Zoos and Aquariums
If you end up on the riviera with children, several days of sitting on the beach and drinking wine may end up getting a little bit boring for the little ones, no matter how much you may be enjoying it. Never fear, though! There are several things to do with children that can be fun for the whole family, namely visiting the zoos and aquariums that dot the coastline.
Zoos
There are many zoos along the riviera, some of which, like the Parc Zoologique de Fréjus, are not quite up to snuff. Unfortunately, the zoo of Saint-Jean Cap Ferrat was closed this fall, one of the largest in the area, although plans are underway as the town fights for the right to reopen.
Until then, there are other zoos to visit in the area, like the Zoological Gardens in Monaco, created by Prince Rainier III himself in the 50s, where more than 200 animals of about fifty species are represented. The zoo is reasonably priced, at 4 euros for adults and 2 euros for children over eight years old, while children under eight can enter for free.
La Barben is home to another zoo, the largest in the region, that offers the option to picnic within the confines of the park.
For the really little ones, try "La petite ferme provencale", the little Provencal farm. This park houses animals of all sorts in Antibes Juan les Pins. Also in Antibes Juan les Pins, just down the street from the farm, you will find a butterfly garden. Both are located on the rue Mozart. For the ornithology-inclined, a garden of tropical birds can be found in la Londe-les-Maures.
Aquariums
While a visit to the zoo can be fun, a visit to an aquarium may be more apropos considering that you are on the riviera. Luckily, the towns and cities of the riviera have a lot to offer as far as aquatic entertainment. Nearly every town has some form of aquatic or oceanographic museum, although some are more famous than others.
Monaco is home to not only an aquarium, but an entire museum devoted to oceanography. The aquarium offers several species of fish, coral, amphibians and reptiles, and there is even the opportunity to touch some of the underwater critters in a special tank reserved for this purpose.
To see underwater mammals, venture to the Marineland in Antibes, where you will find dolphins, orca whales, otters, seals, jellyfish and rays amongst other underwater animals. Marineland features the longest underwater shark tunnel in all of Europe, and there are even shows featuring some of the animals including the dolphins and orca whales.
