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Snow-covered trails in the Rhône-Alps that skiers schuss down in winter can be hiked and biked on when they’re green.

Ski resort personnel shed their parkas in summertime, slip into shorts or jeans, and lead the way to warm weather adventure. They can fly a skier over a favorite slope in a two-person parachute, heat up a hot air balloon, saddle a horse for a jaunt through alpine meadows, and show you how to paddle a raft in white water rapids, catch a fish, or swing a tennis racket or golf club.

Seasons change, but not the grandeur. Stunning white-mantled mountains still dominate the landscape, but villages become more colorful. Flowers bloom in fields and window boxes; animals graze in pastures. Tourists stroll comfortably among centuries-old buildings in the paths of history, getting to know residents when they pause for culinary delights.

France pioneered the development of ski resorts that come to life in the winter. But many towns and old villages in the Rhône-Alps recognized the need to be vacation spots for all seasons—to offer warmer, alternate forms of excitement or relaxation. Their foresight led to wide expansion and contributed to France’s reputation as a world leader in the percentage of citizens who own second homes.

Increasing the seasons for fun is why many cross-country ski trails in La Clusaz become walking paths and biking and hiking venues in summer. One of the oldest ski resorts in France, the village is post-card pretty. It has 2,000 residents, but 10 times as many guest beds—testament to the allure of the five-mountain massif that envelops it.

Le Grand Bornand is a nearby resort with centuries-old chalets, more than 400 of them, and a claim to gastronomic fame as the home of Reblochon cheese. It joins LaClusaz in offering a regional pass which can be purchased in local tourist offices; the debit card gives discounts on more than 50 games, sports activities and cultural attractions.

A reasonably fit person can walk at high altitude above these villages or try their hand at mountaineering. Cadres of instructors sharpen skills of climbers or introduce novices to the sport, proving that there’s a way up for every level of ability.

Both villages are in the Haute-Savoie département and a short ride from the capital city of Annecy, which is a year-round adventure in and of itself. Situated on a nine-mile-long lake, with mountains as a backdrop, the town of 52,000 lets tourists in old sections of the city step back into the Middle Ages. A popular diversion for skiers on bad weather days in winter, Annecy is a charming locale for summer vacationers interested in history, castles, museums—and shopping.

Southeast of Annecy and a short distance east of the Olympic city of Albertville is bucolic Les Saisies, which, with several participating venues of its own, was also a part of the 1992 Olympics. Summer attractions for children include a swimming pool, trampoline, electric car track, mini golf and game areas.

Two of the best-known resorts in the northern part of the Rhône-Alps are Megève and Morzine. The former is one of two French resorts, along with Chamonix, that belongs to the marketing consortium known as Best of the Alps. Megève is an upscale resort, where some people wouldn’t care to be seen in last year’s outfits. Fashion-conscious folk patronize top restaurants as well as gambling tables—another pastime that ignores the calendar.

A recommended adventure is a helicopter flight from Megève around the mountains that link to Mont Blanc, western Europe’s highest peak. Any skier who has ever made the incredible run down the Vallée Blanche and the Sea of Ice will want to sit beside the pilot and take rapid-fire photos of the exotic formations below.

Less than an hour from the Geneva airport, Morzine is the centerpiece in the Portes du Soleil, the world’s largest ski area that crosses a border (six villages in Switzerland, eight in France, interconnected with more than 200 lifts and 400 miles of prepared slopes).

The remarkable terrain that envelops Morzine and neighboring Les Gets is a summer paradise for those who want to wander in the woods. There are numerous activities families can enjoy, including trekking with a donkey or the Adventure Park, where kids can swing through the trees like Tarzan.

Summer evenings give local restaurants and hotel dining rooms the opportunity to demonstrate the region’s mastery of the kitchen. The savoir faire of guests may be challenged, however, when they’re confronted by a cheese platter that displays more than 20 varieties. Which cheese to choose? And which Savoyard wine?

Despite all the attractive options in summertime, some hard-core skiers want to see their breath in the mountains. They still wish to ski! For them, Rhône-Alps has glaciers that extend through summer. A popular one is the Sarenne, a two-mile-high, lift-served snowy playground above the high village of Alpe d’Huez, located just east of Grenoble, that calls itself “Island in the Sunshine.” It was a recent stop on a Tour de France race.

Like all resorts, Alpe d’Huez offers fitness and wellness programs, some of which are centered in the Palais des Sports, a huge facility that also contains a theater and an art gallery. From thrilling sports to breathtaking scenery to family fun and delicious cuisine, this village is further proof that Rhône-Alps guarantees exciting holiday opportunities any time of the year!

For more on Rhône-Alps, visit www.rhonealpes-tourism.us

SKI RESORTS
www.laclusaz.com
www.aravis.com
www.legrandbornand.com (in French)
www.lessaisies.com
www.megeve.com
www.morzine-avoriaz.com (in French)
www.lesgets.com
www.alpedhuez.com

Ski France International
www.france-4-ski.com
A map on this site pinpoints resorts mentioned here—as well as
more than 70 others.

The mountains of the Rhône-Alps are also home to many small but excellent museums.

Musée Alpin, Chamonix
89, av. Michel Croz
tel. 04 50 53 25 93

Musée Château, Annecy
tel: 03 21 10 02 22

Le Musée du Haut Val d'Arly, Megève Area
(rural heritage museum)
tel. 04 50 91 81 00

Musée de la musique méchanique, Les Gets
(mechanical music museum)
tel: 04.50.79.85.75
http://lemuseedesgets.free.fr (in French)

Did you know?
Rhône-Alps hosted three Winter Olympics, the first ever in Chamonix (1924), then in Grenoble (1968) and in Albertville (1992).
Gateway airports are Lyon in France and Geneva in Switzerland