Journey with us to the tallest mountain in western Europe.
Where to stay: Auberge de Bois Prin
While we preferred the town of Courmayeur on the Italian side of Mont Blanc, our favorite stay of the trip was at this sweet little mountain house of a hotel on the edge of Chamonix on the French side. It was away from the hustle and bustle of the main town, but was still walkable to all the restaurants, gondola and hiking area. My favorite part about this cozy hotel was the view. Situated up on a hill, our room's balcony (room 20) had a full vista of the town below and Mont Blanc on the horizon.
The hotel also had it's own little spa area where we enjoyed a nice sauna after a morning of hiking. We didn't book any services, but I saw massage rooms on my way to the outdoor sauna and hot tub. You can see the garden area behind the suana and hot tub, which services the hotel's delicious restaurant.
Must Do: Hiking in the Summer
We visited the region in summer, so it was the prime season for hiking. Mont Blanc has glaciers, so even in the height of summer, you can still see snow on the peaks. My favorite hike of the trip was on the Italian side to a lake called Lago Checrouit. It wasn't very large, but it was picturesque and we took both a gondola and a ski lift to the base of the hike. From there it was about 45 minutes uphill until you reached the lake.
I am not a skier, so I had never ridden a ski lift before, but it was a really fun unexpected part of the day. We saw more beautiful vistas, lots of wildflowers and even grazing Alpen cows. There is also the option to skip the ski lift and walk instead.
Where to Eat: Ristorante Chalet Plan Gorret
We really loved our meal at our Chamonix hotel mentioned above. It was a fabulous french tasting menu experience with many of the ingredients sourced from the hotel's own garden, as mentioned above. There are only 10 tables, and they book out quickly, so it is best to book ahead as they don't save spots for hotel quests.
That said, our meal in Courmayeur at Chalet Plan Gorret was also a delicious and unexpected feast. The chef is from Sardinia, so the restuarant specializes in seafood and dishes from Sardinia. It was totally unexpected in the mountains, but all the dishes we had were fresh and delicious. The chalet is also cozily decorated in the Alpen style and with many hearts, making it a romatic spot for two.
Finally... What (Jewelry) to Wear
Hearts seemed to be a common theme in the area, so this special piece fit right in to the surrounding decor.
The Petite Croissant was a statement piece that I did not have to worry about taking off between hikes and dinner, plus I love stacking it with the Diamond Heart for when I want to be a little more dressed up.
I stacked the new Starry Night Bracelet with the top selling Black Spinel Bracelet for an easy, chic bracelet combo that worked with every outfit.
This is the latest piece that I've been wearing non-stop. If you translate the message in the beads from Morse Code, they read "peace." The neutral moonstone and gold is a classic combo that also pairs well with every outfit and occasion. Plus the world could always use a little more peace!
