When the cold rolls in and wooly socks come out, you know winter has arrived. It is a time of year when the world brings out its blanket of white and gets ready for a few months of hibernation awaiting the spring warmth to return once more.
With that being said, there are places in the world that thrive in the winter months and find even more waits of entertaining themselves and others by the creative things they can offer in the stillness of a season.
It’s rare that when winter comes we choose to travel to a place covered in snow and where temperatures plunge well below freezing. Yes, the very thought sends shivers down your spine; but there are some places in the world where the winter cold does wonders to a city.
For Quebec, winter is one of the best times to visit this beautiful, old-fashioned province that is quickly becoming one of the world’s most favourite Canadian travel destinations, and that comes as no surprise. With the wealth of winter activities and sites that this historic province has to offer, a Quebec winter may just be one of the best.
1. Quebec’s annual Winter Carnival is said to be the biggest winter festival in the world. Running the course of three whole weeks, there are newly added features and attractions every year. While the Carnival is great fun for families, both locals and tourists can take advantage of a full-on program including ice and snow sculptures competition, night parades, snow tubing, food tasting, extreme activities, ice fishing and much more. The carnival runs from the end of January to the beginning of February.
2. Possibly one of the biggest attractions to Quebec is to visit the infamous Ice Hotel. Since its inception in 2011, the hotel has welcomed over more than half a million guests from around the world. The hotel is built each year in December and houses guests for the duration of three months before it melts away from the spring sun. But before its temporary existence, the chapel sees many functions and celebrations in its Ice Chapel, Ice Bar and Ice Cafe only to be rebuilt from scratch again for the next season.
3. In summertime and the often sweltering heat, we make a point of visiting a water park, and in Quebec, this is more than just a popular summer tradition. Quebec is home to one of the biggest outdoor winter playgrounds. A 20-minute drive away from Quebec, this wintertime amusement park offers over 35 snow slides, skating paths and a variety of activities for all ages, making it a great family destination. Thrill-seekers will find what they need, though.
4. Boasting one of the biggest vertical drops east of the Canadian Rockies is the Le Massif de Charlevoix project, which includes a 150-room hotel set to open this spring in Baie-Saint- Paul, and the new touring Train linking Quebec City with La Malbaie.
5. Go ice-skating on the Plains of Abraham and be amongst the most serene natural setting, where one can glide across the sprawling ice blanket. Skating the Plains can be done until mid-March.
6. On March 8 and 9, 2014, the world will see its first ever Winter Triathlon in Quebec. The event will bring together the sports elite for an event approved by the International Triathlon Union. This challenge will include 5 km of snowshoeing, 12 km of speed skating and 8 km of skiing. The schedule also features an open event. 7 The Duchesnay tourist station opened up Segway trails in the summer of 2013 and will extend those into the winter months. Starting in January 2014, a 3 km forest trail specifically developed for exploring by Segway will be groomed by snowmobile.
8. About 10-15 minutes drive from Old Québec is the beautiful Montmorency Falls Park, where one can find panoramic views of the St. Lawrence River, either from the top or bottom of the impressive 83-meters-high (272 feet) waterfall, which is 30 m (99 feet) higher than Niagara Falls. A cable car connecting top and bottom take both novice and avid climbers to this Canadian ice-climbing hideout.
9. Maple syrup is indigenous to North America, and more specifically to Quebec. More than any other product, it is one of the most infamous cultural staples associated with Quebecers and Canadians around the world. Most popular during the winter months is Maple Toffee, where maple syrup is poured onto snow as a sweet, traditional treat.
10. Quebec is home to one of the toughest winter sports. No, it’s not skiing, it’s ice canoeing and it’s the main event at the winter carnival. During Carnaval de Quebec (Winter Carnival), some 40 teams compete, struggling against the powerful St. Lawrence current, through chunks of ice and freezing water. Teams race across the St. Lawrence River from Quebec City (Basin Louise) to Levis, and back. The St. Lawrence River is the only place in the world where this sport is practiced.
These are just 10 things you can do in the wintertime in Quebec, and the list goes on. From the healthy selection of activities for you to choose from, it comes as no surprise that Quebec is quickly becoming Canada’s most favourable travel destination. With its unique plethora of indoor and outdoor activities, for the adventurous to the more tame explorer, there is something for everyone and every family alike in Quebec.
