Center Parcs Les Trois Forêts in January with kids: lots of forest, one night of snow, expensive groceries

Center Parcs Les Trois Forêts in January with kids: a six-hour drive, one night of snow, and the laundrette three kilometres from our cottage. The Aqua Mundo is large (slides from 1.20 m, packed at weekends), the pony ride goes properly into the forest, and do your shopping outside the park.

Center Parcs Les Trois Forêts is the most spacious Center Parcs we know, and you feel it all week. Forest in every direction, cottages far apart and long paths in between. We were there in January, after a drive of about six hours, and that season shaped a large part of the experience.

It was our first French Center Parcs. We already knew Allgäu and Hochsauerland, so we were mostly curious how this one would compare.
 

The Aqua Mundo: big, and timing decides everything

The pool became part of the day here too. It is large and varied, with a rapid river, a wave pool, several slides, a water play house for the smallest and quieter corners with jacuzzis.

All the big slides require a minimum height of 120 centimetres. We ran into that: our youngest could not use them yet. He happily went along on the rapid river and spent ages in the water play house, but we missed an ordinary family slide he could do himself.

Not every slide suits everyone. One ends in a large funnel and that was too much for our children, and two others are very dark. The Master Blaster was a big hit with our eldest, and honestly with me too: fast, long and simply good fun.

And then the crowds, because that is the most useful thing you can know here. At weekends the Aqua Mundo got extremely busy. We left again after half an hour with overstimulated children. Early in the morning or later in the evening it was a completely different pool. Do watch the times: some parts, including the rapid river, closed around 7pm while the pool itself stayed open until 8.30pm.
 

Zone 4, and why distances matter here

This park is so large that your cottage location shapes your week. We had heard how big it is, so we paid 59 euros for a preferred location and booked cottage 464 in zone 4, roughly between the central facilities and the other part of the park with the indoor playground and the farm.

That 59 euros is the best money we spent on this park, and it helps to know what to compare it with: at Center Parcs Hochsauerland we paid 295 euros for an e-car to solve exactly the same problem. Sitting closer to the centre is five times cheaper than hiring transport afterwards, as long as you arrange it when you book.

Even with that choice the distances are considerable. The launderette and the Forest Lodge, which also has a good indoor playground and a café, were nearly three kilometres from our cottage. That is not a stroll with wet swimming things and tired children.

One afternoon we hired an electric car in vintage styling. Vintage on the outside, with ordinary CarPlay inside, which was mildly ironic but very handy. Wrapped in blankets against the cold we saw parts of the park we would never have reached on foot. It costs 45 euros for two hours. It was so quiet that afternoon that we were allowed to keep it for four, but do not count on that.
 

The pony ride really goes into the forest

Both children picked one activity. The youngest went for a ride in a small safari car, which surprised nobody. The eldest chose pony riding, and that became a highlight of the week.

This is not a lap around a ring. It is a proper ride into the forest, with the guide walking beside the pony along muddy paths, up and down slopes. That makes it feel like part of the surroundings rather than a separate attraction. It costs 18.50 euros, and it is for children from 2 years old up to 1.40 metres. That upper limit is the notable bit: this really is a children's activity, so as a parent you walk alongside rather than ride. Our eldest was immensely proud, and my trainers went straight into the wash afterwards.

January: quiet park, and the area is closed

If you are considering this park in winter, this is the important part. The park sits fairly remotely, and in January a large share of the attractions Center Parcs lists nearby are simply closed.

We wanted to take the Train Forestier d'Abreschviller, but it was not running in January, and the same went for more places in the area. Our only larger day out was Europa-Park, and that is nearly two hours' drive each way, so that was the exception rather than the rule.

We arrived to a dusting of snow, just enough for a few wintry hours. By the next morning most of it had melted. Cold enough to feel like winter, mild enough to be outside, but they were not real snow days.

Our conclusion: this park probably comes into its own in spring or summer, when you can actually use the forest walks and the outdoor play and do not have to lean on paid activities. If you want to be outdoors in France, Camping Les Brunelles on the Atlantic coast is the other extreme: heated water and a beach, but in June.

Do your shopping off the park

The shop on the park is considerably more expensive than an ordinary supermarket. With a family and fourteen nights ahead of you that adds up fast. Drive off site: do your shopping on the way there, or head out once during the week. It is the cheapest decision you can make here.
 

Frequently asked questions about Center Parcs Les Trois Forêts

 

Does Center Parcs Les Trois Forêts work for families?

 

See also

Destinations Port Grimaud with kids: shallow water, no cars and where to park Destinations Camping La Sirène with kids: six weeks, new pools and a huge terrace Destinations Disneyland Paris with kids: what worked for us (and what didn’t)

1 response

There’s been a lot of discussion about this story. Please feel free to add your thoughts.

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Arlette February 1, 2026

The pony ride looks amazing. Can imagine she loved it.

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