MONT TREMBLANT - A WINTER WONDERLAND FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY

On the shores of Lake Tremblant, just outside the Village of Mont Tremblant in the Quebec Laurentians, is the Resort of  Tremblant by Intrawest.  The mountain, with the Pedestrian Village at its base and Condominiums dotting the hillside, provides an impressive sight for visitors and ski season is an ideal time to experience all the fun this winter wonderland has to offer.  There are so many types of accommodations, restaurants, shops and activities to experience that every member of the family and every type of family is sure to find everything to meet their needs. 

Skiing and snowboarding are the main activities during the winter with plenty of options on how best to enjoy the 92 trails over 610 acres of skiable terrain serviced by 13 lifts.

The Adventure Centre, located in Sommet des Neiges and accessible from Place St. Bernard is where visitors go to begin their exploration of Mont Tremblant.  This one stop shop at the base of the mountain  is were lift tickets, rentals, and lessons can all be arranged and it's where our family's exploration of this winter wonderland began. The Snow School Bell, one of the meeting  places for lessons is right outside the Centre.

Lift and lesson tickets attached, the boys were dropped off at their group lesson for a day of skiing fun - including lunch in a special heated tent.  Depending on the age of children, group lessons meet at the Kidz Club magic carpet, the Tent at the new "Equilibre" beginner area, Snow School Bell or Snowboard Shack.  The Program schedule details meeting areas for lessons, but it doesn't hurt to check ahead of time to confirm where the kids are to meet their instructors.  Sometimes the meeting locations change and we experienced a little difficulty at first but the instructors were very helpful.  One day group lessons for children 3 to 12 years of age are offered daily and include lunch.  On weekends half day lessons are also available in the afternoon.  The 2000-2001 winter season saw over 7,500 kids enjoy group lessons at the Kidz Club.  Whow!! They must be doing something right.

Then it was time for us to head off and sample some of the 46.6 miles of trails on Mont Tremblant.  Info-ski guides are available for a free one-hour  tour of the mountain but we decided to head off on our own until 3:00 pm when we had to be back to pick up the kids.

The Tremblant Express Gondola is a popular lift for a quick ride up to the Summit with fantastic views.

A quick check of the Information Board located at the Summit lets us know that almost all the lifts are open for all skiers and snowboarders.  It is wise to check the board when skiing with children to ensure that all lifts can be used by youngsters. We also have a choice of three restaurants for slopeside meals, all of which are also open for the day.

Locals recommend that you ski or snowboard on the North Side in the morning.  We assumed that this was because most visitors ski the south side first so the North Side is not as busy in the morning and subsequently the South Side is not as busy in the afternoon.

The North Side also features the Gravity Park.  Designed for Experts, this area combines a Super Halfpipe, Quarter Pipe, Rollers, Tabletops, Spines, Backturns and Two Rail sections.  The Mini Gravity Park nearby is where beginners get a chance to practice their skills.

If you are planning to bring along a non-skier aged 1 to 6 years, Mother Nature Daycare Camp offers a safe, supervised facility.   Pagers are available for added peace of mind while parents are on the slopes or partaking a lesson.	Last year, 1,805 little ones got to meet and play with friends, enjoy the toys and take a nap or two.  An average of 20 children a day are catered to in the centre.
After a busy day on the mountain, we headed down the Pedestrian main street for some shopping.  Beavertails are a Quebec tradition and we had to sample them before continuing down the hill to our hotel.  Another sweet treat we indulged in was the Maple Syrup Taffy - hot maple syrup poured on snow and then twisted onto a stick.

When it comes time to satisfy a hungry family, there are more than 35 on-site restaurants to choose from.  Here's what we sampled:

• The buffet dinner served at Windigos in The Fairmont Tremblant provided plenty of choices to suit even my fussy 8 year old's tastes.  

• Pizzateria for lunch gave us a variety of choices for some interesting pizza combinations.  Mozzarella Pizza or Spaghettini is offered as children's menu items.

• Casey's, in the Marriott Residence Inn has typical roadhouse fare.  We did a family favourite of choosing a few appetizers and sharing them.

There are almost as many places to stay at Tremblant as there are to eat.  With more than 1200 suites in 8 different hotels the hardest part of finding accommodations at Tremblant is choosing where to stay.  For our choice go to Country Inn & Suites by Carlson at Tremblant - Perfect for a Skiing Family.

If you are looking for some après ski fun there are plenty of options also.  Dogsledding, Snowmobiling, Horseback Riding, Snow Shoeing, Ice Climbing, Tubing, Sleighriding and Spa services can be booked through the Activity Centre. 

Wednesday and Saturday evenings when the lights come on at the base of the south side,  tubes, carpets and other gliding toys take over the beginner area "Equilibre Zone" for a different kind of fun on the slopes.

Soirees de Glissee Volkswagen is a family activity with music, games and activities.  Participants receive prizes.  Adults are $13.00 and Children under 13 are $10.00.

Just because the snow is flying at Tremblant, you don't want to forget your bathing suits (or if you do you can always purchase one) for a visit to La Source.  Go to La Source Aquaclub at Tremblant, Pools and Fitness Centre.  There are also many hot tubs to enjoy with other winter enthusiasts.

If shopping is one of your passions -unfortunately it is one of mine- you won't be disappointed either.  From clothing to toys for girls and boys along with souvenirs and plenty of snow boarding and skiing accessories, a stroll down the main pedestrian walkway or the hotel lobbies is sure to offer something you just have to have.

With so much to do and so many trails to explore on the mountain it's no wonder so many families visit the winter wonderland of the Tremblant Resort.  Then there is all the fun offered in the summer but that's another story.

For more on a family ski vacation to Tremblant go to:

Country Inn & Suites by Carlson at Tremblant - Perfect for a Skiing Family

La Source Aquaclub at Tremblant, Pools and Fitness Centre

For more information go to Quebec Ski Resorts

For Hotels and Resorts at Tremblant go to Quebec Hotels and Resorts.

By Maureen Hall

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