hi, I'm interested in going somewhere in the Alps for the snow, but not for winter sports. I'd just want to enjoy the atmosphere, and ideally be able to go for a walk in snowy countryside. However to make it clear this isn't about ski de fond, hiking or anything too ambitious.
What places would you recommend? I'd be going with my wife and two boys, 15 and 11.
Are there any destinations in the Alps/Vosges (or the Pyrénées at a pinch) that would work well for this?
If you have to plan this in advance and go somewhere snow-sure, I would aim for the Haute-Maurienne, namely Bessans and Bonneval sur Arc. Bonneval is a beautiful old village with a small downhill ski area that you can easily ignore, and Bessans is a significant cross-country ski resort which means, lots of walking paths too.
Less snow-sure, the area around Les Rousses in the Jura could suit you well, or somewhere in the Bauges between Chambéry and Annecy.