My name is Berit Pedersen and I created The Activity Factory because I wanted to make it easier for both newcomers to the region and  those who have lived here for a long time to explore new things in and around our beautiful corner of France.

For the time being I’m focusing on walks. After almost two months of staying at home due to COVID lockdown rules, and restrictions of not going further away from my house than one kilometre, being able to go for longer walks and hikes again has been so amazing.

The Pays de Gex and the nearby regions have not disappointed. Even after having lived in the area for more than twenty years, I have discovered places I had no idea existed. There are local gems hidden all over this place, sometimes almost literally in our own backyards.

We always seem to look out to foreign places whenever we plan our getaways, thinking the grass must be greener elsewhere. These past months of restrictions and lockdowns have brought lots of stress, but maybe all of this can serve as an inspiration to show us that we don’t need to go halfway around the globe to explore, or find something new, or be inspired, or to learn.

This is the beginning, and I hope you will join me while I continue to explore new areas of the region I thought I knew.