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YOU MAY KNOW IT SOLELY AS THE FRENCH SKI
RESORT, BUT THIS SUMMER, CHAMONIX IS SELLING
ITSELF AS A MECCA FOR KIDS. SO WHAT WOULD A
REAL 11-YEAR-OLD THINK OF IT?
M A R I E - N O E L L E B A U E R
WHIZZING AROUND THE ICE
on bits of fibreglass
is my idea of hell, so I never imagined I’d ever find
myself staring up at the famous Mont Blanc. To be
fair, though, the snow – and the skiers – had long
since departed, as I stood there in the 30°C heat of a
Chamonix summer.
I was actually at the legendary resort in order
to see a different side to it – and it was one that
certainly wouldn’t include any après-ski partying. As
the weather heats up, Chamonix is hoping to attract
a whole new crowd, selling itself as a massive kids’
playground, with a host of outdoor attractions. So I
was there with my 11-year-old son, David, to check
it out. As every parent knows, trying to keep your
offspring entertained over the summer holidays can be
a bit of a nightmare. David had already spent several
weeks in the French countryside, as well as some time
on the Irish coast, so this would be the perfect test.
Would the spectacular setting, pure mountain air and
various activities be enough to combat the vacation
fatigue that had set in? We were about to find out.
DAY 1
With its rolling green hills and alpine forests,
Chamonix is a very different place out of ski season,
but our first big attraction was something distinctly
wintery: a visit to the ice cave at the Mer de Glace
glacier. Reached after catching a train and then a
gondola, then walking down over 300 steps, it could
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CHAMONIX
CHAMONIX
David
(
right
)
on the rickshaw