Outdoor Adventures
In Provence, there’s cycling through tunnels of cypress trees looking for a shady picnic spot or taking in the sights and smells of lavender-filled Grasse. The village is famous for its purple fields and perfumeries, and you can make your own fragrance with your teens as a lovely keepsake from your holiday. For the higher octane interests, there is white water rafting and kayaking in Gorges du Verdon or horseback riding in the Camargue with a Provencal cowboy.
For mountain getaways, one of the best resorts in the Alps for families in the summer is Chamonix. Rather than shut down when the snow disappears, it comes to life and is a haven for adrenaline junkies young and old. There are treetop zip lines to whiz down, canoe rides along a gentle river, canyoning in mountain creeks, and special adventure camps for kids to head off to on their own.