Ski Outdoor activities for families activities

GREOLIERE-LES-NEIGES
Office de tourisme, 21 Grande Rue
Tel +33 (0)4 93 59 97 94
Fax +33 (0)4 93 59 98 66  

Description
Situated on the Mercantour national park's doorstep, at an altitude of 1400m, (up to 1800 m on the slopes), Gréolières-les-Neiges created in 1963 is situated in the countryside behind Grasse, and is the nearest ski resort to the coast (20 km as the crow flies) and 45 minutes by car from Grasse.

It is an ideal station for locals as well as tourists, very practical by its proximity for a quick visit and very well adapted for beginners.
Gréolières, a few minutes from Gréolières-les-Neiges is a medieval village with its two castles still visible and its narrow streets bordered with houses are very typical of the Provencal mountain regions.
In Gréolières-les-Neiges, one can also find small shops, including ski equipment rental, restaurants and snack bars and a B & B (not very well adapted to families with young children as there are no family rooms or interconnecting bedrooms). For accommodation you may also look in adjacent villages or in the Grasse area.

Advantages for families :
- A small family resort.
- Cheaper ski lift/chair fees than in the larger resorts of the region.
- Sledging slope.
- Skiing club for 3 to 6 year olds.
- The nearest coastal resort, at 45 minutes only from Grasse.

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LA COLMIANE
Office de tourisme, La Roche
Tel +33 (0)4 93 23 25 90
Fax +33 (0)4 93 23 25 91  

Description
Situated 1h15 from Nice, La Colmiane is one of the closest resorts to the coast, which is ideal for locals as well as for tourists, and especially for beginners.

On the Mercantour national park's doorstep, at an altitude of 1450 metres (up to 1800 metres for the skiing slopes), La Colmiane resort is part of a small number of villages forming the district of Valdeblore. The other neighbouring villages are La Bolline at 1000m, La Roche at 1100m and St Dalmas at 1300m.

It is also situated a mere 10 kms from Saint-Martin Vésubie (http://http://www.saintmartinvesubie.fr) , the Alpha time of the wolf village, a 20 hectares park in splendid scenery, in the heart of the forest, dedicated to the history of wolves and where, if you are lucky, you can see some close up in a safe environment.

You can find a few shops and ski equipment rental, bars and restaurants, and accommodation at La Colmiane.

Created in 1960, the resort has undertaken various improvements over the past few years to improve the ski domain, notably the installation of a conveyor belt in the beginner's area.

Advantages for families:
- A small family resort.
- Cheaper ski chair/lift tickets than in the area's large resorts.
- Safe sledging area.
- Kid's ski club for 3 to 7 years old.
- One of the coast's closest resorts.

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ISOLA 2000
Office de tourisme, Immeuble Le Pelevos
Tel +33 (0)4 93 23 15 15
Fax +33 (0)4 93 23 14 25  

Description
Isola 2000 is one of the biggest skiing resorts in the Alpes Maritimes and thanks to its altitude of 2000m it is the station with the highest snowfall.

1h30 drive from Nice, it is an ideal station for tourists as well as local residents.

The station is of 70s design and its centre is concentrated around the French Skiing School (ESF), and an underground shop and restaurant complex.

There are mainly large residences of flats but also neighbourhoods with chalets situated a few hundred meters from the centre.

The advantages for families:
- The biggest skiing domain in the Alpes Maritimes
- A multitude of restaurants a the bottom of the skiing slopes, which is fantastic for those who do not ski and wish to keep an eye on the others from a sunbathed terrace, or for a skiers' well deserved break.
- As of week 52 in 2007 there will be a new kids area at the bottom of the skiing slope with a sledging area, a beginners skiing zone and 2 conveyor belts.
- A hotel with children's club at the bottom of the skiing slopes.
- A nursery and kids club

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ESCAPADE - LES GUIDES DU MERCANTOUR
Place du marché
Tel +33 (0)4 93 03 31 32

VALBERG
Office de Tourime, Centre Administratif
Tel +33 (0)4.93.23.24.25  

Description
On the doorstep of the Mercantour National park, at an altitude of 1700 m, the Valberg resort is ideal for families. It is the third biggest ski resort in the Alpes Maritimes and the one which offers the most for children.

1h25 drive from Nice, it is an ideal station for tourists as well as local residents.

There is a traditional mountain lifestyle with mainly chalets, small residences of flats of a typical appearance and also small hotels.

The advantages for families :

Valberg is the 1st resort in the South Alps to have obtained the Family Plus label.

The resort is thus pleased to stand up to the chart's exigencies which consist of 6 points:

1- Individualised welcome for families.
2- Entertainment suited to every age.
3- From the youngest to the oldest: special rates for everybody.
4- Activities for the youngest and the oldest, separately or together.
5- A close-by medical service for small injuries.
6- Children well-looked after by professionals.

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AURON
Office de tourisme, La Grange Cossa Av. de Malhira
Tel +33 (0)4 93 23 02 66
Fax +33 (0)4 93 23 07 39  

Description
On the doorstep of the Mercantour National park, at an altitude of 1600 m, the Auron resort was created in 1937 and offers refined comfort to its visitors whilst also preserving a traditional lifestyle.

1h30 drive from Nice, it is an ideal station for tourists as well as local residents.

The station's centre is concentrated around a main square where there are restaurants and bars, hotels and shops and an ice rink and a church. Auron village is not within easy walking distance to slopes but you may take a 2 minute cable car ride from the centre, a bus or a short 5 minute drive to park in one of the free car parks on the slopes.

If visiting with young children, we would advice hiring your ski equipment from one of the hire shops on the slopes to save having to carry it on a cable car or in your car. You can also leave it in the shop at the end of each skiing excursion if you are staying for more than a day which saves having to go through the whole hire process every day.

The advantages for families:
- A large choice of accommodation consisting mainly of hotels or flats.
- Activities centred around the main square, agreeable during daytime as in the evenings.
- A hotel and a tourism residence with an indoor swimming pool.
- Sleigh rides
- Pony rides and skijoring
- Day-care for children from 6 months old
- Ski tandem for people with reduced mobility.
- Entertainment organised for children during school holidays

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