Water Activities for Kids and Their Grown-Ups on Holiday in Occitanie

 (13-minute read)

There is a plethora of water activities for kids and their grown-ups in Occitanie. Bordering Spain, Andorra, and the Mediterranean, this region offers opportunities to participate in splash and play fun in rivers, canals, lakes, and the sea. If you’re our guests at Country Kids, you also have exclusive use of two swimming pools and other amenities – one for all the family, and another reserved for adults.

In this article, we look at the range of water activities for kids and families in this most beautiful corner of France.

Key Takeaways

• Water activities for kids in Occitanie offer a variety of fun, from the Mediterranean Sea’s gentle waves to the calm waters of Lac du Salagou.
• Beach activities include building sandcastles, paddleboarding, kayaking, and classic beach games like frisbee and volleyball.
• Lac du Salagou provides a serene environment for young swimmers, canoeing, kayaking, and fishing, making it a perfect spot for family picnics and relaxation.
• The Gorges d’Héric at Mons la Trivalle offers unique river adventures, including natural water slides, family rafting, and riverside hikes to discover hidden pools and waterfalls.
• At Country Kids, children can enjoy supervised swimming lessons, water fights, poolside games, and endless entertainment with water slides and toys, allowing parents to relax by the pool.

What Is the Magic of the Mediterranean?

The South of France is synonymous with beach holidays. Less than an hour’s drive from our little piece of paradise, the Mediterranean’s crystal blue waters are warm and inviting, with plenty of water activities for kids to enjoy fun-packed days.

Sandy Shores: Building Castles and Memories

Building sandcastles isn’t just a beach activity. It is a treasured family tradition, and an ideal opportunity for mum or dad to show off their prowess as an architect of sand structures! From elaborate forts with moats to simple towers, creating masterpieces in the sand is a wonderful opportunity for spending quality time with family.

Splashing in the Surf: Safe and Exciting Waves

Water activities for kids beyond the golden beaches that frame the Mediterranean Sea benefit from an incredibly safe environment. Lifeguards are on most beaches, but with gentle waves and currents as well as mostly gently sloping peripheries, your kids can jump waves, float on the surface, and spot the fish swimming close to shore. Pure, simple fun that even us adults never tire of.

Seaside Sports: Paddleboarding and Kayaking Adventures

If you’ve got older kids who crave a little more adventure from a beach excursion, paddleboarding and kayaking provide an exhilarating way to explore the coastline. Among the most popular water activities for kids and adults alike, paddleboarding gives you a unique perspective of the seas while balancing atop a board. Kayaking lets you glide through the water to hidden coves.

Beach Games: Frisbee, Volleyball, and More

Is a beach day with kids complete without a few classic beach games? Bring along your beachballs, frisbees, and more – water activities for kids that will keep them engaged and wear out the parents.

Lac du Salagou: A Freshwater Paradise

Just a few minutes from Country Kids, and perfect if you’re cycling in France, Lac du Salagou is an exceptional amenity to enjoy water activities for kids.

Tranquil Waters: Perfect for Little Swimmers

Lac du Salagou’s calm and clear waters are ideal for young swimmers. There are no waves to contend with, which makes it a great place for kids to practice their swimming and become more confident in water.

Canoeing and Kayaking: Explore the Lake’s Hidden Corners

Canoeing and kayaking on Lac du Salagou is even more relaxing than it is in the Mediterranean. You can paddle along at a pace that suits you, exploring the lake’s hidden inlets and picturesque shores as you go. It’s a perfectly peaceful way for your family to enjoy the area’s natural beauty during a relaxing adventure that you’ll want to repeat.

Fishing Fun: Catch of the Day with the Kids

Water activities for kids aren’t complete without an introduction to fishing. Teeming with fish, the lake is an excellent spot for fishing – and your child won’t forget the thrill of catching a ‘giant fish the size of a whale’ from these blue waters.

Scenic Picnics: Lakeside Lunches with Stunning Views

Live life like a local, and enjoy the perfect family picnic in southern France by the side of the lake’s gently lapping water. The backdrop of Lac du Salagou will enhance this most enjoyable of French traditions, with the tranquillity making it the perfect place to unwind as you savour delicious food. Thus, combining water activities for kids with a relaxing picnic will round off a perfect day.

River Adventures at Gorges d’Héric at Mons la Trivalle

If you are seeking water activities for kids with a little difference, look no further than the Gorges d’Héric at Mons la Trivalle. From rafting to wildlife watching, this unique place in the heart of the Natural Regional Park of the Haut-Languedoc offers a very special opportunity to create unforgettable family holiday memories.

Natural Water Slides: Thrills and Spills in the Gorges

You won’t get better natural running water activities for kids than you find here. Natural slides into refreshing pools are perfect for kids of all ages – Mother Nature’s waterpark, surrounded by stunning countryside. Exhilarating stuff!

Family Rafting: Bonding on the Rapids

For a slightly more adventurous family experience, rafting on the river’s rapids is a must. Because you’ll need to work together to navigate the waters, river rafting is perfect for creating a family bonding opportunity during which teamwork pays dividends. With the excitement of the rapids combining with unrivalled scenery, you’ll capture a memory to last a lifetime.

Riverside Hikes: Discover Hidden Pools and Waterfalls

Water activities for kids don’t have to be ‘on the water’. Riverside hikes are among the most popular activities here, offering you a distinct perspective and the opportunity to find hidden pools and waterfalls. It’s your choice whether to take a dip, or simply enjoy the beauty of exploring nature.

Wildlife Watching: Spotting Birds and Fish

The Gorges d’Héric is also a wonderful place for wildlife watching. See how many different birds and fish your kids can spot on an educational excursion that takes you closer to nature and helps your children gain a greater appreciation for our environment.

Canal du Midi: Historical Waterways and Leisurely Cruises

With guided tours and museums along the Canal du Midi (a World Heritage Site), a trip here is a chance to experience a remarkable feat of engineering as well as to enjoy enriching water activities for kids.

Boat Hire: Let the Kids Be the Captains of Their Own Adventure

Navigate these historic waterways at your own pace, and put the kids in charge if you dare! You’ll find charming villages pepper its length, and the countryside that gently passes you by will help you understand why so few people move away from this region.

Cycling Along the Canal: Water Views on Two Wheels

If you prefer to stay on dry land, a cycle ride along the Canal du Midi delivers water views to capture, print, and frame to hang on your walls when you return home after your holiday. Being canal-side cycling, you won’t need to be an experienced cyclist. The flat towpaths are ideal for all abilities. While you won’t run out of breath, this is certainly a breathtaking way to experience the Canal du Midi.

Picnic Spots: Relaxing Breaks by the Water

If you do plan to cycle or boat along the canal, be sure to take a picnic with you. There are many picturesque spots to enjoy a leisurely bite to eat, and there is no better way to relax and soak in the unique ambience of canal life.

Swimming Pool Fun at Country Kids: ‘Splashtastic’ Times

The screen-free activities to keep kids busy at Country Kids is an almost endless list, with the water activities for kidsamong the most popular. Our Kids Club is where the fun starts. In fact, from games to swimming lessons, we ensure the grown-ups can relax while the kids have non-stop, safe fun in the water.

Swimming Lessons: Confidence Building for Little Swimmers

Swimming is an essential life skill that often proves challenging for kids to learn. Our qualified instructors, and the quieter environment of Country Kids, help to make learning to swim fun and engaging, ensuring that children feel comfortable and safe in the water.

Kids’ Water Fights

Is there anything that kids find more fun than an old-fashioned water fight? Armed with water balloons and water pistols, your kids will enjoy hours of playful combat with their new friends. If you hear a combination of shouting and screams of laughter, followed by splashing and howls of ‘I’m home, you can’t get me!’ then it’s probably a water fight in motion. Wish our workers luck – they never win!

Poolside Games: Marco Polo and Water Tag

Water activities for kids, like Marco Polo and water tag, are not only fun to play, but they also encourage teamwork while keeping everyone involved.

Water Slides and Toys: Endless Entertainment

Our pools are equipped with water slides and toys, a source of endless entertainment. Your kids will never run out of ways to have fun in the water, whether it’s racing their new friends, seeing who can make the biggest splash off the slide, or playing with the floating toys in the pool.

Parent’s Relaxation: Lounging While Kids Play

Safe in the knowledge that your kids are being minded in the pool, you can relax in the adult pool, sipping a cocktail, reading a book, having a chat with other parents, or taking a little nap while catching a few rays.

Country Kids: The Heart of Ultimate Water Fun in Occitanie

Occitanie is an exceptional region to visit for water activities for kids (and adults on a multi-generational family holiday).

Experience the excitement of Mediterranean beaches, relax in the tranquillity of Lac du Salagou, enjoy adventures in the Gorges d’Héric, and become lost in the charm of the Canal du Midi. All of this is within easy reach when you book an all-inclusive or a-la-carte family holiday at Country Kids.

Don’t fancy a day trip while on holiday? Then rest assured that you kids will love our pool activities, while you luxuriate by the adults pool.

Want to find out more? Then contact Sylvain or Laure at Country Kids to discover why families return year after year.