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Hiking around the Sainte-Victoire
All around Aix-en-Provence you can see the mountain named Sainte-Victoire. It’s top with a huge cross on it, is an icon for every Aixoise or Aixois. I have come to love this spot so much, that it really feels like coming home when I see it. Popular as it is in the Provence, there are many walks possible, from several places to start. If you would like a few hints of kid-friendly hikes around the Sainte-Victoire, feel free to read this post. It depends on your kids condition (and mood!) how long you’re able to hike. Going to the top is quite a big hike, I consider my kids (6…
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Château La Coste, Le Puy-Sainte-Réparade
OK, you would like to admire some beautiful landscapes, see art and taste a lovely rosé? However, your kid wants to run around and move? I have the perfect go-to for you! It is the marvelous place called Château La Coste. Château La Coste is a kid-friendly wine domaine just a few kilometers from Aix-en-Provence. Château La Coste is a huge vineyard with amazing land art objects, specially made for the domaine by artists all over the world. To have a walk on the landscape, you buy a ticket at the modern reception building. From there you are free to go and walk by as much art as you (and…
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Colorado Provençal, Rustrel
OK, it is quite a ride from Aix-en-Provence towards this place (+/- 1 hour), but it is worth the effort. Rustrel, a village in the beautiful Luberon, houses Colorado Provençal. It’s a former ocre mine and creates a beautiful landscape that is just perfect for a kid-friendly hike. Formed millions of years ago, this colorful place was turned into a mine in 1871. The ocre was used as a pigment and therefore transported all over the world. The mine stopped its activity in the nineties and later became this touristic site. We had never seen a soil of ocre before, the colors that cover the landscape are picturesque. Let alone…
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Forêt des cèdres, Bonnieux
Let me take you to la Forêt des Cèdres, a beautiful kid-friendly forest in the Luberon. The Luberon is a gorgeous green mountain range near Aix-en-Provence and houses several of the most charming villages of France. After having had food truck bio crêpes for lunch and delicious ice cream as a dessert in Apt, you would say that the day couldn’t get better. The road towards the forest was already breathtaking, oooh, the views… If you have the chance, I’d recommend to take a stroll through Bonnieux as well. But, I was talking about the forest. There are 4 routes you could take, all are well marked. We took the…
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Ma Ferme, Eguilles
Have I got a secret for you to reveal…. psst… It is a place called Ma ferme in Eguilles, which is a charming village next to Aix-en-Provence. Ma ferme is a kid-friendly farm shop in the middle of the ‘campagne’. It’s not perse the intention to be kid-friendly, however there are some nice elements that make it a kid-friendly activity around Aix-en-Provence. Let’s begin with animals… The place has some cuties walking about, for instance goats, geese, pigs and lots of chickens. On a field behind the farm there are even ponies and donkeys. Besides the cattle, there is also a lot of interesting fauna to look at. Especially tempting…
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Playground Martigues
In Martigues you find Parc de Figuerolles: a huge park with all kinds of facilities. There are lots of activities possible in this kid-friendly park. For example you could visit the wide playground that houses several play objects to climb on, like a climbing pyramid. It is a well maintained community park, with good paths and even a toilet. When done with playing, you could go for a hike around the park and there is even a kid-friendly mountainbike trail. Apparently there is a beautiful beach with seashells right next to it. In the park itself you could have a bite at one of the many picknick tables. There is…
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Playground Vitrolles
Between Aix-en-Provence and the airport Marignane lies Vitrolles. The village is especially known for its yellow and blue Swedish shop. Who knew that it would offer a great playground too (and I don’t mean Småland)? Thanks to a good hint we visited Parc du Griffon and I am happy to share this huge playground with natural elements. What an amazing kid-friendly park! My kids were sold when they encountered the huge wooden griffin that embraces two large slides. These were by far the largest we experienced in a free public playground. It was touching to see a big smile on literally every kid’s face that came down, again and again…
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Lourmarin
If you would like to visit a charming Luberon village, it can’t get more charming than Lourmarin. It is very touristy and can get very crowded in summertime, but it is all very stylish and worth the visit. Lourmarin is also a very nice place to visit with children. Here I tell you all about the spot to visit in Lourmarin with kids, all in walking distance and with fun variety that makes it both interesting for you as well as your kid. Fun playground with a view On the Boulevard du Rayol, you can satisfy your kids for sure with this nice playground, right in the middle of Lourmarin.…
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Micasa, Aix
This cute kid-friendly cereal bar is a true paradise for children! Micasa is a restaurant in the centre of Aix-en-Provence that has everything you need to put a smile on your child’s face. The bar is styled in a surfy way, with seagrass lamps and placemats. However, your attention will be immediately drawn to the colorful cereal packages at the counter. The beautiful designs have a retro way, it brings back childhood memories I can tell you. Oh so great for kids! Micasa is my number one recommendation to take your kid out for breakfast, brunch, lunch or even a goûter in Aix-en-Provence. The very kind owners have an immense…
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Indian Forest, Aix-en-Provence
Hidden under a bunch of leafs, you find some fun climbing tracks made from tree to tree. How great that you can go climbing with kids in Aix-en-Provence. Indian Forest is a low-profile place, where kids from already 3 years old can have their first encounters with climbing material and techniques. The kind instructors first provide your kid with gear and then explain some techniques at the beginning. Afterwards you are free to go with kid. My kids surprised me completely by immediately copying the right moves and having no fear on hight. There are several levels in climbing tracks and the first levels are easily accessible for parents to…
