For a safe COVID-19 summer vacation, we decided to travel somewhere outdoors where the children would be entertained for two weeks. We ended up driving 18 hours to the Valley of Ubaye in the southeastern French Alps. We were reluctant about the distance at first, but our close friends travel there every summer, so we decided to give it a try. As we arrived to a charming apartment in a the St Vincent Les Forts paragliding school with breathtaking views of Lac de Serre Ponçon, we realized it was well worth the drive.
On a daily routine, we would get up early, meet our friends and take advantage of the cool weather to explore the sights. We would prepare sandwiches with fresh baguette and local products, such as lavender honey, wine and cheese.
Some of the highlights of our trip were:
- Roy’s mountain biking trip to the peak of Col de la Bonette, with his friend Friso.
- Taking the kids to a canopy play area for children, that was nearby.
- Emma’s brave paragliding adventure.
- Enjoying the sandy beaches and the fresh lake water, with locals.
- Watching the locals camping and playing “petanque”.
- Taking the Ski lift of Saint-Jean-Montclar, which was a little scary but the breathtaking views and the sounds of the crickets and the marmots.
- Parc de Serre-Ponçon, and its bird raptors show.
- Crossing the Napoleonic Route on our way home (Napoleon’s route in 1815 when he rode to Waterloo in order to overthrow Louis XVIII).
