My 4 year old niece came to stay this week and we had a fantastic time. Not having children myself, we did some activities I had never done before. Here is the top 5 countdown of our favourites
5. Lac Montriond
The lake at Montriond is 10 minutes drive from Morzine. The main lake is great for swimming and sunbathing, you can hire equipment for water sports like kayaks and paddle boards. There are 3 restaurants along the lake with and a snack bar. For young kids there is a man-made safe pool with plenty of grassed area for picnics. It can get very busy, especially in August after lunch.
4. Goat Village
Just above Lac Montriond is the village of Linderettes. The village is only accessible in the summer and was where local farmers took their goats to the high pastures. Nowadays the goats are a tourist attraction, wandering anywhere they please. There are some decent restaurants up there too so it’s worth a lunch stop. The Petit Linderettes is good as is the Cremaillere
3. Morzine Pool
The pool complex in Morzine is fabulous with 5 different pools, a tube slide and spa facilities. At just €6 euros for adults, €4 for children and free for under 5s it is good value. It is a new complex so it is clean and well maintained. There is a good snack bar, sun loungers and a grassed area with some shaded areas. Our 4 year old loved the warm outside pool with slides and the shallow bigger pool where she could leap in off the side.
2. Aquariaz
An good rainy day option, Aquariaz is in the purpose built ski resort of Avoriaz. It is 20 mins drive away or you can make an adventure of the journey by getting the A bus to the Prodains cable car. Aquariaz is €9 euros for adults, €6 for kids and under 5s went free. Of all the watery fun we had this week, this was the facility most set up for little kids. There are slides, water cannons, waterfalls and a lazy river. For older ones there is a half pipe slide which is not for the faint hearted. To beat the crowds go when it opens at 10.30 and leave at the end of french lunch time.
1. Pony ride in the Dereches
This activity got voted number one because it was great value for money, really well organised and there so much to do in the area in addition to the pony ride. The Dereches is the area around the river near the pool complex in Morzine. There is a play park, a high-ropes course which is set up for kids and adults and the pony centre in the area past the pool. We found a warm welcome at the pony centre and for just €10 euros my niece had her face painted and was dressed with a feathered Indian headdress. She was saddled up and we were given the lead rope and asked to follow a walk around the valley. We were just asked to come back in half an hour. It was so nice to be able to take it at our own pace with the perfectly safe ‘Maximus’ the pony.