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Arrive in Menton and take a slow, family-friendly walk along the Promenade du Soleil to feel the Mediterranean breeze and spot the pastel villas peeking above the palm trees; the promenade is flat and stroller-friendly, so the kids can run ahead while parents soak in the view, and it's best enjoyed in the late afternoon when the light softens—leave backpacks at your hotel and pick up a baguette and local fruit from the markets to nibble as you stroll, because the seaside cafés fill up quickly in August and lines form for shaded tables.

Turn inland into the Vieille Ville (Old Town) where the narrow lanes open onto the Piazza and Place aux Herbes, a perfect spot for children to watch street artists and for grown-ups to admire wrought-iron balconies and citrus-decorated façades; climb up to the Basilique Saint-Michel-Archange to step inside its baroque interior and to stand on the steps looking down across tiled roofs—this is the heart of Menton and a gentle way to orient the family while telling kids a few lively stories about the town's citrus-growing past to keep them engaged.

Visit the Marché des Halles de Menton mid-morning to sample local specialties—fresh olives, socca from Nice vendors, Provençal cheeses and fragrant Menton lemons—and give the kids a small budget to choose a snack so they feel involved; the market is a great place to pick up picnic supplies for the week and to chat with vendors, and visiting on weekday mornings will avoid the biggest August crowds and sometimes earns fresher produce and friendlier service.

Finish the day with a ride on the Petit Train Touristique de Menton, an easy, fifteen- to twenty-minute loop that delights children with its miniature whistle and gives adults a compact view of the seafront, the Old Town and the Bastion area; it’s an excellent orientation tool, tickets are inexpensive for families if you buy at the station rather than through agents, and taking the train at sunset when the light bathes the town in gold makes a memorable, low-energy end to your arrival day.

Begin the morning at the Jardin botanique Val Rahmeh (Val Rahmeh-Menton), a lush, semi-tropical botanical garden created by Lord and Lady Revelstoke and now part of the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle; wander winding paths under giant cycads and palm trees while the children search for bright fruits and curious birds, use the garden’s shaded benches for a relaxed snack and try to join the short family-oriented guided walk often offered in August by the Office de Tourisme to learn how subtropical plants thrive on this stretch of coastline—arrive early to beat the afternoon heat and to catch the best light for photographs.

From Val Rahmeh take a short, scenic walk or a quick local bus to Jardin Serre de la Madone, a peaceful, rare garden designed in the 1920s by English gardener Lawrence Johnston where terraces, water features and intimate plantings invite slow discovery; children love following garden paths from one ‘room’ to another and learning the stories behind exotic specimens, and parents will appreciate the calm atmosphere and picnic-friendly lawns—allow time to sit quietly and let the kids invent a tiny scavenger hunt of colors and leaf shapes to keep them engaged.

In the early afternoon visit Villa Fontana Rosa to step into the eccentric world of Spanish novelist Vicente Blasco Ibáñez: the house and small garden are decorated with azulejos, Moorish touches and lemon trees, and the playful architecture captivates children while adults enjoy how literature and garden design meet here—this is a short, atmospheric stop that complements the larger botanical gardens and is close enough that you can stroll between sites without a long transfer.

End the day in the Jardins Biovès beside the seafront where the family can enjoy an open lawn, occasional summer exhibitions and the safe, broad promenades perfect for scooters or a late-afternoon game; the Biovès gardens are an easy place to let kids run free before dinner and often host seasonal displays in August, so check the local notice board for family events or outdoor concerts and bring insect repellent and a reusable water bottle to stay comfortable during the warm evening.

Head to the Port de Menton in the morning to rent a family kayak or stand‑up paddleboard and introduce the children to gentle sea paddling in sheltered waters; local rental operators run hourly sessions in August that include life jackets for children and short safety briefings, and paddling from the port gives you an immediate coastal viewpoint of the town that families love—book rentals early in the morning to secure equipment and avoid the midday sun, and bring reef shoes for rocky entries.

Spend midday on Plage des Sablettes (or the municipal beach beside the promenade) for classic beach time where kids can build sandcastles, paddle in shallow water and try a supervised snorkel close to shore; beaches in Menton are sandy or mixed sand and pebbles and the water is clear in August (expect sea temperatures around 24°C), so pack a shade umbrella, sun-protective swim shirts for the children and plenty of water—the municipal beaches are lifeguarded in high season which is reassuring for families.

After lunch, stroll along the Promenade du Soleil toward the Bastion area for a relaxed harbour-side walk where families can watch fishing boats and small yachts, and parents can organize a gelato stop while children spot crabs and colorful shells; late afternoon is ideal as the sea calms, cafés offer shaded tables and the light is perfect for relaxed photos—if you’d like a low-key sea outing, inquire locally about short coastal boat trips that run in August from the port, many of which are family-oriented and 30–60 minutes long.

Immerse the family in the whimsical world of Jean Cocteau at the Musée Jean Cocteau - Collection Séverin Wunderman located in the Bastion on the seafront, where the museum’s bright murals and drawings produce immediate reactions from children and adults; the collection is compact and lively—guidebooks and family trails are sometimes available in August, and short guided tours for families are offered by the museum on select days, so check the schedule at the ticket office to book an interactive session that will make Cocteau’s images come alive for little ones.

Walk to the Musée de Préhistoire Régionale de Menton for an educational, hands-on look at the region’s long human story and archaeological finds; the museum presents bones, tools and reconstructions in a way that can captivate curious young minds, and educators sometimes run family workshops in summer where kids can handle replicas and learn excavation basics—visit mid-morning when staff-run activities are most often scheduled and combine this with a simple picnic in a nearby park.

Spend the afternoon in the Parc du Palais Carnolès where the children can run on lawns, explore small garden paths and where parents can appreciate rose gardens and shade beneath chestnut trees: Palais Carnolès is a pleasant civic park with calm corners perfect for a relaxed family sketching session or an educational scavenger hunt about local plants and flowers, and it’s conveniently close to town so you won’t lose time traveling back to your accommodation for a break.

Drive or take the short local bus to the perched village of Gorbio to wander its atmospheric cobbled lanes and small squares, where children delight in ramparts, narrow stairways and the simple pleasure of a quiet village bakery; Gorbio is compact and stroller-friendly in parts, and parents will enjoy the stone architecture and the view over Menton—plan a morning visit to combine cooler air and easier photography, and pick up picnic provisions in the village before heading higher into the hills.

Continue to Sainte-Agnès, a fortified village often described as one of the highest coastal villages in Europe, where a short family-friendly walk brings you to the old fortifications and spectacular viewpoints across the sea; children love exploring the remains of ramparts and listening to stories of former watchmen, and the village has a couple of cafés suitable for a light lunch—bring hats and water as August is warm, but the elevation gives refreshing breezes and clear late-afternoon light perfect for panoramic photos.

If the family still has energy, follow a short, well-marked trail from Sainte-Agnès toward nearby olive groves and shaded terraces for a gentle walk (suitable for older children) or return to Menton for an evening gelato and a restful dinner—these hilltop villages are best experienced at an unhurried pace, so allow time for exploration and spontaneous play between sights and remember that roads can be narrow, so a taxi or the local bus service is often the easiest option for families without a car.

Set out in the morning to join the Sentier du Littoral along the low coastal path toward Roquebrune-Cap-Martin; walking sections closest to Menton are gentle and offer safe viewpoints, rock pools for curious kids and opportunities to pause for snorkelling in calm coves—start early to enjoy cooler temperatures and calmer seas, wear sturdy sandals and bring a small first-aid kit for rocky stretches, and remember that parts of the full coastal path climb more steeply so choose the family-friendly sections described at the Tourist Office.

Pause in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin for an ice cream and a relaxed lunch by the sea before taking a short transfer up into the hills to Fort de la Revère where older children will be fascinated by the fortifications, tunnels and the extraordinary panoramic vistas across Menton and the Cap; the Fort de la Revère trail is moderately easy in its lower sections and offers dramatic vantage points for photos—bring binoculars for sea-watching and plan this excursion for late afternoon if you want softer light and cooler walking conditions.

Return to Menton by local bus or short taxi ride, and close the day with a calm promenade on the seafront where kids can expend any remaining energy on the play areas while parents savour an end-of-day coffee; this coast-and-hill combination gives a memorable contrast to the week’s gardens and beaches and shows how Menton’s dramatic geography creates both seaside relaxation and accessible adventure.

Spend your last morning revisiting the Marché des Halles de Menton to buy a few edible souvenirs—candied Menton lemons, local jams and olive oils—and encourage your children to choose a small, locally-made keepsake so their memories become tangible; markets are liveliest in the morning, and vendors often enjoy sharing tips on how to use regional ingredients in simple family recipes, so ask for a quick suggestion to try at home.

Book a family-friendly workshop through the Office de Tourisme de Menton—many summer programs in August include short children’s craft sessions, guided family garden tours or simple cooking demonstrations focused on local specialties—and take part in a hands-on activity that ties together the week’s themes of citrus, gardens and seaside life; these official activities are designed for families and are an excellent way for children to interact with local culture while parents relax knowing the program is supervised and age-appropriate.

After your workshop, enjoy a final swim or paddle on the Promenade du Soleil, then stroll back toward Gare de Menton to collect your luggage and prepare for departure; if time allows, let the children run one last time on the beach and promise them a small reward for travel—August evenings linger later so finish with a calm seaside dinner and watch the town glow as your week in Menton ends, leaving your family with fragrant memories of lemons, gardens and warm Mediterranean evenings.