When it comes to finding a location for a family holiday it’s important to choose a place that offers something for everyone. The south of France, and in particular the Côte d’Azur, is one of the elite few locations that can claim to boast a truly endless range of attractions, making it the perfect spot for a trip en famille.
The region is characterised by its stunning Mediterranean landscape, which is dotted with stylish and fascinating towns and cities. This type of set-up lends itself well to families as the proximity of these settlements to one another makes it easy to visit several different spots during the course of a holiday. Families looking for French holiday villas will also find several options throughout the region, and anyone interested in hiring one can find more information here.
In this guide we’ll be listing three reasons why the Côte d’Azur is such a great place for family breaks.
Great beaches
Beaches are something of a failsafe when it comes to family holidays, as they allow mums and dads to relax on the sand while the kids splash about in the sea, thereby keeping everyone happy. The Côte d’Azur contains literally hundreds of excellent sandy stretches that really stand out from the crowd by offering an extra touch of glamour.
The seafront in Cannes, for example, is flanked by the famous La Croisette promenade, where several designer shops and boutiques can be found. Coming here provides the chance to combine a luxury shopping trip with a day at the beach, so all family members will find something to keep them occupied, meaning mums won’t have to drag their little ones round the shops with them.
Also known as the French Riviera, this part of the country boasts a huge number of Blue Flag-accredited beaches, the most popular of which can be found in Nice. Bambou Plage and Beau Rivage have both received this accolade, while the town of Villeneuve-Loubet also contains a Kids’ Beach featuring a miniature golf course, table tennis tables and many more excellent facilities. Activities such as water sports and arts and crafts workshops are held here on a daily basis throughout the months of July and August, so families visiting during the summer holidays will find this a particularly great place to spend an afternoon.
Great cities
As kids tend to get bored if they spend too much time at the beach, it’s important to make sure your family holiday destination has plenty of alternatives. Fortunately, the Côte d’Azur is absolutely bursting with fascinating towns and cities that all visitors are sure to love.
Many of these offer a Petit Train Touristique, which run along the beachfront and past some of the more significant local monuments. Always popular among kids, these charming miniature trains also provide a great way for adults to learn a little more about local culture. The train in Monaco, for example, offers commentaries in 12 languages, passing landmarks such as the Place d’Armes and Port Hercule, as well as running along part of the Formula One Grand Prix Route. It then continues to the old city, where passengers can learn more about the famous Palais Princier.
As well as discovering the region’s towns by miniature train, it’s also a good idea to spend some time wandering around on foot, with a host of excellent attractions to discover. Among these is the 13th century medieval fortress in Villeneuve-Loubet and the Musee Picasso in Antibes, which houses one of the world’s best collections of works by the famous Spanish artist.
Great natural spaces
The appeal of nature is something that resonates with people of all ages, and the French Riviera certainly has no shortage of national parks that are guaranteed to take your breath away. Kids and adults alike will love exploring the many trails that run through the surrounding countryside, with Mercantour National Park sitting just north of Nice in the foothills of the Alps.
Around half of all France’s mammal species can be seen here, as well as 26 different types of bird. Boar, deer and foxes are among the animals that inhabit the reserve, while those who travel slightly further north to Ecrins national park will have the chance to spot ibex, wolves and eagles.
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