Easter Getaway In The Alps

The Alps at Easter time are usually a haven for snow and sunshine. The thermals and googles are off, t-shirts and sunnies are on. It’s all about getting your face in the sun while having a beer on the piste. Sounds good, right? Well, that is what it’s usually like. It wasn’t quite the scene which greeted us when we arrived on Easter Saturday. Encouraged to go skiing by my husband – who can’t go at the moment – I was assured that, despite the menacing clouds stuck to the foot of the mountains, it would in fact be a beautiful day at the top. 

So off we went, slightly skeptical and against my better judgement, but my husband IS known as the weather cock so I took his word for it and off we trudged. The cable car went higher and higher. The cloud got thicker and thicker. We got off, the wind biting at our jackets, barely able to see more than a few metres in front of us. Cold wet lumps of snow slapping us across our faces. There was no sign of the sun. My husband had got it wrong (and don’t worry I let him know it). Still, although we could only go at a snails pace in the thick cloud –  at least the snow beneath our skis was good. We did as much as we could stand, managing a few runs, before calling it a day with a vin chaud. 

Then it was Easter! The sun emerged a little from the cloud but there was still a mountain chill. Mrs T had a go at making an Easter bonnet with her cousin before going on an amazing egg hunt put on by friends.

She got enough chocolate to last us all for a month and had fun hanging out with her young mates. The weather was still a bit hit and miss and my husband and I were cursing the cold as we sped around Morzine village trying to get into the warmth of a restaurant as soon as possible. 

Then there was sun. Monday brought a completely new climate to our doorstep. That’s the beauty of the Alps. Four seasons in a matter of days. Glimpsing the sun, I put on my joggers and went for a run in the mountains. Rays of sunshine finally beating on my pale skin. A welcome change from the recent weather experienced in Chicago and the UK.

  Later, we met up with some friends, who live in the area, for lunch. We drove to a restaurant in Sciez near Thonon-Les-Bains by Lake Geneva. Called Les Pecheurs (the fishermen), it served the local perch and fera from the lake accompanied by an abundant supply of pommes frites. And no, we didn’t manage to eat all of these. 

The restaurant has an amazing view of Lake Geneva – check it out.

The weather just got better over the next couple of days of our trip. The sunglasses were firmly on.

On our last full day in the Portes de Soleil, the extended family took to the slopes, some skiing, some just soaking up the sun. There was a party atmosphere on piste as ski instructors and visitors alike celebrated the impending end of the ski season.

Mrs T got involved in one of the toddler friendly activities you can do when too young to ski…sledging!! Daddy helped out and it went down a storm. Lots of smiles.

Meanwhile, I skied a few runs, enjoying the surprisingly good snow for this late in the season. Then got my face in that much needed sun.

Before we knew it, the holiday was over and we were on the way home, a little sad at leaving behind such beautiful sunshine. Fortunately, we managed to get home despite the French air strike threatening to delay or cancel our flight and I felt much better flying home than I did when we flew out.

Easter skiing in the Alps. It can be a mixed bag of weather especially if Easter is early but you can usually expect some sun. For children, it is a far more pleasant temperature than going at Christmas or February half term. You can get out and about more too, perhaps explore other areas, and there’s a bigger variety of activities to do because the weather is that bit warmer. Plus, it isn’t too busy either. It gets my vote. I’ll just remember that next time my husband is adamant I head up into the misty mountains, I’ll go with my instinct.

You may also enjoy reading these posts.

6 Things To Do With Young Kids At A Ski Resort
Alps Skiing Panic: Where’s All The Snow?
Can You Ski With A Young Child in Tow?
11 Tips For Booking Holidays
What To Pack For A Summer Holiday

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