Corsica with Kids!
Corsica with Kids – This French island provided a much needed multi-generational escape for our family. It’s the kind of place where you don’t seek a huge ‘To Do List’ but here’s a gentle collection of ideas if you do wish to get active.
Beach Life – Corsica with Kids
I’ll start with the obvious. Island life equals beach life. We were based near Calvi and spent huge chunks of the day on the beach. Borrowing nets from our villa allowed us to search for sealife on the rocks. Suggested beaches include Calvi and Loto in the north and Palombaggia and Pinarello further south, but you’ll be spoiled for choice.
King of the Castle – Visit a Hilltop Town – Corsica with Kids
Calvi is a beautiful harbour town and it’s a reasonable/achievable walk for little legs to reach the summit of the tower and take in the views from the Calvi Citadel. The city’s cathedral, originally built in the 13th century, is located in the citadel, so we stepped inside the coolness of its interiors (see below).
The town’s two famous sons, Christopher Columbus and Napoleon, are often referenced across Corsica. The island is said to be the birthplace of Columbus, and while there’s no firm evidence of this, why let factual proof get in the way of a good story. Head up to the citadel to see the ruins of the house formerly occupied by the Columbus family.
Near the citadel we also discovered curious blue artworks/graffiti depicting children dotted round the walls, plus an ice cream parlour, which the boys insisted we visit, so visitors are rewarded with a sweet treat with great views. [Another hilltop town that we didn’t visit but is worth researching is Bonifacio.]
Catch the Trinchellu Train along Balagne Coast
Take in some beautiful coastal scenery at a slow pace. Yes, you could hire a car and drive between destinations, but this particular train hugs the coastline so looking out the window while somebody else navigates is part of the experience. We travelled on this quirky old train from Calvi to Il Rousse where we grabbed a coffee and croissant, before exploring. We wandered through Il Rousse’s main square, coming across ruined towers, a mermaid and visited the beach too. We took lunch in a lively cafe, before catching the return leg of our journey.
Visiting in low season, October, obviously meant it was easier for us to get tickets and seats on the ‘sea view’ side of the carriage. It’s naturally busy in summer and during holiday seasons.
Visit a Winery – Corsica with Kids
France is known for its wine, and Corsica is no different. We drove to Clos Columbo vineyards, which were more child friendly than I expected. I sampled the wine before purchasing a few bottles. In the grounds the children explored the vines and discovered colourful sculptures dotted about the estate, from crabs to dinosaurs. A litter of unexpected kittens also kept us there for WAY longer than predicted.
Harbour Life
Islands attract the boating community. If you don’t sail yourself then there are a myriad of harbourside cafes to relax in. Stop for a meal, an ice cream or an aperitif at one of the many waterside cafes and watch the quayside activity for as long as the kids allow! As the sun sets in Calvi the harbourside restaurants start to really come alive.
Where to Stay
We stayed in a Simpson Travel villa on the outskirts of Calvi with its own private pool. With two kids and a granny in tow it felt natural to seek our own space. The villa had three bedrooms, furnished kitchen and large living room, plus outdoor dining area and the gated pool with sun loungers. The website is also clear to navigate too, in terms of prices and availability. The villa was within walking distance of the beach, the town centre, railway station and local shops.
Simpson are great at communication before you travel, plus the rep on location was genuinely helpful. She ensured that age appropriate indoor toys/DVDs, pool inflatables and beach toys were left for the boys. On our initial meeting she gathered an idea of what we wanted to achieve from the holiday and gave us lots of ideas to pursue. Lovely stay.
Getting There
We were in London to visit/collect a Granny, then we flew from London Luton with easyJet flights to Corsica.
Other ideas to consider that we didn’t fit in include exploring Corsica’s Regional National Park, taking a boat trip, watersports, hiking or cycle trails. Discover more at Visit Corsica.
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