Chamonix: Mont Blanc Home Base

Chamonix is the valley that sits at the foot of Mont Blanc and a classic mountain village. It is my first taste of the European Alps and although I would rank it a 10 (out of 10) in the touristy scale, I am drawn to it nevertheless and have zero things to complain about it.

I say it has something to do with the views of the tallest mountain in Europe trailing you everywhere you go in town. The icy chunk that is Glacier des Bossons, spilling down from Mont Blanc, glistening, is very much visible from the valley, even in the heat of the summer. The River L'Arve gushes swiftly on by. Turn a corner and you might be greeted by the smell of fresh bread baking. Or the sound of church bells announcing the time of day. Or the sight of paragliders sailing down gracefully from a mountaintop.

There is a distinct mountain vibe to Chamonix and there isn't a shortage of things to do, not that you need any more after hiking around the Mont Blanc area. Plenty of dining options are available, and this being France, let's hope it is true that you can't go wrong.

Love is probably too touchy-feely of a word for how I feel about Chamonix. But let's put it this way. We felt so at home here that we traded one evening in the Swiss Alps for just one more night in Chamonix.

Maybe home is a better four-letter word anyway.

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