Le Massif De Charlevoix, Québec

The Northeast had an epic start to the winter with powder for days in November and early December. However, due to some family commitments and the holidays, I wasn’t able to finagle a trip to the mountains until I headed to Québec City in Canada over New Year’s Eve weekend. I took a trip with the Boston Ski & Sports Club to Le Massif de Charlevoix, about an hour outside of Québec City. So I was able to sneak in one day on the slopes on December 31st before the ball dropped at midnight.

There are a few unique features of Le Massif de Charlevoix which make it unlike any other mountain I have skied before. First, the set-up of the resort is such that the main parking area and lodge are at the summit of the mountain, instead of the base. Once you park and grab your lift ticket, you can just ski right down the mountain and then hop on the gondola for a ride back up. Second, the St. Lawrence River runs right along the bottom edge of Le Massif, so you get gorgeous views of the ice-capped river as you ski down the mountain.

Mont Tremblant, Québec

Coincidentally, I headed back up to Canada for another ski trip a scant 2 weeks later. The NYE Québec City trip came together at the last minute, but I had actually made plans months before to go to Mont Tremblant with a group of girlfriends. Last year, we went to Montreal for a long weekend and took a day trip to Mont Tremblant. We decided that one day in sub-zero temps (seriously, the temp was -15°F) was just not enough. So, this year we decided to spend the weekend in the picture-perfect, brilliantly colored village. Ok, maybe the real reason for the extended stay was so that we didn’t have to leave the raucous après ski party at Le P’tit Caribou!

Stowe, Vermont

The weekend following Tremblant, I made the trek up to Stowe, Vermont over the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday weekend. Stowe is one of my favorite mountains on the East Coast. Even though it is on the Epic Pass (I have the Ikon Pass), I try to get up there at least once a season. We totally lucked out with a massive Nor’easter storm that brought in about 18” of fresh powder over the long weekend. We did not luck out with the temps though as the high was -1°F!

While in Stowe, I checked out a few of my favorite haunts, like The Bench and The Rusty Nail. I had been wanting to try Idletyme Brewing Company for a while and I finally made it on this trip. I was expecting it to be sort of a big, bare taproom. But it is actually a really chic restaurant inside and the food was mouth-wateringly good. I’ll definitely be going back next time I’m in Stowe!

Loon, New Hampshire

Next up on the skiing agenda was a girls’ trip to New Hampshire with my Mom, sister, aunt, and cousin. The others don’t ski but I snuck off early Saturday morning to make it in time for first chair at Loon Mountain. Even though the temperatures in Canada and Stowe were more frigid, I actually felt the bitter cold the most at Loon. I seriously thought I had frostbite on my toes. It took about 30 minutes sitting close to the fire for me to actually start to feel my feet again. I called it quits on the early side that day and met up with the fam for a late lunch!

Grandvalira, Andorra

Two weeks later I set off on my most anticipated trip of the season – skiing in Andorra! I know what you’re thinking – where the heck is Andorra?! Well, it is a tiny micro-nation in the Pyrenees mountains in Europe, tucked between Spain and France. I had heard of Andorra before but once I found out that you could ski there, it shot to the top of my bucket list!

This trip was filled with blue skies, sunshine, beautiful views, and champagne. Lots of champagne. Oh, and there was also some skiing mixed in there as well. =) Seriously, this trip ranks up there with one of the best I’ve taken to date. I’m now on a mission to spread the word about this beautiful country that hardly anyone outside of Europe has heard of. On second thought, maybe I should keep this secret to myself. But if you’re curious to know more, check out the detailed recaps I wrote about skiing at Grandvalira and spa-ing (is that a word?) in the capital city of Andorra la Vella.

Park City, Utah

Somehow I was lucky enough to squeeze in another big ski trip this winter – this time out West in Utah! Park City and the surrounding mountains have come to feel a bit like a second home to me. I think this was my 5^th or 6^th time there. Every time I fall more and more in love with the Salt Lake Valley and the Wasatch Mountain range.

Arriving at the SLC airport is a scene like no other. It is overtaken in equal measure by ski bums lugging their equipment and Mormons gathered to welcome their loved ones home from a mission! It is quite the dichotomy. My first trip to Utah in 2008 was my longest. I was there for 10 days, skied 8 of them, but took a 1-day break in the middle. This recent trip was only 8 days long but I skied 7 consecutive days of fresh powder, at 5 different mountains!

You can really make the most of the Ikon pass in Utah since there are 5 nearby mountains on the pass. These include Alta and Snowbird in Little Cottonwood Canyon, as well as Brighton and Solitude in Big Cottonwood Canyon. These 4 mountains are about 45 minutes from Park City. The 5^th mountain on the Ikon Pass is Deer Valley Resort, which is right in the heart of Park City. I skied 4 of the 5 mountains on this trip (I didn’t make it to Solitude). I also forked over some cash for a day pass to Park City Mountain Resort (aka The Canyons) to ski one day with some friends who have the Epic Pass. My legs definitely needed a break by the 7th day of skiing in a row!

Snowbird

Alta

Brighton

Deer Valley

The Canyons

Sunday River, Maine

To finish off the season, some friends and I headed up to Sunday River in Maine. They throw a Spring Fest/Parrothead Festival the first weekend in April every year. The conditions were definitely on the slushy side, but that didn’t matter too much since we were eager to partake in the festivities. The resort sets up an outdoor stage with musicians performing throughout the afternoon. And there’s a Tiki Bar serving up classic Painkillers (à la Soggy Dollar on Jost Van Dyke in the BVIs), nutmeg and all. To top it off, some of the girls I met on my trip to Andorra happened to be there, as well as a friend I met on my NYE trip to Le Massif in Québec! Things really came full circle this season.

So, that’s the round-up of my 2019 ski season adventures! I’ve already bought my Ikon Pass for next year and am daydreaming of a trip to Aspen, Taos, or Big Sky. And a repeat trip to Utah, of course. Although, I heard that Squaw Valley is open until July 7^th this season. So I might just have to take a trip to Tahoe in May or June to squeeze in one more ski-venture!

What’s your favorite memory from this ski season?

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Getting There

Tremblant is located 80 miles north of Montreal (about 1.5 hours), which makes it an easy day trip from the city (but I recommend staying the weekend). It is also relatively easy to fly into Montreal and rent a car for the weekend, or there are direct flights to Tremblant from Toronto.

Since it is about a 7-hour drive from Boston, we planned a 4-day long weekend trip. We broke up the drive by stopping for lunch at the Farmhouse Tap & Grill in Burlington, VT, which is roughly the halfway point. Before embarking on the long-haul home to Boston, we stopped for brunch at Taverne Gaspar in Old Montreal, a repeat favorite from our weekend trip to Montreal last year.

Skiing at Mont Tremblant

Mont Tremblant is the highest mountain in the Laurentian mountain range at over 2800 feet (875 meters), and the village at the base of the mountain lies on the banks of Lac Tremblant. This strategic position makes for some fantastic panoramic views of the Laurentians and the lake from the peak of Mont Tremblant.

The first lift at Mont Tremblant opened in 1939, making it the second-oldest ski resort in North America (behind only Sun Valley in Idaho). But don’t worry, the mountain infrastructure is state-of-the-art. In fact, the company that owns the resort invested $13 million USD in renovations and upgrades for the 2018-2019 season, with an additional $10.5 million USD allocated for more upgrades before the 2019-2020 season.

The skiable terrain of Mont Tremblant spans roughly 750 acres and boasts 102 trails. The average annual snowfall has been around 200 inches the past few years. In addition, the resort has one of the largest snowmaking systems in North America with nearly 1,200 snow guns so you’re guaranteed decent snow conditions; however, you’re more likely to find groomed corduroy trails than stashes of powder. The mountain terrain ranges from beginner to expert, though ¾ of the trails are intermediate or above. The most unique feature about Mont Tremblant is that you can ski down all 4 faces of the mountain! Pro tip: sign up for a free guided tour t the Guest Services desk in the Grand Manitou Lodge at the summit!

The Village

One of the best things about Mont Tremblant is that, once you get there, you really don’t need a car. The pedestrian-only village at the base of the mountain is a popular draw for skiers and non-skiers alike. In fact, Mont Tremblant has been voted the #1 ski village in Eastern North America 19 times by SKI Magazine readers! The village was built in the 1990s in the style of a French Alps village. It does have a European feel to it, but it is also slightly reminiscent of Disney World. There is a cabriolet passenger lift that takes you to the top of the village. Then you can amble your way back down the hill via the cobblestone paths lined with vibrantly-painted buildings housing a myriad of restaurants and shops.

Après Ski

When you’ve had your fill of skiing, or just need to thaw out from the sub-zero temps that unfortunately plague Tremblant, there is one place in particular that I highly recommend. For a quintessential après ski experience, you can’t miss Le P’tit Caribou. This unassuming chalet-style bar was voted best après ski bar in North America by Freeskier Magazine and 4^th best après ski bar in the world by Forbes magazine! You are guaranteed to find a bustling environment inside and, if you’re lucky, you might even see (or partake in) some dancing on the bar in ski boots or crowd surfing to the music blaring from the gondola-turned-DJ booth.

Scandinave Spa

For a more relaxing and unique après ski experience, you must go to Scandinave Spa, which is a 5-minute drive from Mont Tremblant village. The spa is inspired by Nordic baths that follow a hot, cold, relax hydrotherapy rotation. It also subscribes to a strict no-talking policy (I can attest to the enforcement of this policy!).

After warming up in an outdoor hot tub, thermal waterfall, Finnish dry sauna, or Norwegian steam bath, you are supposed to take a 5-20 second dip in an ice-cold plunge pool, Nordic waterfall, or the frozen Diable River! The temperatures were already close to -10 degrees Fahrenheit when I was there so I could only muster the courage to dip my toes in the cold options!

To complete the rotation, you are asked to spend a minimum of 15 minutes in one of their relaxation installations (I didn’t have any issues adhering to this rule). This could be one of their indoor options such as the Swedish or Norwegian solarium. Alternatively, you can bundle up in an Adirondack chair by the outdoor fire, or under a blanket on a lounge chair under a heat lamp outdoors. This hot-cold-relax cycle is supposed to be repeated at least 3 times in order to reinvigorate your body while maximizing relaxation, blood circulation, and detoxification.

Pro Tip #1: If you show your day ski ticket, season pass, or Ikon pass you get 10% off access to the baths.

Pro Tip #2: The cost of entry into the baths is included in the price of the massage or other spa treatments they offer making both options feel more justifiable in my mind. I had one of the best massages ever and then spent almost 2 hours in the hydrotherapy circuit. I’ve never felt so relaxed in my life!

Non-Skiing Activities

• Aquaclub La Source
• Dog Sledding
• Dune Buggy Tours
• Fat Tire Biking
• Horse Sledding
• Ice Climbing
• Ice Fishing
• Ice Skating
• Sleigh Rides
• Snowmobiling
• Snowshoe Dinner at Le Refuge
• Snowtubing

Where To Stay

• Ermitage du Lac – Les Suites Tremblant
• Fairmont Tremblant
• Holiday Inn Express & Suites Tremblant
• Homewood Suites by Hilton
• Hôtel Quintessence
• Le Boisé by KASANIA
• Le Chic-Shack by KASANIA
• Le Lodge de la Montagne
• Le P’tit Condo by KASANIA
• Le Rustique by KASANIA
• Le Villageois by KASANIA
• Le Westin Resort & Spa
• Place St-Bernard
• Residence Inn by Marriott
• Sommet des Neiges
• Tour des Voyageurs

There are many perks to staying at a Tremblant Resort hotel or condo, which include some of the accommodations listed above: 1) You can walk everywhere; 2) You get First Tracks access to the lifts 45 minutes before opening time; 3) You have free access to the tubing slopes in the evening; 4) ice skates are available free of charge to enjoy the rink outside the St. Bernard Chapel.

Note: there is a larger town nearby the mountain called Mont Tremblant so make sure you are booked to stay in Tremblant village at the base of the mountain!

On-Mountain Dining

• Café Johannsen (technically in the village at the base of the South Side of the mountain )
• Le Grand Manitou (panoramic restaurant at the summit)
• La Fourchette du Diable (at base of mountain on North Side opposite village)
• Le Refuge Cabin (rustic mid-mountain lodge great for a hot chocolate break)

Village Dining

• Choux Gras Brasserie (upscale French bistro located in the Fairmont Tremblant)
• Coco Pazzo (upscale Italian dining)
• La Forge (upscale steakhouse at base of the mountain)
• La Savoie (authentic Savoyard fondue restaurant)
• Casey’s Bar and Grill (sports bar located in the Marriott Residence Inn)
• Le Q.G. (gastropub)
• Le Shack (family-friendly restaurant)
• Microbrasserie La Diable (microbrewery)
• Smoke’s Poutine (a must-have in Canada – hand-cut fries topped with cheese curds and smothered in gravy)

Dessert

• Queues de Castor BeaverTails (a delicious Canadian confection that is essentially fried dough shaped like the tail of a beaver and covered with sweet toppings like Nutella!)
• Cabane à  Sucre de la Montagne (another delicious Canadian confection; hot maple syrup poured over snow and hand-rolled to make a maple taffy lollipop)

Have you ever indulged in a BeaverTail?

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The post Winter Weekend at Mont Tremblant Ski Resort appeared first on Find The Pearls Travel.

The mission of the resort is to promote sustainable tourism and stay true to the sport of skiing. This was clearly evident by the lack of commercial development surrounding the mountain. However, the facilities that are on the mountain are state-of-the-art and the cuisine is above-average for a ski lodge. Fun fact: the resort was founded by the same person who started Cirque du Soleil!

There are a few unique features of Le Massif de Charlevoix which make it unlike any other mountain I have skied before. First, it has the highest vertical drop and the largest annual snowfall east of the Canadian Rockies. So you can get the thrill of West Coast skiing without the price of a plane ticket.

Second, the set-up of the resort is such that the main parking area and lodge are at the summit of the mountain, instead of the base. Once you park and grab your lift ticket, you can just ski right down the mountain and then hop on the gondola for a ride back up.

Lastly, the St. Lawrence River runs right along the bottom edge of Le Massif (seriously, it is just a few yards away from the chairlift at the base of the mountain), so you get gorgeous views of the ice-capped river as you ski down the mountain.

Le Massif receives an annual snowfall of around 250 inches, and has a vertical height of over 2,500 feet. The resort has over 400 acres of skiable terrain spread over 52 trails. About 15% of the trails are designated as beginner (green circle), 30% as intermediate (blue square), 20% as advanced (black diamond), and 35% as expert (double diamond and 1 triple diamond!).

There are 3 high-speed quad chairlifts and 1 gondola, as well as a Magic Carpet learning area. There is also the possibility to go alpine touring or off-piste skiing as well (with an access ticket). And there are numerous cross-country ski and snowshoe trails as well.

If skiing is not your thing, you can also go sledding down Mont Liguori on Le Massif’s 7.5 km sled run! Don’t worry though, you won’t be zooming down the mountain in one fell swoop. There are stops along the way, including a warming stop at a mid-mountain chalet. The resort also offers dog-sledding excursions, which is an item that is at the top of my bucket list!

I, unfortunately, had to take my après ski beverage to go this time. But Le Grand Duc Pub at the summit offers live après ski entertainment throughout the winter! So I’ll need to check that out next time I’m here. Perfect reason to come back! #aprèsskiismyfavorite

Have you skied Le Massif de Charlevoix?

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The post Québec City Day Trip: Skiing Le Massif de Charlevoix appeared first on Find The Pearls Travel.