DAY TRIPS
What a luxury to have the day ahead of you. Why not take your time to explore on of the many beautiful spots that Aix-en-Provence and its surroundings offer? On this page I suggest some of the most fun and pretty day trips with kids around Aix-en-Provence. If you are willing to hop into your car, it will drive you to many breathtaking places. Although I live here for quite some time, I keep exploring new amazing sites. Well, okay, lockdowns prevented some sightseeing too, but that just makes me want to go out as much as I can. Helpful for my website, sometimes annoying for my kids. There are beautiful sites like lavender fields, former ocre mines or wine domaines to discover. And what about area's like the calanques or charming villages in the nearby Luberon? If you are up for day trips with kids around Aix-en-Provence, check some of the kid-friendly activities tested by my kids.
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Aix-en-Provence centre
Well, I am no star in just randomly visiting a city. Lucky you! While living in Aix-en-Provence, I am able to share with you some nice activities with kids in Aix-en-Provence. Finding some kid-friendly spots in town can make your visit even more pleasant. It is good to know that Aix has quite a compact city centre, which makes it do-able to explore the city by foot (and stroller). Wandering through town On the website of the Tourism Office you find a sweet brochure for kids from 4, 5 years old that guides you on a petit treasure hunt through town. With the nickname ‘city of fountains’, you can expect…
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Marseille with kids
As you might have guessed reading my blog, my family and I live in Aix-en-Provence. It’s a calm, elegant and quite wealthy mid-sized French town. Such a difference from the booming metropole big sister Marseille. To truly experience the Provence, I can only advise you to go and pay this vibrant and trendy city a visit. Here are some tips for a visit of Marseille with kids. Mucem and Grotte Cosquer One of the better parkings in Marseille is the Indigo parking at Le Vieux-Port/ Mucem. There are many spots and coming up you have just the most amazing view. Upstairs you find two interesting venues for your family. The…
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La Route du Mimosa
Ooooh, the Mimosa…. It’s not only the name of a very delicious cocktail, but also a type of tree that grows mainly in the Provence and the Côte d’Azur. The special thing about this tree is, that in Winter it gives the most beautiful and cheerful yellow flowers that seem to dance in the wind. And that wonderful smell… Ever since I lived in the Provence, I am a fan! In the months January till March you can get the flowers at any local flower shop or at, for instance, the ‘Marché aux Fleurs’ in Aix-en-Provence. Still, the most impressive are the mimosas in their natural surroundings. That is why…
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Cassis
To visit this wonderful beach village in the Provence famous for its calanques, is always a good idea. I hope to let you dream away with this article and make you enthusiastic to visit Cassis with kids. The drive towards Cassis is already enchanting. Windy roads take you along vineyards and give you a glimpse of the Mediterranean Sea. The best thing is to come early so you will find a spot in one the paid parkings. Our favorite (but of course not cheap) one is Mimosa. In the months February and March there is a beautiful Mimosa tree flowering here and besides it’s well located for a visit of…
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10 refreshing spots for kids
Wow, that heat! I am writing this blog while the temperature is rising towards the 40 degrees. With summer holidays coming up you will have your kids at home and bouncing off the walls in this heat. Or you are happily celebrating your holidays in the Provence. You will probably be searching for some refreshing spots to cool down kids. Here I have some kid-friendly cool spots for you, all written in a hurry now, but hopefully this is a very usefull list! Parc Gilbert Vilers, Aix-en-Provence During summer this parc is perfect for the little ones. There is a big water play area where the kids can run around…
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La Camargue
In the South-west of the Provence you find the beautiful natural park called La Camargue. It is a flat and raw landscape, you really experience being in the wilderness. Would you like to visit the Camargue with kids? You are more than right. In this blog I will give you some kid-friendly recommendations, like visiting flamingos, making a boat trip or going to a large beach. If you are lucky, you will spot some beautiful wild Camargue horses. Parc Ornithologique Pont de Gau Ever since the fifties, the Camargue holds this beautiful little park where you can admire birds. All types of pretty birds have found their home here. The…
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Gorges du Verdon
The Provence keeps surprising me. The area is so rich of culture, food, wine and nature. Take the gorgeous Gorges du Verdon. Last year we were lucky to explore this region with a group of friends as we all got together on a camping site in Gréoux-les-Bains. The scenery of canyons that were carved by the Verdon is absolutely amazing and a must see when you are around. Let me give you some tips to explore the Gorges du Verdon with kids. Lac de Sainte-Croix There are several lakes and gorges to admire, but Lac de Sainte-Croix is by far the biggest one. It is as if you’re looking at…
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Carry-le-Rouet
When in Aix-en-Provence during summertime, you will probably want to cool down too. There is no better place to do so then the beach. This article is about a nice beach on the Côte Bleue, a beach near Aix-en-Provence. The place is called Carry-le-Rouet, a very pleasant beach village to visit all year long. Carry-le-Rouet has several areas, in my humble opinion the area of Plage du Rouet is the most interesting to visit with (smaller) children. Beach You can park right next to the beach, behind the sailing club. The sandy beach is not very large, though it has a beautiful view on the gorgeous azure sea. Along the…
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Planetarium Peiresc
Next to the nice Parc Saint Mitre you can find the Planetarium of Aix-en-Provence. Planetarium Peiresc is not an observatory, but more a pedagogic place where kids can learn all about stars, planets and satellites. Due to our experience, I would really recommend you to visit this kid-friendly planetarium. On Wednesdays and Saturdays as well as during kids holidays, the planetarium organizes workshops adapted to kids. There are even workshops created for different age groups. We visited a special about ‘robots in space’, where we were explained not only about satellites, but we also got an explanation about the stars around us from the perspective of Aix-en-Provence. The very enthusiastic…
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LUMA, Arles
Already at the first glimpse of this building, my kids were attracted. This magnificent architectural shiny tower has only been open since a few months. Inspired by the art of Van Gogh during his stay in and around Arles, the American architect Frank Gehry made a new icon for Arles. A beautiful modern contrast with the Roman history of the city. It is also a great museum for kids because… this is a museum with a slide. LUMA has an object that disguises as art, but is in fact a super fast slide. Kids above 1m10 can experience their best time up here, and wow, the slide goes fast. Dizzy…
