Snow in Montreal can be very charming. When we stroll through the parks after a snowfall, everything is white and shiny in the sun – and we almost forget the icy wind or the roar of the snowploughs under our windows at four in the morning.
But very soon, and especially after the excitement of the holidays, the snow turns gray and causes us more sadness than joy. So, without completely breaking away from the snowy streets of Montreal, we sometimes want to go and see some snow that isn’t coloured by exhaust pipes.
That’s why we’ ve got 3 places to go and play in the snow this winter within a 2-hour drive of Montreal – for a day or a weekend in the country.
There’s snow for everyone!
1 For romantics – Knowlton, Eastern Townships
When you arrive in Knowlton, you’re not sure you’re not in a Quebec micro Twin Peaks . .. Small stone churches, Victorian houses, and a small waterfall lined with large millennial rocks.
This is one of the Eastern Townships villages that inspired novelist Louise Penny and her mysteries. For those who like to spend (literary) time at Three Pines, this is the perfect stroll.
In Knowlton, you can;
- stroll along the Brome Lake Trail – which runs from the center of Knowlton to the lakefront
- visit the Brome Lake Books store
- enjoy a coffee (or hot chocolate) at Caron & Frères
- take a tour of the antique shops
2 For the sporty types – Mont Tremblant, Laurentians
Mont Tremblant is one of Quebec’s most beautiful mountains for winter sports, and the ski resort has some of the best slopes in the region.
The village of Mont Tremblant, inspired by the small mountain villages of the German Alps, is well worth a visit after a day’s skiing. Find out more about its history here!
At Mont Tremblant, you can;
- ski, snowshoe or cross-country ski at Mont Tremblant resort
- eat fondue at La Savoie restaurant
- stroll through the village streets and pretend you’re in an Andersen fairy tale
3For those nostalgic for the small-town of the 90s- Magog, Eastern Townships
Magog is a small town worthy of a Hallmark romantic comedy set or an episode of Stranger Things. It’s on the shores of a lake said to be so deep that it’s inhabited by a creature you can see on foggy mornings…
You can skate along the shores of Lake Memphremagog on a large icy ring with your family and drink hot chocolate next to a braséro afterwards, in a truly charming small-town atmosphere.
In Magog, you can;
- skate on the Sentier Glacé on the shores of Lake Memphrémagog
- take in a show at the legendary Vieux Clocher theatre
- drink coffee at the Caffuccino
- go hiking or skiing at Mont Orford
Enjoy your visit!