Our family holidays in Auvergne (Puy de Dôme)

For our family holidays, we like to be cushy. The crowds very few for us, the crowded beaches, the traffic jams to reach them, ditto.

If we can avoid meeting as many people as in the Paris metro the rest of the year, that's fine with us. This year, we wanted the mountains, the green, the possibility of doing sporty outings easily, getting some fresh air and letting off steam! And so, this summer, our choice fell on Auvergne ! TADIN (well, it's also because I got started very late and there was no more room in the Alps)

But I can tell you that we did well. Take a look:

First of all a short stay in the Puy-de-Dôme, in Saint Saturnin, at the castle (note that there are two family suites) please. Just that.

To do:

A guided family hike (with great explanations about volcanoes)(I learned a lot of things)(uh, sorry children):“the little world of volcanoes organized by the Aydat tourist office, where you will also find a very nice nautical base.

It is also there that we did our 1st orienteering "race , just the four of us, it was great. No risk of getting lost, the children complained a lot, I can assure you, but in the end, they came out of there knowing how to read a map and use a compass! We took twice as long as expected, eh, and we missed 2 beacons, but that's okay.

Oh and we also had an introduction to Archery organized by the tourist office of Saint Saturnin in the garden of the castle... the high class. It was also a really great experience! We all loved it!!

Of course, remember to equip yourself with (hiking) shoes, we get them at Decathlon for children. Excellent quality / time they put them / price.

And then a good delirium with the family, now that the P'tit is Big:a game of Paintball (here). Well, I admit that the 11.5-year-old moderately liked being shot with paintballs – these teenagers, no humor – but otherwise, we really laughed and I totally got into the game!!

Side resto (yum)

Big crush for L'Art Délices in Aubière, a "healthy" restaurant that changes steak fries or burgers... everything is fresh, cooked on site and... it's not expensive for the quality!!

And a good pizzeria in Ceyrat:Villa Regina

Then, head north-east of Puy de Dôme, at the limit of the Allier at Saint Priest

There, I clearly unearthed a great gîte , on the grounds of the Château de Maulmont. The one we had was huge:3 bedrooms, a laundry room with washing machine and dryer, travel cot available and there is a nice changing table in one of the two bathrooms. Right off the bat, the owners leave washing powder, soaps, oils, salt, pepper available, it's quite simple, but it's nice when you arrive not to have to buy everything, just for a few days. Only "flaw" no pool. BUT, you only have to drive 15 kilometers to get to the "municipal" aquatic center of Vichy. Really cool, with a slide, jets and a circuit against the current (totally impossible to do) (AH AH AH AH). The garden is huge, there are deckchairs, a hammock... Paradise is ultra calm. A real pleasure.

And now, a little page of fullness…

From there, we did:

• of rafting (Vichy Aventure):our first time… fortunately alone on an artificial river. Two great hours of fun. I found myself once in the water all the same, but I would like to point out that the instructor gave me the gold medal of the group. Know that I am the best of this family to operate the thing!
• Tree climbing (Accro Sioule):Well, let’s be clear, if I still climb trees it’s REALLY to please the children. I'm definitely out of age for these @$ù§$. I scared myself several times… But come on, in the end, it's quite nice to say that we succeeded… In any case, the setting is perfect, the welcome and the facilities really at the top, I recommend you also the place.
• The canoe (Aqua Sioule):once on land, head for the water... cold... we chose, as "confirmed", the 10 km ride, a little more "sporty", so as not to paddle like mules because of lack of current. Results:a lot of "small" rapids, very easy but which allow to spice up the course a little. This year the P'tit grumbled all along, whereas last year it was the opposite... bad luck, he was on board with me... I can tell you that I rowed for two and that I took it upon myself not to throw him overboard.
• of karting :3rd summer that we offer them the possibility of doing a few laps in children's karts. This time we were on the Sarron circuit track.

• of the wakerbord/ski lift (Natural Wake Park):So, I've already done wakeboarding and waterskiing in Mauritius but there I didn't try (I have tendonitis in my wrist)... the boys had a blast, the Man confiding in me that it was really stunning. The pre-teen liked it moderately when she had loved and really succeeded in wakeboarding in December… In any case, here too, a great welcome, great facilities, I didn't know at all about this possibility of water-skiing without a boat :it's like on a butt lift but on the water.

On video!

So much for our little advice, our ideas and good addresses validated this summer in Auvergne (Puy-de-Dôme). Feel free to complete!!