Days out beyond the slopes

Close to home

• Parc de Merlet — 10–15 min. A wildlife park at 1,500 m where ibex, chamois and deer roam freely, facing Mont Blanc. One of our favourite family outings.
• Lac des Chavants — 5 min. A small lake with picnic areas and a gentle walking loop. A lovely easy outing with younger children.
• Parc d'Aventure de Coupeau — 10 min. Tree-top adventure courses here in Les Houches; good for active children and teenagers. Check current age and height requirements before booking.
• Gorges de la Diosaz — 10–15 min. A dramatic gorge near Servoz with waterfalls, pools and suspended walkways. A good alternative to a full mountain hike; allow 1–2 hours.

The big Chamonix sights

Chamonix is 15–20 minutes by car, or easier still by train when parking is busy.

• Aiguille du Midi — the cable car from the centre of Chamonix to 3,842 m, for extraordinary views of Mont Blanc and the surrounding Alps. Don't miss the Step into the Void glass box. In summer, conditions permitting, you can carry on across the glaciers towards Italy on the Panoramic Mont-Blanc. Allow 2–3 hours, check the weather, and book ahead in high season.
• Montenvers & the Mer de Glace — the famous red cog railway climbs to 1,913 m in about 20 minutes, with a gondola down towards the glacier and the ice cave carved into it. Allow 3–4 hours. Note: there are several hundred steps down to the cave, so it isn't suitable for pushchairs or anyone with limited mobility.
• Luge d'été at Les Planards — summer toboggan on rails. Great fun for children and adults, and easy to combine with an afternoon in town.
• Musée Alpin — small but beautifully presented, covering the history of Chamonix, mountaineering and the valley's tourism. Great for a rainy afternoon.
• Chamonix Saturday market — every Saturday morning, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Local and regional produce, cheeses, charcuterie and artisan stalls.
• Centre Sportif Richard Bozon — indoor pool, sauna, hammam, climbing wall and ice rink, with an outdoor pool in summer that's a real treat. There's a discount with your guest card.

Lakes and beach days

• Lac de Passy — 20–30 min. The valley's biggest lake and a proper beach day: sandy shore, shallow paddling, swimming, pedalos, paddleboards, an inflatable water park, mini-golf and a path right round. A full day out, with Mont Blanc as the backdrop.
• Paradis des Praz — 15 min. A lovely spot in the woods with a shallow glacial stream for paddling, a big playground, pony rides, a small lake and a relaxed café. Particularly good for roughly two- to seven-year-olds, and the flat path in from the golf course car park is buggy-friendly.
• Biotope de Combloux — 45–50 min. A beautiful natural swimming pool, naturally filtered, with grassy areas and incredible views of Mont Blanc. A lovely half or full day in hot weather.
• Les Bains du Mont Blanc, Le Fayet — 20–25 min. Thermal spa with indoor and outdoor pools. Perfect for a rainy day, or when your legs need a rest after hiking.

Adventure and climbing

• Paragliding — 15–20 min. Tandem flights above the valley, no previous experience needed. Weather-dependent, so leave some flexibility in your plans.
• Rafting and canyoning — 15–20 min. The Arve and the surrounding mountain rivers, with options for beginners as well as more adventurous trips. A great choice on a hot day; several companies operate in and around Chamonix.
• Mont-Blanc Escalade — 5–10 min. Indoor climbing here in Les Houches with equipment rental, lessons and children's courses. The most convenient climbing from the apartment, and a great rainy-day option.
• Le Topo Mont-Blanc — 15–20 min. Modern indoor climbing and bouldering in Saint-Gervais, with a children's area and courses.
• Les Gaillands — 15–20 min. One of Chamonix's best-known outdoor crags, beside a pretty lake. Worth visiting even if you're not climbing, just to watch.

Further afield

• Saint-Gervais — 15–20 min. A traditional Alpine village with cafés, restaurants, shops and a relaxed atmosphere.
• Les Contamines-Montjoie — 30–35 min. A pretty village at the end of its valley, and a good alternative to busy Chamonix. The Pontet leisure area has a lake, swimming, mini-golf, tennis and family activities, with walks starting from there.
• Megève — 45–50 min. Stylish, with a lovely pedestrian centre, traditional chalets, boutiques and excellent restaurants. Good for a relaxed day of wandering and lunch.
• La Source, Le Grand-Bornand — 45–50 min. A brilliant destination for younger children: 40-plus play and discovery areas, an Alpine farm, climbing and balancing games and a little educational garden.
• Annecy — 1 hour. Beautiful old town, canals, lake and excellent restaurants. Take a picnic, or swim in the lake in summer. Easy to spend a full day.
• Courmayeur, Italy — 45 min. Through the Mont Blanc tunnel for lunch in Italy, cafés, shops and spectacular scenery. A very easy way to have a completely different day.
• Aosta, Italy — 1–1¼ hours. Roman ruins, Italian food and a wholly different atmosphere.

When it rains

It does rain in the mountains. Beyond the pool and sauna downstairs in the residence, these are the ones we'd pick:

• Centre Sportif Richard Bozon, Chamonix — heated indoor pool with views, sauna, hammam, climbing wall and ice rink. Discount with your guest card.
• MB Escalade, Les Houches — large indoor climbing wall with gear rental on site.
• Musée Alpin, Chamonix — small but beautifully done.
• Musée Montagnard, Les Houches — local heritage museum in an 18th-century farmhouse.
• Les Bains du Mont Blanc, Le Fayet — thermal pools, indoor and out.
• A day trip to Annecy or Aosta — an hour each way, and often a completely different sky.