I wouldn’t have said I was keen to go to Chamonix on holiday. Reluctant and worried would have been a better fit. But my parents and brother have been to Chamonix a lot and love it so much that they return time and time again. They were convinced that we would love it to but I really wasn’t so sure.
After a brilliant couple of days in Whistler, BC, last year exploring the mountains, they were convinced my boys would love Chamonix. We were looking for somewhere we could all go and have a great holiday together. Me, my partner and our two gorgeous boys, my brother and my parents. I just wasn’t convinced there would be enough for us to do for a two week holiday. I worried about how my eldest would be having to do long walks everyday and whether my youngest would actually walk at all or insist on being carried, like he does on most day trips since he refused the pram. I have an annoying habit of overthinking everything, thinking through what could happen or go wrong, or what I’d need to deal with. In the end I exhausted myself of trying to think up reasons why not, when everyone else was so keen, and a little voice started to say, you know what this could be a real adventure. So I said yes. Booked the flights, booked the coach transfers and actually started to get excited about it.
And you know what my parents and my brother were damn right. It was an amazing place for an active family holiday and my boys loved it. I surprised myself by really embracing the hikes, being outside and remembering that actually, before kids, I loved hiking, and finding gorgeous views, being outside and being on the move. I loved it so much that the morning we left I got up extra early to enjoy my last cuppa with the mountains, and then quietly shed a tear as we waited for the train to arrive to whisk us away. The holiday was full of so many special moments.
The early mornings where I sat in complete silence drinking my first cup of tea of the day.
Gazing at the mountains, watching the light change as the sun started to peak through the mountains.
My four year old softly padding through the living room to come for a cuddle on the balcony before inevitably beating me at Uno.
The early morning walks to get the bread, past the traditional Alpine chalets with my youngest scooting alongside me.
The stunning hikes where both kids walked without any complaints loving the natural playground of rocks, streams and roots.
Hiking down mountains.
Along mountain balconies.
Stopping every few seconds to exclaim “I can’t believe how beautiful this is” before whisking my phone out to take yet another photo because I just couldn’t get over the magnificence of snow topped mountains, little mountain lakes, the glaciers.
Being inside an actual glacier.
Riding trains up mountains.
Playing in snow at the foot of Mont Blanc.
Eating huge ice creams.
Riding gondolas and cable cars (absolutely not a highlight for me, I hated them, but the kids loved it!)
Hiking on my own (to avoid said gondolas, cable cars and chair lifts.) I never thought I would actively go for a hike on my own but it was amazing. I felt safe, went at my own fast pace and stopped when I fancied to whip my phone out for yet more photos. None of which do the scenery any justice.
Swimming in an outdoor pool overlooking the mountains.
Playing intense games of Uno on the balcony as the sun set.
Eating warm baguettes slathered in butter and jam.
Picnics perched on rocks.
Dangling sore feet in glacial water streams. Not for very long mind, my gosh was it cold and made your feet numb after approximately three seconds.
So many little moments that made for one epic adventure.
Get us outside 