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Has anyone been to the Alps is the summer with a very small child (less than 1 year old). We are hoping to go this summer and wondered if anyone could recommend a family friendly town or resort where there is plenty of stuff to do apart from biking. My partner does not mountain bike so ideally some nice lake/mountain/forest walks, access to a nice pool or swimming area. Ideally somewhere we can use as a base to then explore other areas. It does not have to have lift served biking as I am happy to drive to somewhere that does have this on the days I get to ride. France is preferred but open to other options.
I really like les gets, it is a nice little town. Not too high up but well connected with lifts and lakes and stuff around.
That is more mountain bike specific.
For an alpine town I absolutely love Kandersteg in Switzerland as it is beautiful and quiet (apart from the railway- but that's not really noisy).
Thanks, Les Gets a good suggestion, any others?
Bourg St Maurice has plenty of amenities.
Les Arcs worked well for us. Stayed in apartment in Vallandry when mini-a11y's were 4 months and 3 years. Then camped in Bourg St Maurice a few years later. Both worked well. Vallandry closer to lake/mountain/forest walks but Bourg has a public swimming pool and bigger town centre. Campsite in Bourg also has it's own decent swimming pool - also has chalets/lodges to hire, so not just camping.
Edit - chakaping beat me to it as I typed!
Bourg is great as a base for mountain biking, but I find it a bit uninspiring as a summer destination otherwise.
The town center itself is a bit meh.
I'd be looking at Grindelwald/Interlaken area OP.
Thanks, have been through the Bourg St Maurice station a few years ago on route to Les Arcs. Did not seem particularly attractive. But we did not wander into the town. Is it nice?
Bourg is ok. It's a working town in the Alps rather than a particularly touristy destination in and of itself.
I've had loads of great holidays there with The White Room, but it's not somewhere that I'd choose as an Alpine Holiday for a non-rider.
Annecy would be another option?
Thanks, been to Grindelwald before and whilst excellent, remember it being hideously expensive.
I like Les Gets but I think there is more to do in Morzine - the town centre has lots of activities and games every summer and the pool is great with a big shallow bit for little kids. There is also a great lake just round the corner in Montriond.
Lots of walking by the river which is nice to dip in too.
You can jump on a lift with a bike and do a few laps in an hour or two and your partner and child can go up as foot passengers to meet you at a bar or cafe too. Easy access on lifts up to Avoriaz and over into Switzerland as well.
You can then drive down to Lac Leman in an hour or so - Thonon Les Bains is really nice to explore. Last year we also drove over to Annecy for the day - which was a bit hectic but ok.
The station area and main road through Bourg St Maurice are not pretty but the town centre is fine. We had a great holiday in Arc 1800 when junior was small. There are indoor and outdoor pools, pleasant walks link the different parts of the resort and there are longer walks if you want. The weather is alpine, we were lucky arriving after a week of rain for a dry week.
It might be worth waiting until your child is a little bit older. We dumped junior for activities and went off to do our own thing:
https://en.lesarcs.com/hero-pass
Edit: I've just remembered that taking babies up high isn't recommended. Junior was fine in Les Menuires 1850 at two months.
Samoens and the Giffre valley is beautiful.
Was going to say Samoens, lovely little town, good lift up and back down the mountain. Morillon was a lovely place to stay but obviously not as much to walk to. We stayed with the Tasty Ski Company and the chalet staff were always happy to drop us off/pick up up to Samoens.
I'd suggest near Annecy. Lots of nice cafes etc, proper mountains you can hike up with a baby carrier, etc. Lake is ace, lots of beaches tho you'll want a wet suit for the little one.
Go south? Better weather. Different vegetation. Barcelonette. Briancon etc
I'd probably aim for the bottom of a valley where you're likely to get a place that's big enough to spread out in with more local amenities, then head up to the resorts with everyone in tow the once or twice you get permission.
Also think about driving overnight. Worse as a driver but if the kid sleeps the whole way it's magic
Edukator has a valid point re. altitude. Do your research.
Our first alpine summer trip with our youngest was to the Barcelonnette area (st. Paul sur Ubaye) come to think about it....I suggested it above as a destination without thinking about this. He would have been around 6 months old. Not his 1st trip to France. We then moved over here to France when he was 8 months old. All seems a long time ago now.
We spent one day in our quasar festering due to a storm. Late afternoon we decided to drop down the few km's to an auberge for a drink. During said drink there was a landslide meaning we couldn't get back to the campsite via. the way we came. Had to descend all the valley to Serre Poncon lake, drive 1/2 way round the lake then back over the col du vars to our campsite.....about 150km....
What about Innsbruck?
Proper small city with the associated things to do and an hours drive up to the mountains too.