Winter Weekend in Chamonix
Tucked away in the French Alps lies a charming mountain town that is a must see! Whether you are interested in hitting the slopes, hiking to the glacier, or enjoying a hot beverage with friends, Chamonix is the perfect winter getaway. We rented a cabin for our friends 30th birthdays and happened to luck out with a blue bird weekend. Unfortunately, it was too early in the season to hit the slopes, so we packed our schedules with other fun activities.
Now, I’m not here to tell you about all the things you could possibly do in Chamonix, because there are plenty of blogs out there that will, but if you want to rent a cabin with friends for the weekend here is the perfect recipe:
As with most trips these days, Airbnb is going to be your best friend. There are a variety of cabin rentals that will give you those cozy fireplace vibes — just pick your poison. We lucked out with a cabin that fit 14 and had a hot tub + sauna (the best combo while running to and from the snow).
Stay in and make a brothy pot au feu to feed a whole village. You can use whatever ingredients suit your fancy, but the Frenchy of the group used: beef shanks/rumps, carrots, potatoes, onion, celery, leaks, just to name a few ingredients. Added bonus: disco themed dinner decorations.
Pick a hike — any hike! The amazing thing about hiking in Europe is that there is a high likelihood you will find a treat at the end of your destination in the form of a mom and pop restaurant or pub. Since we went out of season, the restaurant was closed but that didn’t stop us from using their artisanally built, snow covered, patio. We packed goat cheese / ham baguettes, strapped on our snow boots, and hit the trail to La Chapeau.
Explore the charming picturesque town and indulge in some of the stinkiest cheeses you’ll ever eat. Did somebody say raclette? Check out La Calèche if you want to walk straight in to Twin Peaks and gorge your stomach with never ending raclette. After you don’t think you can eat anymore, take one last scoop of raclette to forever taint your memory of cheese. Next, head to Les Caves Bar for drinks. Go back in time in this candle lit cave bar and enjoy one of their many specialty cocktails.
As you wind down your weekend, make sure to treat yourself to some hot and cold therapy. Did I mention how amazing saunas are for your health? We ran back and forth in the snow from the hot tub to sauna soaking in the beautiful Chamonix backdrops while simultaneously boosting our immune systems. This is definitely a trip for the books!
