When it comes to winter romance, nothing beats cosying up by the fire with your loved one at a wintry mountain lodge, hot chocolate in hand.
In Mont Tremblant, Que., you can experience its bustling pedestrian village, cosy cafes, or Quebec ciders by the fire — not to mention a unique roster of fun winter experiences that will make your romantic getaway truly memorable — even if you don’t ski or snowboard.
Romantic weekends begin at the Fairmont Mont Tremblant. Located at the base of Mont Tremblant in the pedestrian village, the hotel offers easy access to slopes, shops and a ski valet for your equipment. Heated indoor and outdoor pools connect with the hotel spa, Amerispa, for some romantic après-ski activities while the hotel’s Nansen Lounge offers an innovative all-day bar menu with a view of the slopes from plush lounge chairs.
Getting there: Just a 1.5-hour drive from Montreal, getting to Mont Tremblant is an easy drive through the Quebec countryside. Guests can also fly directly into Mont Tremblant airport via Porter Airlines from Toronto City Centre Airport or Continental Airlines from Newark, a 45-minute drive from the village and slopes.
For more info, go to www.tremblant.ca.
Here are some unique ideas to get you dreaming.
• Strap on your skates and skate hand-in-hand at the village’s outdoor skating rink, a small frozen-over lake beside the picturesque Saint-Bernard Chapel. Best experienced at sunset.
• An afternoon of dog sledding is a great way to see who’s really the better driver. After a short lesson, guests are paired up and invited to drive their own dog sled under supervision of experienced guides. The Diable Adventure takes you through a seven-kilometre trail of wintry landscape and pairs can switch drivers halfway through after a hot chocolate break in a warm tent.
• Spa Scandinave is a truly unique experience — imagine relaxing in one of the spa’s outdoor hot tubs while deer walk by just 10 feet away. The spa offers Swedish, hot stone, and Thai massages but the main draw is the Scandinavian baths: a series of outdoor hot and cold pools as well as relaxation, sauna and steam bath rooms.
• Whether you’ve skied or not, partake in some après-ski fun than La Forge or La Diable, where you can get cosy in a corner or get to know other après-skiers enjoying local ciders and microbrews at the bar.
• Romantic dining doesn’t get any better than at Mont Tremblant’s Aux Truffes, where fine French food is paired with the region’s local produce and offerings.
Last but not least, there’s nothing more romantic than a horse-pulled sleigh ride through the fields and forests of the snow-covered Laurentian region.
