Annecy

I spent a week in Annecy several years ago and found it to be a beautiful small city. The architecture is bright and cheerful and I love that water is all around. Lake Annecy is very clean and I didn't see litter anywhere. The train runs right into town, making it very easily accessible; the train station is walking distance to the car rental office. I loved the old section of town and being able to walk everywhere. I was surprised to see Annecy received a low rating for being family-friendly. I saw lots of families engaged in fun activities, and puppeteers putting on shows for children. When I took a boat tour on the lake, I saw young children and teens enjoying a swim; in town, I saw children of all ages riding their bicycles around. Annecy is in good proximity to Chamonix and the French Alps. The countryside is very scenic and the Gorges du Fier is beautiful. For the most part, I wouldn't say the people were that friendly. However, I made friends with a woman who lived upstairs from the VRBO I rented. We still Skype to this day, but I have noticed that she often has difficulty with her internet connection. I really enjoyed visiting Annecy and hope to return again soon.