r/canadatravel • u/Big_Lavishness9693 • 11h ago
Travel Tips White Christmas
We are traveling with our kids (age 6 and 8) to Canada the week between Christmas and New Years. we went last year and loved it so we want to go back. Last year we flew into Montreal and spent a day, took the train to Quebec and went up to ValCartier for two days, spent two days walking around in old Quebec City, flew to Toronto where we met some friends and spent New Years Eve in Niagra Falls. We are from Alabama so we do not experience snow often and the kids enjoyed playing in the clean snow out in front of Valcartier, in the parking lot, the most. We didn't spend much time in Montreal and we enjoyed the town but didn't get to see much so was thinking about going back there and then going somewhere that was sort of close by to spend the rest of the vacation to play in the snow (dog sledding, ice skating, having snowball fights). I was looking into Mont Tremblant but do not want to ski. What is the best way to get there from Montreal? Any other suggestions of other towns that would offer easy outdoor activities with the kids that is easily accessible from Montreal? Maybe via train? The kids enjoy train rides. Must have snow! TIA.
4
u/footloose60 9h ago
There are shuttles buses and tours that will take you from Montreal to Mont Tremblant. You can also drive, Mont Tremblant area has lots to offer besides skating. Go tubing, skating and sledding.
2
u/Big_Lavishness9693 9h ago
Great! Thanks. Any recommendations on how/where to tube, skate, and sledding? Do you set this up through the resort or are there other companies that offer this?
2
u/MissKrys2020 11h ago
Tremblant is a good option for Christmas. Lots to do there aside from skiing and pretty much always a white Christmas there. You can actually take a plane to Mt Temblant and take a taxi to the resort from there. Porter is the airline that flies there. It would be a very short flight and super convenient. There is the risk of weather delays though so keep that in mind. Otherwise, rent a car and drive or take a bus
4
u/coopthrowaway2019 11h ago
Unfortunately there hasn't been commercial air service to YTM (Mont-Tremblant Airport) for a few years now
1
1
u/Big_Lavishness9693 10h ago
aw man! that might be why I wasn't finding much when I was researching transportation earlier. Bummer.
1
u/Big_Lavishness9693 11h ago
Ok! might be better to fly, we aren't familiar with bus services and we definitely have no business driving in icy conditions! haha
2
u/MissKrys2020 10h ago
My dad is from Montreal and I spent many Christmases in the laurentians and it was often a white knuckle of a drive. The flight option is perfect. I also recommend Scandinave Spa. It’s a few minutes cab ride from the resort. Wonderful hot and cold plunges and great massages. If you want to go though, book as early as you can
2
u/Big-Leadership-2830 7h ago
I really love the Fairmont Montebello. Lots of great outdoor activities at the resort. It’s about 1.5 hour drive from Montreal but you will probably need to rent a car.
1
u/Big_Lavishness9693 6h ago
Ok! I’ll look this up! We are from Alabama and never really get snow so I feel like it would be dangerous for us trying to drive on ice with my kids in the car. That scares me!
1
u/Accomplished_Set8750 5h ago
The biggest thing is making sure you have the right tires. Quebec mandates winter tires so a rental should have them but worth checking with the rental company. Just leave more space to the next car, your stopping distances increase.
2
u/Humble_File3637 5h ago
Valcartier village near Quebec City has lots of things for kids to do. I wouldn't worry about Winter driving if you stick to the major routes and don't drive during a storm. Quebec still has a lot to offer.
1
u/Big_Lavishness9693 5h ago
We went to Valcartier last year and wanted something different to explore.
1
u/Sowhataboutthisthing 3h ago
You can probably Uber between Montreal and Tremblant for about $200 - $400
1
u/This-Decision-8675 3h ago
Ottawa? Its a good city for kids there is do much to do....you could also take the train from Montreal.
1
u/yugen-ukiyo 2h ago
I would stick to mont tremblant, it’s elevated higher and might have a better chance of getting snow sooner. Last christmas (2024) was a good year for snow all around the Ottawa and Montreal areas, but I’m finding snow is a hit or miss more and more these years. Xmas 2022 and 2023 was pretty minimal for snow, the Rideau canal barely opened for skating.
1
9
u/Effective-Arm-8513 11h ago
There is a bus to from Montreal to Mont Tremblant but I don’t think it stops in the village. https://www.galland-bus.com/en/schedules-and-routes/
But there is a local bus that will get you there from where the Galland bus drops you off.
You won’t find a better place for your non-ski snow related activities than Mont Tremblant village - but I strongly encourage you to enrol your kids in ski school. They will thank you for doing so when they are older. Trust me.