Chamonix is known as a resort for which the summer season offers even more activities than the winter season.  The best source of year-round activities - from ski guiding to ice-climbing to white water rafting - can be found at the Les Houches main website, http://www.leshouches.com/uk/index.html, with many further options listed under the 'Contacts' link.  Here are a few personal views from friends and family:

Climbing

Winter and summer this is the place to climb.  For climbing guides try Oli Rosenberg of Action Chamonix (0033 680 20 8370).  He put us in touch with a very nice guide, Maxime Belleville ( 0033 877 69 93 02 or 0033 688 56 58 74).  If you haven’t climbed the area before then you can’t beat Cosmic Ridge (probably a Scottish Grade III), which runs from the Col de Midi up to the Aiguille de Midi and can be finished in half a day.  Fabulous views to one side over the Vallée Blanche and to the other down into Chamonix.  You top out at the cable-car station at the top of the Aiguille – probably having your picture taken by a Japanese tourist – and you can then ski down the Vallée Blanche or come back down the cable car in time for lunch.  Prices for guides are quite steep - €350 per day – but you can split this with another 1 or 2 individuals. 

Climbing wall

There is an excellent climbing wall in Les Houches, ‘Mont Blanc Escalade’ (00 33 4 50 54 76 48).  Turn right out of the apartment, bear right down the hill for 200 meters then turn left.  Go past the factory and turn right just before the barrier at the end of the road.  The walls must be at least 18 metres high and are graded from 4+ to 8c (i.e. from beginner to rock god).  They allow children as young as 3 (with a responsible (a-hem) parent) and rent rock shoes and harnesses for all shapes and sizes, including 3 year-olds.  A very refreshing change from the deadening culture of ‘health and safety’ you find in England which means climbing walls won’t allow children under 6 (if you’re lucky). There is also a bouldering wall at the sports complex in Chamonix (below). 

Swimming

The sports complex at Chamonix (the Centre Sportif de Richard Brazon, 214 Ave. de la Plage, 00 33 4 50 53 23 70) is hard to miss – it has a huge green water slide sticking up a good 20 metres above the building which you can see from just about anywhere.  There is a 25-metre pool, a paddling pool, a leisure pool complete with water jets, whirl-pool and bubble-loungers (go and you will see what I mean).  The water slide is the longest (130 metres) and fastest I have ever been on – no under-6’s allowed, but it is such an intimidating ride that many parents might choose to ride it just the once.  But do try it once.  There is also a great sauna and hammam which are part of the swimming pool complex.  NB – gentlemen are not permitted to wear Bermuda shorts.  We suggest you find suitable alternative swimming attire elsewhere – you can only buy the most ridiculous little ‘briefs’ at the swimming pool which are not flattering to the average male form.  You have been warned. The pool is usually open from 12 until 7.30 pm (2 pm to 7.30 on Saturdays and Sundays). If you fancy a bit of luxury the Albert Premier hotel in Chamonix has a spa and (small) swimming-pool.  If one of you is having a treatment in the spa (massages, facials etc.) the other can hang out in the swimming-pool, with kids, for free. 

Ice-skating

As well as the local rink in Les Houches, there is also an ice-skating rink (‘patinoire’) at the sports complex in Chamonix, open from 2 to 5 pm every day, and on Wednesday evenings from 9 to 11 pm.