Nice witha 5 year old

Hi,

We will be in Nice mid June through mid July with our son (5 years old). We are staying at an apartment near the old port. I have so many questions:

1. best beaches for a family? we don%26#39;t mind pebbles; any of them walking distance?

2. I must stay in the shade - does that mean we have to go to a private beach every day?

3. any beaches outside Nice we can drive to, nice and shady?

4. kids activities in Nice

5. fun day trips from Nice

6. nice restaurants, not too expensive ones

7. best weekend trips from Nice

Thanks a lot!!!

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can you explain more about the shade requirement?

Do you need to be in full shade at all times?

what time of day do you want to be at the beach?

what about late afternoon /early evening beach trips which may not have shade but have dramatically reduced sun intensity?

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Late afternoon/early evenings is always an option - please advise which beacheds you like, thanks!

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The beaches in Nice are all pebbles and probably walkable from where you are staying but its hard to say without the street.

I wouldn%26#39;t allow a 5 year old to swim at Nice though as it slopes very quickly down and they can be a current. Its fins for sunbathing playing with stones and having picnics.

Paloma beach on Cap ferrat is shady due to its location and the surrounding cliffs -this is a private beach has a restaurant etc

La Gravette public beach in Antibes gets very shady from the right hand side rampart once the sun is no longer directly overhead - the shade sweeps round like a sun dial

Its a really good beach for kids - safe , sandy, nice for snorkelling easy to get to from the train station , handy for Old antibes etc car park.

Kids activities:

parc Phoenix - botanic gardens with loads of animals , birds fish and creepy crawlies - also usually extra activities for under 12s in school holidays. 2 euros per adult and kids under 12 are free

Marineland

http://www.marineland.fr/

Aquasplash http://aquasplash.fr/

La petite ferne du far west- wild west farm for young kids which now has a lifesize playmobil people area

http://lafermedufarwest.fr/

are by Biot station

Not the cheapest activities

But you can get combined tickets

there is shade at the whales , dolphins etc , shark tunnel and some indoor things

Also colline de chateau [play area] and the olive grove at cimiez are popular for picnics wth young kids

There are also loads of play areas all over Nice and a traditional carousel - also carousels in other places

Parc alpha wolf park at Le Boreon - highly recommended - but go early as the wolves are fed then so you will have the bets chance to see them from the hides.

http://www.alpha-loup.com/alpha_new.php

There is a restaurant beside the wolf parc entrance called d O A La Bouche where you can fish for a local trout in their pond and have it cooked for you.

natural history museum

http://www.mhnnice.org/

zoo at cap ferrat

http://www.zoocapferrat.com/

Monaco

oceanographic musum

http://www.oceano.mc

Also a day trip to ste Marguerite island to see the cell of the man in the iron mask and also maybe his tower at le suquet in old Cannes.

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These are great tips! I really appreciate!!!!