The Spring, Summer and Autumn can be all fabulous months in the Alps and I think our favourite. For those who want to find peace and tranquillity, have interests in Botany then these months can be heaven. The colours not only of the surrounding landscape but of the light is glorious and leaves me envious of those who are able to put what they see on paper. The resort in Spring and Autumn, is, on the whole very quite, the sports centre is open during June and October and the essentials are always open - a good restaurant or bar can be readily found. The Summer season starts at the end of June, and the whole resort comes to life again, so for those looking to take advantage of all the activities the mountain can offer, this is the time to come. Alpe d’Huez boasts a fabulous outdoor pool and a comprehensive sports centre. The resort has good number of tennis courts and the 9-hole golf course opposite is a real treat. Paragliding, microlight and small planes allow you to take in the views from the sky, whilst horse riding, mountain biking and quad-bikes allow you to stay closer to the ground. For climbers there are 80 trails starting at 2100m with guides for beginners. The Via Ferrata offers fabulous scenery and a sense of achievement as you climb from the Gorges de Sarenne to the resort level with use of a rope, harness, plenty of foot-holds and of course an instructor. In general the weather here during the summer is warm; between 25°c and 30°c. There can be some spectacular thunderstorms which generally take place late afternoon or early evening, but on the whole it is reliably good. In the valley a huge variety of watersports are available; rafting, tubing, hydrospeed and kayaks. For a greater adrenilin rush in the nearby of Deux Alps you can bungee jump from a cable car! For those interested in the hiking on offer, the choice is endless. The cable cars are open allowing access to treks starting higher up with links to the neighbouring satellite resorts of Oz and Vaujany. Walks need not be all hill-climbing, there are a great many that can be pretty-much on the flat without scrimping on the scenery. Day-walks include the Lac de Quirlies, (around 6 hours return) taking you through waterfalls to a glacier that meets this enchanting lake with sands to make you believe that you are in fact in the Carribeann! Guided walks can be organised with an English-speaking guide who can help you sight Marmottes and identify the mountain flora