Easter 2026 inc. Morzine Annecy, Lag di Lecco, Venice, Vienna and anywhere in-between

From Lithuania to the Alps, Italy, and Beyond: A Family Adventure

We all love the mountains and snowboarding, so we decided to book an apartment in Morzine. It was somewhere familiar, and by chance, some friends were also going to be there during our stay.

Our journey began in Lithuania and took us through Poland, Germany, Switzerland, and finally into the French Alps. It was a long drive of more than 2,150 kilometres, taking over 24 hours in total.

Poland

Partway through the journey, we stopped overnight in Wrocław. We hadn't allocated any time to explore, as the stop was simply intended as a chance to rest before continuing our journey into Germany.

Germany

Originally, we planned to visit Neuschwanstein Castle. However, a simple message to say hello to some old friends completely changed our plans. They had previously lived in the UK before returning to Germany around the same time we moved to Lithuania.

It was wonderful to see them again. After some initial shyness, the girls quickly settled in and soon didn't want to leave. Unfortunately, with another six and a half hours of driving ahead of us, we couldn't stay longer.

Looking back, this unplanned stop added far more to our trip than a visit to a castle ever could have. Living in Lithuania sometimes leaves me feeling a little disconnected, and opportunities to spend time with people with whom I can have honest, non-judgemental conversations are precious. We left Germany feeling grateful that despite the time and distance, genuine friendships can pick up exactly where they left off.

Switzerland

Our time in Switzerland was limited to driving through, but it left us wanting to return one day. We also discovered something new: the need for a motorway vignette. Having previously driven through Germany, France, and Poland, we were familiar with toll roads but not this system. Thankfully, we sorted it while en route and avoided several additional hours of driving.

Morzine, France

We finally arrived in Morzine late at night and spent the following day unpacking, settling in, and exploring our surroundings.

Our cosy chalet apartment was just a ten-minute walk from the town centre and a short bus ride from the gondola to Avoriaz 1800.

For our first full day, we planned an exploration and orientation day. Having visited Morzine before, we'd already explored the town and mountain, so this time we wanted to discover something different.

We found a local lake, Lac de Montriond, just fifteen minutes away by car. We were so glad we visited. The lake was peaceful, surrounded by beautiful scenery, and perfect for a relaxing walk and some photography. We also enjoyed a family walk to Cascade de Nyon, an easy riverside route with lovely views.

After three days of snowboarding, Elliott's prediction that he would be fine watching from the sidelines proved slightly optimistic. While Dave and Felicity enjoyed exploring the slopes, it was understandably difficult for him not to join in.

The positive side was seeing Felicity grow in confidence and improve her snowboarding, particularly linking her turns together. It felt like an important step towards future family snowboarding holidays where we can all enjoy the mountains together.

Another unexpected highlight was discovering that friends from the UK were holidaying in Morzine at exactly the same time. Catching up with them was something none of us had planned, but it became one of the most memorable parts of the trip.

Annecy

With a few days left to explore, I started researching places within a ninety-minute drive. Annecy quickly stood out.

We arrived early to avoid the crowds and chose to take the train into the town from outside the low-emission zone. By this stage, the holiday itself had almost not happened. We'd even tried to cancel it after Elliott's injury made snowboarding impossible, but fortunately we couldn't.

Annecy exceeded all expectations. The lake, mountains, boats, old town, sunshine, and excellent brunch combined to create a perfect day out. The town felt vibrant yet relaxed, with fantastic cycle paths and stunning scenery in every direction.

We left already talking about returning one day, perhaps to paddleboard on the lake. Like many visitors, we briefly looked at houses in the area and imagined living there. Reality quickly reminded us that Annecy property prices were somewhat beyond our budget!

Italy – Lecco and Venice

For our return journey, we changed our route after comparing fuel and toll costs.

Although we initially considered Lake Como, we felt it would be extremely busy by the time we arrived. Instead, we chose to visit Lecco on the eastern branch of the lake.

It proved to be a fantastic decision. The lakeside views were stunning, the atmosphere was relaxed, and after a pleasant walk we enjoyed a gelato while taking in the scenery. It was a wonderful first impression of Italy.

Lecco also broke up the journey to Venice, where we stayed overnight before heading into the city to explore.

Expecting the crowds to have eased by evening, we took public transport into Venice and spent hours wandering on foot. This allowed us to appreciate the quieter streets and hidden corners that make the city so unique.

A recommendation led us to a waterfront promenade to watch the sunset. Although it was a last-minute decision and several people were already there, the view was spectacular and became one of our favourite moments of the trip.

Later, while taking photographs, we were approached by someone offering gondola rides. A gondola trip had never been part of our plans due to the cost. However, after some negotiation, the price dropped from €120 to €60, and we decided to take the opportunity.

It was an experience we're all grateful we had. Drifting through the smaller canals before reaching the Grand Canal gave us a completely different perspective of Venice. Seeing the architecture illuminated in the evening light made the city feel magical.

We also visited St Mark's Square, St Mark's Basilica, Doge's Palace, Rialto Bridge, and countless hidden alleyways and bridges.

Before arriving, I had low expectations. I assumed Venice would be overcrowded and unpleasantly busy. Instead, we came away genuinely impressed and already discussing a future trip to explore the surrounding islands.

Austria – Vienna

The drive from Venice to Vienna was beautiful, passing mountains, waterfalls, lakes, valleys, and hillside churches. It reinforced our growing desire to return to both Italy and Austria for a slower-paced adventure in the future.

The children were given the choice of where to stop before our final overnight stay in Katowice, and Vienna won the vote.

Although it was wonderful to see St Stephen's Cathedral and the city's historic architecture, we quickly realised something important about our family travel style. We prefer quieter places, close to nature, water, and mountains.

Visiting during a warm Easter weekend meant large crowds, busy streets, and plenty of people focused on capturing the perfect social media photograph. While we enjoy photography, our focus tends to be on landscapes and experiences rather than posed photoshoots.

Combined with the warm weather and horse-drawn carriages adding their own distinctive aroma to the city, we eventually admitted that city breaks simply aren't our favourite type of holiday as a family.

Katowice

Our final overnight stop was Katowice, where we received a warm welcome at our hotel.

Recently, we've discovered that our ideal accommodation is a good mid-range hotel with an excellent room option. Our suite at the Novotel was perfect for a family stay, and we would happily recommend it.

Reflections

Looking back, this trip evolved far beyond its original purpose.

What began as a family snowboarding holiday became an adventure filled with unexpected opportunities. We reconnected with friends we hadn't seen for over a year, discovered places we hadn't planned to visit, and created memories we will cherish for years to come.

Some of my favourite moments weren't the famous landmarks or spectacular scenery. They were the simple acts of kindness and connection: Elliott putting his arm around me when he noticed I was cold, hearing everyone talk about how much they loved our day in Annecy, and listening to Felicity describe snowboarding and seeing her friend again as the highlights of her holiday.

Life rarely goes exactly as planned. Yet often the unexpected moments become the most meaningful. I am grateful for every adventure, every lesson learned, every challenge overcome, and most of all for the time spent with family and friends making memories together.