January is the month of the new year, new me – and that includes the (more or less catastrophic) management of our finances. Heating is expensive – and that’s not counting the car, the Uber for those who don’t have a car, the coffee budget to de-ice our hands between appointments because our organic wool mittens aren’t warm enough.
So in January 2026, we’re going to become thrifty without locking ourselves in our apartments…
1. light skating at Esplanade Tranquille and a stroll through Lumino
Because we’re going to be more pleasant and graceful in 2026, we’re starting with a session of light therapy in downtown Montreal.
The downtown light festival returned in early December with the opening of the Esplanade Tranquille skating rink…
Where? Esplanade Tranquille, rue Sainte-Catherine Ouest
When? 5 p.m. on December 3, until March 8, 2026
How? Free admission
2. cross-country skiing (on free trails)
We’ll be athletic, finally see an owl (not at the zoo) and enjoy the Quebec winter instead of shivering with our feet in the snow until April. We’ll be in control of our weekends, and we’ll see a bit of the region (without going too far, though).
Our 6 favorite free trails;
- Montreal’sRiveraine
- Montreal’s Mont-Royal
- La Lantiéroise in the Laurentians
- Rawdon in Lanaudière
- Parc Nature de la Pointe-aux-Prairies in Montreal
- Le Boisé Est in Montreal’s Parc Frédéric-Back
3.skate on all of Montreal’s ponds
We’re going to make good use of our parks and skate on every icy surface in Montreal – on a date, with friends, wearing kneepads and with hot chocolate brought from home in a thermos. Saving money is sexy, isn’t it?
Happy January 2026 in Montreal!