The holidays are so close you can practically taste them and you’re counting down the days until you can take some well-deserved time off.
But where exactly should you spend your winter vacation?
If you’re somebody who likes to live life on the adventurous side, we think this might be the perfect time to plan a trip to Québec City. The charming capital is perfect for city slickers and sporty types alike.
While the city itself is bustling with events and attractions during the winter months (link to New Year’s article), there are also a ton of popular destinations located just outside the city limits for those who’d rather spend the holidays in the Great Outdoors.
Whether you’re looking to hit the slopes, or just try something different, we’ve rounded up the best options for all you thrill seekers located conveniently within an hour from Old Québec. And to make things even more convenient, if you get a St. Lawrence Multi-Summits ticket, you’ll have access to all three of the ski resorts listed.
Talk about a happy holiday.
Mont-Sainte-Anne
Mont-Sainte-Anne is one of the most popular destinations for winter sports enthusiasts, and after one visit, you’ll see why. The resort is home to the largest cross-country ski centre in Canada and features over 200 km of trails. They also have tons of out-of-the-box activities like ice canyoning and paragliding so there is literally something for everyone to do. Lastly, if you work up an appetite on the hills, there are a wide variety of restaurants and bakeries in the area to help you refuel.
Hôtel de Glace
Channel your inner Elsa at North America’s only ice hotel, Hôtel de Glace. Located in the Village Vacances Valcartier, a.k.a. the biggest winter games centre in America, you can explore their larger-than-life snow vaults and exquisite ice sculptures, try a cocktail served in an ice glass (naturally), or even spend the night in one of their magical themed suites.
Massif de Charlevoix
Clocking in at 770 m, Le Massif has the highest vertical drop east of the Canadian Rockies. While the dizzying heights are certainly not for the faint of heart, the steep hills make it feel like you’re skiing right into the spectacular river scenery below. Plus, with an average snowfall of six metres, you’d be hard-pressed to find primo conditions like these anywhere else.
If you’re looking for a tamer adventure, you can also partake in some snowshoeing or sledding and for the non-sporty types in your group, the surrounding Charlevoix region has plenty to do.
Sibéria Station spa
If you’re looking for a change of pace, this spa is the perfect place to get your relaxation on. Their outdoor pools come at a range of temperatures (try the outdoor cold bath with the thermal falls if you’re feeling particularly daring) and their massage treatments will work out any work-related body kinks in no time.
Stoneham
With 42 runs on three separate hills, an Olympic half-pipe, and three terrain parks, if you’re a skier or snowboarder and Stoneham isn’t on your winter bucket list, you should add it ASAP. And with 19 fully lit runs, it’s also a great choice for night owls. Additionally, since it’s conveniently located just 30 km outside of Old Québec, you can have the best of both worlds and easily take in one of the many events happening in the city this holiday season, such as the famous or the Festi Lumière light festival happening at the Aquarium du Québec.
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