Holidays and trips away are about having fun and doing lots of activities, but they’re also about relaxing and escaping from your busy lives for a little while.
The Portes Du Soleil is a haven for exercise lovers, with a wealth of physical activities available on the doorstep, throughout the year. However, that kind of thing isn’t for everyone. What if you wake up one morning, your legs are aching and you just want to chill out? Well, don’t worry…this part of the world also has plenty of amazing things for you to do that are far less strenuous. So let’s call this, ‘The Lazy days guide’...
Throughout the summer, you can experience the true taste of the Portes Du Soleil by visiting one of the regions many cheese shops and farms. Whether it’s Reblochon or Compte that you’re after, there are plenty of places for you to curb your craving. L’Alpage and La Fruitiere de Morzine in the centre of town is open throughout the winter and summer months, and gives you the opportunity to try a range of local specialities, all of which are made in a farm just outside of town. The shop also offers you the chance to go on a tour to learn more about their production, which ends in a cheese cellar! If you’re fond of fromage, you’ll be in heaven and I’m pretty sure you’ll be dreaming about the experience for days!
On a similarly gluttonous level, it would be wrong to come to France and not try some of the regions wines. Many local restaurants and bars have extensive lists and offer wine tasting evenings. You can also travel a little further afield to the shores of Lake Geneva, where there are no shortage of vineyards. If these cheese wasn’t enough to tickle your taste buds the famous Haute-Savoie wine certainly will.
Morzine and Avoriaz are surrounded by little towns and villages which are also well worth a visit, whether you’re looking for somewhere to lunch or just a change of scenery. Les Lindarets, or the goat village, as it’s known in summer, is a great trip out for people wanting a day off the exercise. In summer, the streets are full of goats from local farms and it’s quite an experience. You can buy some local produce as well while you’re there, especially if you’ve not had your fix of cheese just yet.
Another place worth visiting, especially in the summer, is the hidden hamlet of Seytroux. Up in the hills of Morzine, it’s a favourite amongst expats with a real community feel. In the warm weather locals create a little lake by building a dam in the heights above the town, and people visit from far and wide to splash in the water and eat ice cream from the local café. If you can summon the energy for a round of golf, there’s also a mini course there for the whole family to enjoy.
If you like to do a bit of shopping from time to time, all across the region, there are plenty of markets selling fresh local produce. In Morzine on a Wednesday, the main car park near the Palais de sport is taken over by local traders selling all sorts of Savoyard specialities from saucisson to chocolate, cheese to patisserie. You’ll also find clothes, nic nacs and souvenirs to take back after your trip. It’s a great way to learn a little more about the traditions of the region whilst also getting your shopping fix.
Now, if all this shopping and eating is proving tiring, don’t worry, I’ve found just the thing for you. Why not rest your weary muscles at one of the regions many spas. Many of them are located in hotels and chalets but if you book, you’ll always find somewhere ready to help you relax. Whether you’re after a full body massage, a beauty treatment or just fancy sitting in a jacuzzi with a glass of fizz, Avoriaz and the surrounding areas won’t fail to provide. This will certainly help you to wind down if you’ve found the exercising a little too strenuous.
So, if you’re planning to visit the Portes Du Soleil and are a little worried that you’ll have to do loads of exercise everyday and will go home feeling more tired than you were, don’t be! This amazing place has more than enough going on to keep you occupied and help you to recharge those batteries.
