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| Mont-Tremblant, Quebec |
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Ninety miles northwest of Montreal, you'll come across one of the world's premier ski destinations: Mont-Tremblant in the Laurentian Mountains. With 94 trails that run the gamut from novice to expert, the lifts are designed to handle more than 27,000 people per hour-so no waiting in line when all you want to do is shoot down the mountain. Tremblant also has an 18-acre system of parks and pipes for every level and an Olympic-caliber super-pipe for those jump fanatics.
What this ski destination offers is the all-around winter experience, from the more traditional activities like downhill and cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and tubing, to more exclusive adventures like dog-sledding, horseback mountain treks and snowmobiling. One of the coolest things (no pun intended) that Mont-Tremblant
offers is ice climbing. No
experience is necessary because there are pros at the bottom of the
cliff to demonstrate basic climbing skills and top-rope climbing.
Just come ready to experience an adrenaline rush unlike anything you
could catch on the ground. Tickets for the excursion are offered in
half-day and full-day increments.
After hitting the trails all day, slip off the boats, stretch out your knees and step into N'Ice Club Mont-Tremblant.
From late December through late March (depending on the |
weather), this snow-and-ice club serves drinks in glasses made of
ice at the ice bar and offers private alcoves, a dance floor and
even fireplaces inside. N'Ice, coming into its second season this
winter, is presented by the Ice Hotel Quebec-Canada.
Another post-sporting option is the Scandinavian baths. Two to three hours are recommended for this centuries-old activity as you slip first from the Norwegian steam bath to the Finnish sauna and whirlpool baths, then a quick dip into the Nordic waterfall in an outdoor cold-water basin or in the Du Diable River itself. (The name translates to
'‘Devil's
River' - you have been warned.) This cycle may be repeated as desired. The process is said to cleanse the skin, improve one's physical condition and even provide a feeling of well-being. (We just say it feels good after a long day on the mountain!) Visitors may combine the baths with a number of spa treatments.
Either at the beginning or end of your visit to Tremblant, be sure to take a daytrip to montreal. While there, check out RÉSO, the city's indoor, underground city. This twenty-mile pedestrian network connects thousands of hotels, restaurants, universities and attractions. More than 500,000 people use this brightly lit passageway everyday. The Montrealais (locals) use
it to escape the traffic and cold winters, so visitors get a great glimpse of Montreal life
- and because it's not outside, there's no need to bundle up.
Contact: Mont-Tremblant Resort, 888-738-1777, www.tremblant.ca
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| Lakeshore Heads to Balsams |
Lakeshore Ski & Sports Club heads high in New Hampshire's White Mountains for a January 21st getaway. Club members will take advantage of some of the best ski conditions and scenery on the East Coast on this 5-day getaway. For more information, see Lakeshore's club profile at the back of this magazine.
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| East New & Noteworthy |
Jay Peak has a unique approach to skiing - they allow guests to ski and ride anywhere within their borders. While there are 76 runs for those who want to stick to the guided path, many advanced skiers choose to venture off with pals to check out the rest of the amazing scenery of northern Vermont. With more than 385 skiable acres and more snow than anywhere else in New England, Jay Peak offers a true rogue experience on and off the slopes.
Jay Peak Real Estate is finishing phase three of construction on 8 new townhomes for December 2006 and 32 new condominiums for December 2007. Both are for sale or rent through the resort.
Contact: 800.451.4449, www.jaypeakresort.com
Killington is having an exciting season this winter, with $1.5 million in upgrades and improvements throughout the summer. Designated slow ski/snowboard zones are up at Snowdon and Rams Head Peaks and they have increased their number of snowguns and snowcats for increased
quality of the snow surface. With seven mountains and a network of 200 runs, Killington is by far the largest ski area in the Eastern United States. From the summit of Killington Peak, skiers can see five states, including Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts and New York, as well as Canada.
Contact: 877-458-4637, www.killington.com
Killington Grand Resort Hotel Spa opened in July and offers a full menu of treatments for its guests, including a Vichy Shower wet room, which features several showerheads spraying water at multiple areas of the body simultaneously, leaving the body refreshed and relaxed.
Stowe, Vermont, is connecting Spruce Peak and Mt. Mansfield for the first time in the resort's 68-year history. Instead of driving or taking the shuttle (and wasting a lot of time if you have to go back and forth more than once), now it's a scenic three-minute ride. The resort also added more than 300 parking spaces.
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West Virginia's Snowshoe Mountain has a ton of lodging options and a wide array of activities for children, including Kid's Night Out, which lets Mom and Dad have the night off while the little ones go deep into the woods for some snowshoeing and hanging out by the bonfire. And there's no need to worry about the kids being trampled on the trails you want to try
- with 57 runs, there is a great mix of easy, moderate and difficult to suit both your and their skill levels. Contact: 877.441.4386, www.snowshoemtn.com.
While you're at Snowshoe, make sure to check out the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in nearby Green Bank. The NRAO features the largest fully steerable
dish in the world. Standing taller than the Statue of Liberty at
485 feet, the surface of the Green Bank Telescope covers more
than two acres. Visitors are welcome for tours and to visit the
fully interactive astronomy exhibit, Catching the Wave.
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Contact: 304.456.2011,
www.nrao.edu
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| Gather Your Group and GO! |
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