When winter rolls around and many choose to hibernate indoors, it becomes one of my favorite times to explore. Places are less crowded, the experience is festive, and snow brings its own special magic to any situation.
If you’re looking for beautiful, entertaining, and good for the soul types of weekend trips from Montréal to the surrounding areas of Québec, these suggestions are all about eating well (including maple things!), enjoying adventures in nature, and R&R.
1. Spa, Farm-to-Table Eats, and Snow Activities at Le Baluchon Éco-villégiature (Eco Resort)
Le Baluchon Éco-villégiature sits on 1000 acres in the Mauricie region and offers everything from activities to a Nordic-style spa and delicious farm to table food.
The rooms feature a big comfy bed, fireplace, and furniture that’s made on-site using locally-sourced materials.
I loved that the food is local too, with the eco resort growing much of its own offerings, including raising its own animals and sourcing 80% of the other ingredients from within Quebec. They have their own vegetable garden, hazelnut trees, vineyard, and their animals are raised eating and living well.
For dinner, I enjoyed a winter salad with fennel and blueberries and for my main, a wild boar pasta with maple glaze and Brussels sprouts – it was so unique I just had to try it! Plus I’m easy to sell on anything with maple syrup.
There’s an abundance of winter activities, too, including a winter horse carriage, fat biking, Nordic skiing, horseback riding, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling. The grounds are charming, with a picturesque windmill, chapel, and 35km of trails to choose from.
My personal favorite was the Nordic spa – something I miss dearly from my days living in Europe and wish we had in the US. For those not in the know it features pools of varying temperatures, sauna, and relaxation rooms. I also enjoyed a prenatal massage with Stephanie who knew just how to relieve my lower back pain.
Rarely have I stayed somewhere that had so many things to offer all in one place. I loved that it’s also not only family-owned and operated, but several extended local families work at the resort as well, making it a true community effort. Le Baluchon Éco-villégiature is about 2 hours from Montreal.
2. Ma Yourte au Coeur des Collines Yurt Stay
I adored my stay at…
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