This article has been written by family
first who are experts in this region
The French Riviera is a place that many people dream of visiting
and it is the perfect destination for a family holiday with
babies and children. The French have previously been a little
behind some Northern European countries when it comes to services
for little ones but they are quickly catching up! Baby changing
facilities, high chairs, lifts, pedestrian areas to give just
a few examples are much easier to find now than they were a
few years ago.
If you have children under school age make the most of organising
a trip outside of the UK and French school holidays. Spring
and Early summer (up to the end of June), then early autumn
(September to mid-October) are ideal times to visit as not only
will you avoid the crowds but you can also enjoy very pleasant
summer temperatures and give the real heat wave a miss.
If you like many others come to soak up the sun you’ll be pleasantly
surprised by the increasing number of private beaches that now
cater specially for young families. Menton, Monaco, Nice, Juan-les-pins
& Cannes all boast beach areas with small play grounds ideal
for the under five’s, small swimming pools, babysitters and
kids clubs. La Dolce Vita in Menton even has a kid’s bathroom
with a child size toilet and shower and an indoor play and rest
room open during the summer months.
Private beaches are also a great idea for eating out, weather
permitting, with a more informal ambiance than normal restaurants,
even for the more chic addresses, and lots of space for children
to move about, play in the sand or throw stones in the sea,
all within eyes sight.
If you fancy a more economical solution, the public beaches
are generally very well kept, but do not forget to bring along
your own sun umbrella to protect the youngsters. We advice heading
off to Antibes and the county’s other western, coastal towns
to find sand, Monaco for a kids play area or Villeneuve Loubet,
the region’s only town that has been awarded the “Station Kid”
label. Most places do however organise some activities for children
on the sea front during the festive season.
If you prefer to give the beach a miss, plan a trip to the
one of the areas many shady parks. One of our favourites is
the Parc Phoenix, just opposite Nice airport. It is a botanic
garden/park with a pond that is home to ducks, geese, swans
and pelicans. There are musical fountains, bird enclosures and
play areas for various ages equipped with picnic tables. The
indoor dome boasts a multitude of plant species, taking you
on a trip to admire flora, butterflies, birds and reptiles from
around the world. Plus kid’s entertainment is organised during
school holidays.
For further information on travelling to this region please visit family
first
