My mom wanted to take my five-year-old to the Christmas markets in France, and I had the brilliant…read moreidea of joining her with my three-year-old, mostly to spare him from FOMO. The trip was ambitious, short and difficult, and I'm not sure my kids enjoyed it more than they would have, say, Solvang or Anaheim. But enjoy it they did, and I for one will forever remember our day in Colmar.
The city is small and charming, and for one month a year, the historic old-town area turns into a magical Christmas village, with six Christmas markets that more or less connect to one another in a walkable circuit. Part of this area, called La Petite Venise, is crossed by canals, all very scenic.
We went on a Saturday in December, and the entire zone was flooded with tourists. The streets were crowded and restaurants were booked; the hotel we stayed at was exorbitantly priced. The crush of people was a bit overwhelming at first, especially in the narrower streets. I got used to it, though, and found the markets easy enough to navigate. There was a helpful map of the markets, and everything was close together.
We weren't there to eat, but there was food and drink everywhere. Hot wine and hot chestnuts and various Alsatian specialties. My three-year-old found a cookie shop and shamelessly solicited and received a few samples.
The kids were more interested in the carnival rides interspersed throughout the markets. There was a very cute rotating sleigh ride with reindeer and a great little ferris wheel, where we took in some beautiful views. The boys also enjoyed a janky-looking baby train ride with a confusion of cobbled together vehicles and trademarked characters and, of course, Christmas lights. All the rides were individually ticketed, and we gladly paid for them, as we were there to entertain the children.
We shopped less than I'd anticipated, since I actually do love Christmas ornaments and other Christmas kitsch. Though the booths at the markets were enchanting as a whole, the stuff they were selling wasn't anything special. My kids got gloves that were made in China, and I got the sense that most of the merchandise available wasn't specific to the region. I did get a nice pair of Labonal socks, which are made in France, but the only other shopping we did was at a few of the brick and mortar stores. There was an artisan market, where I think there were more unique goods for sale, but it was indoors and there was a long line to get in. Not worth the trouble with two small children and a giant stroller.
The best thing about the markets was the town itself, the lovely streets and buildings all decked out for Christmas. Colmar was pretty during the day and even prettier after dark, when the lights turned on. I'm glad we got to see it, despite the ridiculous amount of hassle. My mom got to check off an item on her bucket list, and the kids had an absolute blast.
