Chamonix, France

Nestled in the shadows of Mont Blanc is the ski-village, extreme athletics go to, hiking stop, sophisticated travel destination, and the just fun town of Chamonix, France.

Located just over the Italian border and minutes from Switzerland, this European tourist hot-spot has it all; year round adventure, gastronomy, spas up the wazoo, shopping and general tourism activities.

First Location— one just can’t deny the alps that boarder this town, most impressively Mont Blanc.    So the skiing is great in the winter and the hiking superior in the warmer months.  There are professional guides to take you para-gliding, ice-climbing, and back-backing are everywhere.

You  can’t ignore Mont Blanc as it towers above the the region.The mountain is everywhere, just look up and up,  you’ll see ‘it’ there… 15,781 ft of rock, snow, ice and dreams of things to come. But if your days of mountaineering and extreme sports are behind you, the gondolas, stairs, and an elevator will get you to the top where you’ll feel like Sir Edmund Hillary on Everest.

There’s also a glacier, the Mer de Glass (sea of glass) that will leave you feeling like an explorer – that’s after you take the little red train to an ice cave.

And then there is the food- get ready to gain some weight.  Local fare is called savoyarde raclette- which is fondu on steroids.  The melted cheese mixture is garlic, local strong cheeses, and wine.  Everything gets dipped into it- potatoes, cured meats, vegetables, and bread.  The portions are huge and the flavour bigger.

Luxury spas abound because after days of activity you’ll need it.

Not a skier or outdoorswoman- then there is the town itself. The town sports high-end boutiques and a casino.  You may not win, but you’ll feel as though you’re living in a James Bond movie while you gamble.