The incredibly steep white mountains and frozen lakes were all Iย thought of when someone mentioned the French Alps, but to my amazement, they are now at the top of my French Summer destination hit list as they are as stunning in summer as in winter.ย Itโs a must-see location for your family. ย It was relaxing, stunning, and most importantly very easy for a toddler to enjoy. We visited a variety of towns in and around the Alps that took your breath away, for their stunning crystal clear water, incredible green cliffs and windy rivers to enjoy while eating cheese, wine and baguettes in the summer heat. Who could resist?!
Here are the destinations to visit if you are planning on a French Summer getaway:
Our first stop was Lyon, France’s capital city to the Auvergne-Rhรดne-Alpes region, which is an easy and cheap flight from London.ย With 2000 years of rich Romon history and its stunning outlook built along the junction of two major Rhรดne and Saรดne rivers.ย It’s stunning old French architecture makes it feel a touch like Paris. We walked across the river on one of the many bridges to view the incredible outlook of the city which led us to the La Basilique Notre Dame de Fourviere.ย With a small fee, the train takes you up to the top of the Basilique to an incredible outlook all over the city, and you can see right to the mountain tops of the French Alps.ย Once on top, the incredible lookout will take your breath away with signage pointing out all the iconic architecture of the City, and the Basilique (chapel) to explore and take photos of.ย A fantastic little outing for your introduction to Lyon. Lunch and Dinner weren’t hard to find as once you catch the hill down the mountain, it drops you right at the doorstep of the Vieux Lyon, on the river with a fantastic restaurant area. If you do a little walk around the backstreets in this area there are so many restaurants, gelato and wine bars to visit.ย If you need recommendations – we found Un, Duex, Trois and Restaurant Le Petit Bouchon de la Place a really great experience. But every restaurant was absolutely packed at lunch and dinner.ย
We then ventured to Parc de la Tete d’Or, a beautiful big green park with a lake in the middle, past the Patissery (Beloungerie) to collect our deserts and baguette, of course!ย The park was absolutely stunning and was easy to access via the train.ย We spent all afternoon strolling around the green grass, finding the playground, and looking at the ducks.ย ย Wandering the lake was absolutely stunning, watching the boats and grabbing ice cream from the cafe. There was so much to see and do in the park that one afternoon didn’t afford us enough time to do the antique train, or see the monkeys.ย It doesnโt get much better or more beautiful than eating our french baguette in the afternoon sun though.ย There was so much more to do here, but only one night in Lyon afforded us to split our time and enjoy the grass and the sun!
We then bullet trained to see the town of Gronobla, a very cute and smaller town on the French River (xxx), which i just couldnt belibve was so pretty.ย We had arranged to pick up our hire car in this town,ย explore the shops and belongeries, see the bubbles (the lift to the top of the hill) and then drive through the french alps to our destination in Chambery where we were staying for a few days on the bottom of the Alps. ย
Gronobla was incredibly beautiful with the crystal clear river, the most beutiful walking path along the water and the yummiest food, to which i have to mention the chocolate moose the macaroons.ย We fell in love with the town (and its food, you pick!).ย
Our next stop, Chambery was just as beautiful and here we immersed ourselves into the true French lifestyle of eating, drinking and swimming in the pool all while starring at the french apls in 40 degree heat.ย A trip to the centre of town is necessary to pick up your favourite deserts from xx Patiossery and do some clothes shopping in the boutique area.ย We also ventured up to the top of the Alps, with a stop at the brewery and cheese farm and to say hello to the cows (who make the milk for the cheese) to overlook the stunning cliff tops.ย A few day trips out from this town was all we needed to want to become french. ย
Our day trip started with a swim in the Saint-Christophe Le Villard lake, the lake which usually would be frozen over in winter, but now we were just causally in our swimmers and sunbaking overlooking the mountan tops.
ย Our road-trip day ended us in Annecy, happily now one of my favourite places in the world.ย Most definatley one of the most visited touristy places in summer and winter.ย Its town built around the huge crystal blue lake of Annecy, with stunning restorts liming the waters edge.ย Resturants and shops on side of the lake were a perfect stop for lunch, followed by a boat trip out onto the flat and safest lake of Annecy.ย The easist boat ride for a toddler-parent to feel safe to drive a boat.ย Along the lake there is a huge walking path that allows you to walk around the lake with cute antique looking bridges that connect the run-off rivers of water, and there are so many activiities to do including a beach, playgrounds and boating activities.ย There were multiple boat companies you could hire kayaks or boats from, all with good prices.ย We decided on a couple of hours out on the boat, sunscreened up and floated around watcing all the other boats, swimmers, and resort life happening around the lake.ย Both my husband and I decided to jump in the lake for a swim, so refreshing in the crystal clear water.ย For lunch we dined and ate muscles and a brie and ham bageuette from a local resturant, followed by a massive gelato ice-cream.ย I must admit it was stinking hot, and all we wanted to do was be in the water in the afternoon.ย I will definetely be coming back to Annecy to stay at a resort, head to the beach and do much more shopping in the coming years.ย
Our last night in France was spent back in Gronobla,ย dropping off our hire car, eating french cheese, meat and wine on the hotel floor while our toddler slept in her cot – probably one of the highlights of my trip haha.ย Itโs these crazy kind of memories that really make a holiday.ย Donโt be afraid of the unknown small detours that make you eat french cheese on the floor – they maybe the most memorable moments of all. Giving you the time to remember how lucky you are to be in the hotel room, travelling across the world to see such incredible places.
My extra tips if youre looking for them:ย
- Whereever you go, search out for teh best rated Beloungerie. There are so many of them on every corner, but its always worth finding the most well-rated one. It always has something extra special in that window that youโve never tried before like a chocolate moose, different flavoured macroon or the famous Quinn Amann.ย
- If you only have a couple of days, go to Annecy, find a resort on the lake, drive a boat around and do some shopping. ย The amount of good french food, cafes, and things to see here really just sums up how pretty all of the spots in the French Alps are.ย So esentailly if you only have one stop – do Annecy.ย
- All these places were toddler freindly, but when picking a hotel, i would try to get one with a pool or close to a swimming location, as you can bank on it being hot in the midst of summer. ย
We fell in love with France, what it has to offer in summer, and its beautiful culture.ย Our experience has only been good.ย A lot of the western world will tell you that the French speakers are abrupt or straight to the point, but we found the opposite.ย We found passionate people who love good things in life and will seek out the best things, and make the most amazing food & drink (especially when it comes to bread, cheese, and wine).ย
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