Mont Tremblant
My husband, an avid skier, heard about this place with its world-renowned ski school and always dreamed of taking his family there to learn to ski, so great was his passion. Fate intervened when the girlfriend of a college friend told him that she owned a condo near the mountain.
And so our yearly trek to Mont Tremblant began - a place close to our hearts.
Our daughter had just turned three the first year we went. We enrolled her in the ski school. Four full days of lessons with the same instructor and students. It was age appropriate, and she loved it. The ski instructors were bilingual and gave instructions in French and English. She progressed quickly over 12 consecutive years of traveling there. I took lessons too and soon was skiing on black diamonds, a stretch for me. Finally, after years of lessons, I could keep up with my husband and daughter - sort of.
Mont Tremblant is a city in Quebec located in the Laurentian Mountains just a little over an hour’s drive northwest of Montreal. The Mont Tremblant Ski Resort is in that city and has been named the #1 ski resort in North America for many years by readers of Ski Magazine.
The ski school is amazing, and I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to become a good technical skier quickly. Even without lessons, Mont Tremblant is a skier’s paradise. With 750 acres of skiing terrain, there is something for everyone from long, green runs to double black diamonds and everything in between.
All skiers are able to get to the very top of the mountain and ski down, since there are green trails from the top as well. That is a huge plus in my book since everyone is able to enjoy the mountain together if the group has varying ski abilities. Once at the top, those who prefer an easier trail can take that one down, and those who prefer more difficult trails can enjoy their time on those - with everyone meeting at the bottom.
The ski area is divided into sections. The South Side (Versant Sud) overlooks the village and lake, and the North Side (Versant Nord) is the back side of the mountain. You’ll find glade skiing on the North Side, as well as The Edge with steeper trails for advanced skiers. There’s plenty for snowboarders too.
The views are stunning from almost anywhere on the mountain. I especially love the view at the top of the Johannsen trail on the South Side where you can see the village and Lake Tremblant behind it just before skiing down to the base.
The pedestrian village is charming with plenty of hotels, restaurants, and shopping. The fun doesn’t stop after a full day of skiing. There is plenty to do. We’ve painted ceramics and gone to the spa at various times when visiting. There is a casino at the mountain and plenty for teenagers (or adults) to do with arcades and laser tag. Plus, there’s night skiing and tubing. A visit to Mont Tremblant is not complete without a visit to La Savoie for authentic fondue or La Maison de la Crepe.
After our last run of the day, our first stop was to BeaverTails, a small shop in the village where they sold flat fried dough. Similar to an ice cream shop, you mosey up to the window and order a beaver tail with several different topping options, from simple cinnamon and sugar to a hazelnut spread topped with M&Ms.
And generally at some point during our stay at Mont Tremblant, we each purchased maple sugar taffy - maple syrup heated to the perfect temperature and poured on snow in a long line then wrapped around a popsicle stick. Maple syrup perfection. A classic thing to do at Mont Tremblant. Cabane A Sucre de la Montagne is located toward the bottom of the pedestrian village near the cabriolet.
Need a day off from skiing?
Parc Omega is in Montebello, which is less than an hour’s drive south of Mont Tremblant. It’s a drive-through park where you can feed animals from your car. If you don’t purchase carrots ahead of time, you can buy them there. It’s amazing to hold a carrot out of the window and have moose, deer, and even bison take them from you. There are so many animals - wolves, ibex, bears, boars, goats and more. It is a unique thing to do and something we’ve done each year we traveled to Mont Tremblant. It doesn’t get old.
Quebec’s winter wonderland is worth exploring, and a dog sledding adventure is the perfect way to experience it. After being introduced to the huskies (who were eager to run), we helped harness them up before hitting the trails. As the dogs surged forward, it was amazing to realize just how powerful they were and how easily they propelled us along the snowy trail. We each had a chance to “mush” and steer the sled over frozen lakes and through the woods, stopping halfway through the adventure at a log cabin with a roaring fireplace to sip hot chocolate. It was magical. You will find many options for dog sledding by visiting this site.
Where to Stay
Accommodation options are overwhelming. When we rented our friend’s condo, it was located across the lake with stunning views of the mountain at Club Tremblant Hotel du lac. It was a perfect spot for us in the early days. A short three-minute shuttle ride to the mountain was convenient. They have a well-known spa and many restaurants on site, and at dusk, we watched herds of deer cross the frozen lake to feed at troughs on the property.
In the later years, we stayed right at the mountain in the pedestrian village. This ski-on, ski-off option gave great flexibility. We were able to head to our condo during the lunch hour, save money by eating our own food and regroup a bit before skiing in the afternoon. It was convenient to take a stroll in the pedestrian village in the evening as well.
Place St-Bernard Hotel is truly ski-in, ski-out. We walked only a few steps from our condo unit to the gondola. It is actually two hotels - Le Deslauriers and Le Johannsen. It can be a bit confusing, so you’ll want to be sure to know which one your unit is in when you book. Le Johannsen faces the slopes. From our living room window, we were able to watch the skiers descend the mountain to get on the gondola.
If you have Marriott points to spare, there are options. Le Westin Tremblant is toward the bottom of the pedestrian village. Though still a ski-in, ski-out option, you must carry your skis onto the cabriolet, a type of open-air gondola that takes you from the bottom part of the pedestrian village to the base of the mountain. It is a fun ride, carrying you above hotel rooftops. The Westin was by far my favorite accommodation at the mountain. Be sure to visit Cabane A Sucre de la Montagne for that maple sugar taffy, which is your first stop after taking the cabriolet back to the hotel.
Another Marriott points option is the Marriott Residence Inn, located not too far from Le Westin Tremblant. It gets great reviews.
Whether a skier or not, Mont Tremblant Ski Resort is a destination worth visiting and only a seven hour drive from Boston - definitely doable. We’ve only traveled there during the winter for the purpose of skiing, but we were told by locals that it is more popular in the summer months. Biking, hiking, fishing, rock climbing, swimming and boating, as well as golfing at their many golf courses await. There is even summer skiing on a synthetic surface.
For our family, Mont Tremblant Ski Resort will always be a favorite destination in the winter. For those who are just learning to ski or want to improve, the ski school is one of the best in the country. The mountain offers so much with ski trails for all abilities and a fun village with plenty to do. It’s no wonder that Mont Tremblant is continually rated as the #1 ski resort in Eastern North America.
Pro Tip - If you’re thinking about going, the mountain offers some great lodging and skiing deals in October. Mark your calendar!