Savoyard food, sporting and cultural activities and entertainment for all ages, breathtaking scenery… The mountains are the ideal place for a family holiday. Especially in winter, when resort life is in full swing! So where should you go? What can the family do in the Alps this winter? How do you choose your rental property? OVO Network has the answers!
The five most beautiful Alpine resorts for a winter holiday with your family
Les Gets, for sporting families
Looking for a dynamic family destination with a wide range of sporting activities? Head for Les Gets. Part of the huge Portes du Soleil ski area, this lively resort offers a wide range of activities for the whole family to enjoy when you’re not skiing!
Snow-shoe walking
Snowshoeing is a great family activity to try on a mountain holiday in winter. The resort of Les Gets is the ideal place to do it, with a great choice of hiking trails crisscrossing the area, allowing everyone to enjoy the wonderful winter scenery.
Ski-jöering
Unlike downhill skiing, ski-jöering requires no special skills. All you have to do is put on a pair of skis and let a pony or horse pull you around a snow-covered slope. This makes the activity accessible to all ages and abilities… and most service providers offer different services depending on your level and skills.
Dog sledding
Children will love this unforgettable experience: a dog-sleigh ride through the exceptional Les Gets area with La Patte Nordic. It’s a chance for them to get up close and personal with these amazing mountain animals in a wonderful natural setting, and to enjoy an experience they’ll be talking about long after they get home.
Sledging
There’s nothing like a sledging trip for a fun-filled family outing. As well as being an activity accessible to all ages, it also has the advantage of being very inexpensive. You can hire a sledge from one of the many hire shops in the resort for around 10€ a day. So, on your marks, get set, go!
Play areas
Finally, in Les Gets you will find four large play areas for all ages:
- The Centre play area for 4 to 10-year-olds
- The Lac play area for 5 to 12-year-olds
- Bankids play area for 2 to 6-year-olds
- Wildkid play area for 2 to 6-year-olds
These play areas, which are free to use, will come in handy if you run out of ideas for activities during your stay!
Family holidays in Les Gets
Chamonix, for families looking to relax
Chamonix is the perfect destination for a relaxing, wellness holiday. This charming Alpine resort offers a multitude of activities to help you relax and unwind. Here’s a sneak preview…
Go to the cinema
Looking for something to do with the whole family in the Alps? Going to the cinema isn’t always the first thing that springs to mind when you think of leisure activities in a ski resort, but it’s an excellent idea for a relaxing family holiday.
Head to Cinéma VOX in Chamonix to discover the latest films on the bill, in French or English!
Relax at a spa
Chamonix is one of the Alps’ top destinations for relaxation, thanks in no small part to the QC Termes Aquatic Centre. These thermal baths are a real asset to the resort, attracting families with teenagers in search of relaxation.
“Pure air, breathtaking glaciers and panoramic whirlpool baths: the sensory journey of QC Terme Chamonix is set in a landscape of incomparable beauty, which reinforces the link between well-being and the mountains” This is what awaits you at the fabulous QC Termes in Chamonix.
It’s a great way to relax after a day on the slopes.
Give free rein to your creativity
While some people like to relax at the spa, others find serenity in crafts. If that’s the case, head for Chamonix Art School, where Catherine Kartal, founder of the school, will be delighted to share her knowledge during a discovery, introductory or advanced drawing and painting workshop.
Your dream holiday in the Alps
Les 2 Alpes, for lovers of fine food
If for you the Alps mean tartiflette, fondues, blueberry tarts, diots, crozets and other traditional dishes, don’t worry: we haven’t forgotten you! Les 2 Alpes is the perfect choice for a gourmet family holiday!
And with good reason: Les 2 Alpes is the resort with the highest concentration of restaurants. With almost 90 establishments, you won’t know where to turn! Not to mention the many other tasty experiences awaiting you…
Enjoy a tour of the restaurants
Charcuterie, tartiflette or raclette, the Alps are full of gastronomic specialities that you shouldn’t miss out on. And there’s no better way to discover them than with a tour of the resort’s restaurants. Find the full list here.
Discover how génépi is made
If you have older teenagers, here’s an idea for a unique and unusual outing that should appeal to the whole family.
Cyril Jouvin and Sylvain Peguy welcome visitors to their Génépi des Sommets workshop-boutique where they can discover the traditional methods used to make génépi. It’s an opportunity to learn more about this typical Alpine liqueur, from the history of the plant to its transformation into a wonderful elixir.
It’s an informative visit that ends, of course, with a tasting session!
Fill up on local products at the market
To stock up on local produce and crafts, you can visit the two weekly markets in Les 2 Alpes. They are held on:
- Tuesdays in Venosc from 3-7 pm during the winter season, at the Salle Polyvalente;
- Wednesday mornings in Mont-de-Lans from 8 am to 1 pm all year round (free shuttle bus and chairlift from Les 2 Alpes).
You can also stock up on cheese, charcuterie, craft beers and other mountain specialities in one of the many grocery shops in the resort.
Enjoy a gastronomic experience
A stay in Les 2 Alpes is also the perfect opportunity to introduce your teenagers to the world of haute cuisine and share a unique and unforgettable moment with the whole family.
To do this, head to the Michelin-starred restaurant Le P’tit Polyte. In this small, intimate establishment, chefs Sébastien Lalanne and Juan Leiro invite holidaymakers to enjoy a real culinary experience, where local produce meets flavours from elsewhere. These include Arctic char, spelt, curry and coconut foam, lovage; beef fillet pithiviers, sherry vinegar and mushroom jus; and guinea fowl, braised endive with maple syrup and coriander.
Annecy, for those who love art and culture
With its rich historical, cultural and architectural heritage, Annecy is the perfect destination for a cultural family holiday.
Cinémino
For 22 years now, Annecy has been hosting Cinémino, a film festival dedicated entirely to children.
During this month-long event, no fewer than 30 animated films and short films are shown on the big screen. The aim is to introduce young audiences to cinematic masterpieces from around the world and give them a chance to take their first steps on the silver screen.
The screenings are complemented by a cocktail of activities for young and old, including creative workshops, meetings with filmmakers, exhibitions, readings, debates and film snacks.
It’s the perfect opportunity for parents to share a unique moment with their children.
The Christmas markets
What can you do with your family in the Alps during your next winter holidays? Christmas markets have got to be on your list!
Winter holidays inevitably mean Christmas markets. Every winter, Annecy is transformed into a real Santa Claus village, with seven markets dotted around the town. A visit is a must!
Browse the stalls selling handmade gifts, sample delicious regional dishes and drinks, and immerse yourself in the joyous atmosphere of the festive season: it’s an activity that’s sure to please the whole family. Children (and adults) will love the magic of Christmas that takes over the streets of the city!
The winter festival
During the winter holidays, Annecy also hosts the Winter Festival. For a few days, the medieval town will once again be putting cinema in the spotlight, offering visitors the chance to rediscover some of the great classics of the cinema, as well as previews, virtual reality films, meetings with filmmakers and animation workshops…
The programme is designed to appeal to everyone: young and old, the general public and connoisseurs alike. Everyone is welcome!
Annecy’s Venetian Festival
A festival of costumes, canals and alleyways overrun by crowds: it’s almost like being in Venice!
Every year, on the weekend following Mardi Gras at the end of January, Annecy recreates the magic of the Venetian carnival. For the occasion, several hundred masked characters from all over Europe come to parade and pose in the streets of the old town, dressed in their finest parade costumes. And the rule is, it is all done in total silence.
It’s an event that’s as astonishing as it is out of this world, and one you really should add to your to-do list when you visit Annecy with your family.
Discover chalets around Lake Annecy
Le Grand Bornand, for families who love nature
Looking for a child-friendly destination in the heart of the Alps? Le Grand Bornand has been awarded the “Famille Plus” label and is committed to providing every member of the family with a wonderful welcome.
Here, everything is done to make your family’s stay as easy as possible: from the wide range of leisure activities and events accessible to all ages, to facilities for both young and old and special services dedicated to children and families…
Take a walk around the snowy streets
Nestling in the heart of the Aravis mountains, between the Arve Valley and Lake Annecy, Le Grand Bornand is one of the most authentic ski resorts in Savoie Mont-Blanc. With its 400 two-hundred-year-old chalets, its central square, its typical church, stone streets and small shops, the ski resort of Le Grand Bornand has managed to preserve all its 17th-century charm.
Sprinkle it all with a thick blanket of snow and sparkling garlands, add a delicate aroma of gingerbread, and don’t forget a few notes of Christmas carols, and you’ve got a magnificent Christmas setting, straight out of a fairytale.
Discover the countryside on a dog sled
Why not treat your children to an unforgettable experience on a dog-sleigh ride? It’s a chance for them to get up close and personal with these beautiful mountain animals in a wonderful natural setting.
So don’t wait any longer and book your first dog-sleigh ride with TAKAMAKA*. You’ll pay around 53€ per child and 79€ per adult for a ride lasting around 25 minutes. Older children (aged 12 and over) will even have the chance to step into the shoes of a musher and take the reins of the sleigh!
Don’t forget to dress warmly to make the most of this experience. Waterproof clothes, hats, gloves and sunglasses are essential.
- It’s about an hour’s drive from Le Grand Bornand, but it’s well worth the effort!
Admire the scenery on a snowshoe walk
Away from the crowded slopes of the resorts, snowshoe trekking is the perfect way to enjoy the breathtaking scenery and peace and quiet of the mountains at your own pace.
The resort of Le Grand Bornand is the ideal place to indulge in this activity. With 86km of snowshoe itineraries and 43km of groomed and waymarked footpaths, there’s plenty to delight lovers of nature and beautiful scenery.
For a self-guided family outing, you can buy a guide to the snowshoe and footpath routes in Aravis, on sale at the Tourist Office for 3€.
Adventurers in search of uncharted territory can hire a guide, ski instructor or mountain leader to take them off the beaten track in complete safety while discovering the fauna, habitat and heritage of our region.
A family holiday in Le Grand Bornand
Choose the perfect destination for your family holiday this winter
With so many different types of accommodation available to rent, it can be hard to find your way around.
To help families make the right choice, OVO Network offers a wide selection of family-friendly accommodations, highlighted by the Cool For Kids label. With just a few clicks, you can find our partner properties with everything you need to keep the little ones occupied while offering luxurious comfort for the other members of the family. You’ll find:
- For safety: socket covers, stair gates, fire screens for the fireplace, etc;
- For hygiene: changing table, potty, etc;
- In the kitchen: cutlery, crockery, adapted beakers, booster seat, etc;
- In the bedrooms: bed linen, nightlight, etc;
- In the bathroom: non-slip matting, steps, bath seat, etc;
- To keep them occupied: board games, TV area, books, outdoor games, playrooms for older children, etc.
There’s no shortage of family resorts in the Alps. Many resorts have facilities and activities designed to welcome families with children of all ages. Just like the chalets for rent on OVO Network! With their TV lounges, games rooms, dormitories, wellness areas and warm, friendly rooms, adults and children alike should be delighted!
Luxury chalets for family holidays
After an unforgettable winter family holiday, why not come again? The summer and autumn seasons also have plenty of surprises in store!
- The best Alpine resorts for a family holiday in summer
- The top Alpine resorts to explore with your family in autumn
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