading « Fête de la Tulipe » in Morges ( 29th March ⇒ 12th May 2024 )
Mont Blanc Family Fun 