KARTING & QUADS and ELECTRIC CARS & MOTOS au Pays du Mont-Blanc ( and beyond )
Kids often love to be in the driver’s seat, both literally and metaphorically ! My elder son loved cars when he was little, and he loved driving electric ones too ! The little one could spend hours on the beach with small diggers, so being able to navigate a ” real ” one was a delight ! There are all sorts of options locally for … Continue reading KARTING & QUADS and ELECTRIC CARS & MOTOS au Pays du Mont-Blanc ( and beyond )
20 SUMMER ACTIVITIES for TODDLERS au Pays du Mont-Blanc
I’ve had a few emails recently, asking me about toddler activites here 🗻 au Pays du Mont-Blanc over ☀️ the summer, so this article is aimed at addressing the lack of information in ONE LOCATION on the website. Some of the activities over the summer 🗻 au Pays du Mont-Blanc are aimed at families with older children (longer hikes, canyoning, rafting, via ferratas, and little … Continue reading 20 SUMMER ACTIVITIES for TODDLERS au Pays du Mont-Blanc
MOUNTAIN PLAYGROUNDS au Pays du Mont-Blanc
Hang on, aren’t 🛝 ALL playgrounds 🗻 au Pays du Mont-Blanc 🛝 mountain playgrounds ? I mean, we live in 🗻 the mountains, so every 🛝 playground has mountain views ! 🛝 Mountain playgrounds sounds like a misnomer for the 🗻 Pays du Mont-Blanc? For the sake of argument, this article concentrates on 🗻🛝 the mountain playgrounds that are less easily accessible – ie you … Continue reading MOUNTAIN PLAYGROUNDS au Pays du Mont-Blanc
25+ SUMMER ACTIVITIES au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond)
I thought it might be useful to have at hand in one article some of ☀️ the activities available for families & children 🏔 au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond) over the ☀️ summertime . . . So, if you reside 🏔 au Pays du Mont-Blanc, or if you are visiting the 🏔 Pays du Mont-Blanc this July or August, here are some (perhaps) fresh ideas – or reminders of great activities … Continue reading 25+ SUMMER ACTIVITIES au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond)
LAC de MONTRIOND – a beautiful alpine lake (Vallée d’Aulps)
Have you ever been to the 💦 Lac de Montriond ? Located at 1072m, this 💦 alpine lake – known as the green lake – is nestled under dramatic cliffs. In ☀️ summertime, you can 🏊♀️ swim and you’ll find 🚣♂️ watersports and other activites, ❄️ winter brings ice-diving, and 🌸 spring & 🍁 autumn are lovely for strolls . . . 💦 Lac de Montriond is … Continue reading LAC de MONTRIOND – a beautiful alpine lake (Vallée d’Aulps)
LAKES & WATERSPORTS beyond the Pays du Mont-Blanc
We have some fabulous 💦 swimming lakes 🏔 au Pays du Mont-Blanc, some large enough to practise watersports like ⛵️ windsurfing, sailing and paddle-boarding. [ ⇒ for more information about 💦 swimming lakes 🏔 au Pays du Mont-Blanc, see separate MBFF article here ] And not too far away, you’ll find some 💦 larger lakes in 🇫🇷 Haute-Savoie & Savoie, in Isère, 🇨🇭 in Switzerland, and in 🇮🇹 … Continue reading LAKES & WATERSPORTS beyond the Pays du Mont-Blanc
FAMILY HIKES: « Forest Discovery Trail » / « Sentier Découverte de la Forêt » (Cordon)
A few times now, MBFF has headed to Cordon, to walk the « Sentier Découverte de la Forêt à Cordon » (« Forest Discovery Trail »). We first discovered this trail about 8 years ago, when we had a baby in a backpack and a little boy in tow, and I had been meaning to write a full article about it every since! The « Forest Discovery Trail » is an annotated trail through the forest … Continue reading FAMILY HIKES: « Forest Discovery Trail » / « Sentier Découverte de la Forêt » (Cordon)
FAMILY HIKES: boucle from Lintre ⇒ la Pierre Fendue (SALLANCHES)
This boucle is one of my favourite Sallanches hikes. I’ve actually yet to do it en famille, but I’ve now hiked it a few times with friends, and I know that it would be the perfect family hike with older kids (even younger ones, if they are good hikers!). There is not a huge dénivelé on this hike (the steepest part is at the start), so it is fairly easy on the … Continue reading FAMILY HIKES: boucle from Lintre ⇒ la Pierre Fendue (SALLANCHES)
La Cascade du Rouget ( Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval )
Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval (Vallée du Giffre) is known as the land of 30 waterfalls, and la Cascade du Rouget figures prominently on that list; in 2009 was voted the most beautiful waterfall in France! It is affectionately referred to as « la reine des Alpes » (the Queen of the Alps). Located at an altitude of 960m, and with its +80m of height set across two levels of flowing water, the La Cascade du Rouget flows all year … Continue reading La Cascade du Rouget ( Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval )
Château de Saint-Michel: castle ruins, forest and a parcours d’orientation (SERVOZ)
Are you aware that there are castle ruins in the Chamonix Valley ? You’ll find the ruins of the Château de Saint-Michel, a 14th century fortress built under the orders of Béatrix de Savoie, dame de Faucigny, in Servoz. The castle ruins sit on a hilltop (860m), surrounded by trees, and the only remaining vestiges are the tower and parts of the wall, now covered in vegetation (especially verdant in summertime!). The castle was built … Continue reading Château de Saint-Michel: castle ruins, forest and a parcours d’orientation (SERVOZ)
BUGGY WALKS : a springtime stroll in Sallanches
🌸 Springtime has arrived . . . and while I dream of one day being in Japan for its famous 🌸 springtime cherry blossoms, for now I am excited to share this little 🏛 Sallanches town stroll with you. While there is still snow on the higher altitude walks, why not take a leisurely amble through the streets of Sallanches, enjoy the 🌸 spring blossoms, and discover a little history as … Continue reading BUGGY WALKS : a springtime stroll in Sallanches
MBFF’s FAVOURITE PLAYGROUNDS au Pays du Mont-Blanc
MBFF has now spent about 11 years discovering and testing 🌈 playgrounds au Pays du Mont-Blanc. We are fairly confident that we have tested most of them! 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 three years apart in age, some playgrounds were somewhat challenging with … Continue reading MBFF’s FAVOURITE PLAYGROUNDS au Pays du Mont-Blanc
ANIMAL PARKS & AQUARIUMS further afield
We are 🐯 HUGE ANIMAL LOVERS here at MBFF . . . And so we are lucky to have some 🦌 fabulous animal parks, farms and kennels 🗻 au Pays du Mont-Blanc, [ ⇒ for more information about 🗻 animal parks au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and a little beyond), see separate article here ] As we are at the crossroads with 🇫🇷 Further France, 🇨🇭 Switzerland and … Continue reading ANIMAL PARKS & AQUARIUMS further afield
SWIMMING POOLS & LAKES au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond)
You have many options for 🏊♀️ swimming in the Chamonix Valley and in the 🏔 Pays du Mont-Blanc : swimming pools, lakes . . . In this article, you’re sure to find something that suits your needs ! COLOUR CODE FOR LISTINGS Chamonix Valley (Chamonix, Argentière, Les Houches, Servoz) & Vallorcine Passy & environs Sallanches, Combloux, Cordon & Domancy Saint Gervais, Le Fayet, Saint Nicolas de Véroce, … Continue reading SWIMMING POOLS & LAKES au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond)
OUTDOOR ART EXHIBITIONS au Pays du Mont-Blanc
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
OUTDOOR ART EXHIBITIONS further afield
Not too far from the 🏔 Pays du Mont-Blanc, in 🇫🇷 neighbouring France, 🇨🇭 Switzerland and 🇮🇹 Italy, you’ll find some 🖼 permanent outdoor exhibitions, and also some 🖼 new or ephemeral outdoor exhibitions throughout the year and across the passing seasons: 📷 photography, 🎨 sculptures, 🖼 canvases . . . In the same way as famous artists were attracted to paint the mountains and lakes … Continue reading OUTDOOR ART EXHIBITIONS further afield
LIGHT SHOWS & ILLUMINATIONS au Pays du Mont-Blanc ( and beyond )
There are some beautiful holiday light shows au Pays du Mont-Blanc and in 🇫🇷 neighbouring France, 🇨🇭 Switzerland and 🇮🇹 Italy, and every year they seem to get more innovative : mapping, son & lumières . . . Mostly these light show take place over the winter holidays and in January and February, and light up villages, towns and cities ( and in one case … Continue reading LIGHT SHOWS & ILLUMINATIONS au Pays du Mont-Blanc ( and beyond )
MUSEUMS & EXHIBITIONS in the Aosta Valley (ITALY)
We are lucky to have some 🖼 wonderful museums 🏔 au Pays du Mont-Blanc, many housed in architectural gems (old, renovated and new) . . . and as well as their permanent collections, they also offer 🖼 temporary exhibitions and 🎨 workshops for children and families over the school holidays! We are also lucky if we live in (or are visiting!) the 🏔 au Pays du Mont-Blanc, as we … Continue reading MUSEUMS & EXHIBITIONS in the Aosta Valley (ITALY)
PISTES de LUGES beyond le Pays du Mont-Blanc
We are lucky to have some fabulous 🛷 pistes de luge au Pays du Mont-Blanc, some in town centres, some up the mountain . . . [ ⇒ for more information about 🛷 pistes de luge au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and nearby), see separate MBFF article here ] Colour code for listings Pays du Mont-Blanc 🇫🇷 Further France 🇨🇭 Switzerland 🇮🇹 Italy 🇫🇷 Pistes de luge in … Continue reading PISTES de LUGES beyond le Pays du Mont-Blanc
CHOCOLATIERS ARTISANAUX au Pays du Mont-Blanc
Here 🗻 au Pays du Mont-Blanc, we live on the border with 🇨🇭 Switzerland, one of the most famous chocolate producing nations in the world ( though neighbouring countries do outweigh this small country in chocolate production! ). Those happy 🇨🇭 Swiss 🐄 alpine cows produce 🥛 a rich creamy milk, perfect to mix with cacao, to form delicious chocolate . . . And here … Continue reading CHOCOLATIERS ARTISANAUX au Pays du Mont-Blanc
CHRISTMAS MARKETS au Pays du Mont-Blanc ( and beyond )
It’s official: the 🎄 Christmas season is kicking off this weekend au Pays du Mont-Blanc ! The ❄️ snow has begun to fall and settle up high, ❄️ the mountain lakes are beginning to freeze, and not too far from the Pays du Mont-Blanc, 🎁 Villages & 🎄 Marchés de Noël have begun to appear in the centre of bigger towns and villages ( 🇨🇭 Geneva, Montreux, … Continue reading CHRISTMAS MARKETS au Pays du Mont-Blanc ( and beyond )
CHRISTMASTIME & HOLIDAY SEASON au Pays du Mont-Blanc ( and beyond )
At 🎄 Christmastime we are spoiled 🏔 au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond) with 🎄 fabulous Christmas & holiday events ! In this article, you will find information about : 🎄 the lighting of town and village CHRISTMAS TREES ( illuminations du sapin ) in December; 🎅🎄 local Pays du Mont-Blanc Christmas events – Santa’s arrival, workshops, spectacles, storytelling etc . . .; ✨ dazzling holiday light shows … Continue reading CHRISTMASTIME & HOLIDAY SEASON au Pays du Mont-Blanc ( and beyond )
FAMILY HIKES: le Sentier Nature du Calvaire & le Creux Saint-Jean (MEGEVE)
MBFF hiked this trail a couple of times last year, and we can confirm that it is fabulous for families with small children! It would be lovely to do in 🍂 autumn, with the changing colours, but do leave it for a dry day, as it could be quite slippery underfoot after rain! You get a mixture of religious history, art & architecture and nature … Continue reading FAMILY HIKES: le Sentier Nature du Calvaire & le Creux Saint-Jean (MEGEVE)
A visit to the MAMCO Genève en famille (GENEVA)
Have you ever been to the 🖼 MAMCO Genève? This 🖼 modern and contemporary art museum is located in an old industrial building in the Plainpalais area of Geneva, and it offers fabulous guided visits for families on Wednesdays and on the first Sunday of each month. MBFF has been a few times, and we love it! What is the MAMCO ? The 🖼 MAMCO (Musée … Continue reading A visit to the MAMCO Genève en famille (GENEVA)
20 SHORT FAMILY HIKES with a BUVETTE (CHAMONIX VALLEY)
When the kids are small, we are often limited in the hikes that we undertake: not too far, not too high, not too much dénivelé . . . some of us can hike further, but some of us have problematic backs and knees, meaning that baby backpacks can be more of a challenge . . . or, perhaps we have toddlers that like to hike, … Continue reading 20 SHORT FAMILY HIKES with a BUVETTE (CHAMONIX VALLEY)
Mont Blanc Family Fun 