Family-Friendly Mardi Gras

One of my fondest memories from the time I lived in Nice was the Carnaval. My daughter was a baby at the time, and she was in awe when we went to the first parade (of many held each year during the two-week festivities leading up to Mardi Gras). There were floats and paper-mâché, 10-foot-tall jesters and all these colorful and amazing sights. It was a pretty wonderful two weeks. We still have the flowers, now dry and faded, that were tossed her way from a float in the Flower Parade.

We watched as a group of people participated in the annual Carnaval ritual, and dived into the chilly waters along the Promenade des Anglais. My daughter sat in her stroller, sunglasses on her face and stylish white beret on her head. We saw street performers, we heard music, and we sampled amazing food. Nice's central Place Massena seemed just a little too peaceful when it was all over.

The one thing that is nice about Nice Carnaval is it's very much a family-friendly Mardi Gras. Many of the activities are, in fact, during the day. It was never too crazy or hectic to take a child, even a baby, and there were many strollers around.

There's still time to visit during Nice Carnaval, which starts in February, and you can even plan to visit with a baby or toddler.