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| Montreal, Avenue
McGill College |
| Courtesy Linda Turgeon |
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| Dogsledding |
| Courtesy Jean-Guy Lavoie |
Your idea of a great winter escapade might not
be skiing at 14o F, but Québec has plenty
to offer — on and off piste. And getting there
from Washington is only a quick 90-minute, nonstop
flight to Montreal.
In winter, the second largest French-speaking city
in the world thrives with activities. While residents
of other northern cities hibernate, Montrealers
find any excuse to celebrate- even the cold! The
newly renovated Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth hotel
places travelers at the heart of the action, minutes
away from the main attractions. Visitors can also
shed their coats to enjoy the hotel’s Health
Club or stroll the 19 miles of the underground city
linking restaurants, boutiques and theaters. Among
Montreal’s greatest strength is an exceptional
restaurant scene. Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth’s
legendary Beaver Club restaurant is well worth a
visit, being ranked as one of the world’s top
ten hotel restaurants by Hotels magazine.
North of Montreal, the Laurentian region is well
known for its winter life. Fairmont Tremblant is
located at the center of the resort’s pedestrian
village, where colored rooftops and European architecture
make shopping and dining an experience in itself.
The Hotel offers ski-in, ski-out access to Mont-Tremblant.
On non-ski days, you might want to explore the surrounding
forests snowshoeing, cross-country skiing or dogsledding.
For dining, the hotel features great restaurants
including Le Loup-Garou, proposing exquisite Audacious
Québecois cuisine and Le Windigo, ideal for
families with daily table d’hôte and
international buffets. Relaxation is the word at
the hotel’s health club; the four season outdoor
pool and jacuzzi are a perfect apres-ski activity.
One hour south of Tremblant, on the shores of the
Ottawa River in the Outaouais region, you can experience
a more rustic side of winter at the world’s
largest log cabin, Fairmont Le Château Montebello.
Set in the heart of a 65,000-acre private estate,
the hotel offers more than 25 indoor and outdoor
on-site activities. When the snow falls, head out
on a dogsled or snowmobile, take a sleigh ride,
curl or cross-country ski over 26 kilometers of
well-groomed trails. You can also come in from the
cold and swim, or relax at the Spa in the Sports
Center. Once you’ve worked up an appetite,
savor great cuisine at Aux Chantignoles restaurant
before settling down for an after-dinner drink in
front of the six-sided fireplace.
No trip would be complete without a visit to Québec
City and the would-renowned Fairmont le Château
Frontenac. Standing high on a cliff overlooking
the St. lawrence River, this castle is not merely
a hotel located in the heart of Old Québec
– it is the heart of it. Fairmont Le château
Frontenac provides travelers with refined hospitality
and gourmet cuisine in its award-winning Le Champlain
restaurant. Québec City, the snow capital
of the world, offers 1,001 exciting winter pleasures,
including ski hills, snowboard runs and crosscountry
ski trails conveniently located nearby. For the
ultimate winter experience, dress warmly and stay
for the world-famous Québec Winter Carnival.
In the Charlevoix region, East of Québec
City, Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu welcomes an international
clientele to enjoy its storybook setting. The diversity
of the regional activities makes this destination
a nature and sports enthusiasts’ paradise.
And there is never a shortage of snow to experience
snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing,
ice fishing or skating. Just minutes away, downhill
skiers will discover ideal conditions on the slopes
of the Mont Grands-Fonds, a family center with trails
for all ages and all levels. Le Massif, a unique
ski hill, where the St. Lawrence River provides
a stunning backdrop for the highest vertical drop
in Québec is also very popular. A visit to
the Charlevoix region is a definite must to discover
winter between sea and mountains.
The Fairmont hotels of Québec offer guests
special value-added packages to experience a Canadian
winter wonderland. For more information or for reservations
please call 1-800-441-1414, or visit their web site
at www.fairmont.com.
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