Mont-Sainte-Anne | Québec - Office du tourisme de Québec

Thursday, March 17, 2016
Mont-Sainte-Anne | Québec
Mont-Sainte-Anne is a picturesque ski resort located in the town of St-Ferreol-les-Neiges in the
province of Québec, Canada - 25 miles north of the ever charming and popular French
influenced Québec City. This was the first destination on our week-long Canadian ski mountain
road
trip!
Much to my surprise and delight, I was selected for the trip after posting an Instagram at the
Québec Original media event last fall with the contest hashtags: #quebecoriginal and
#wintermadness. Bob and I decided on the second week of March and the Tourisme Québec team
planned the rest - covering all our accommodations, lift tickets, spa visits, and most of our meals.
So, a funny photo shoot at an event I almost didn't attend lead to quite the vacation....
A relaxed six and a half hour drive under clear blue skies across New Hampshire by way of
Franconia Notch and through the peaceful Northeast Kingdom of Vermont, we crossed the border
into beloved Canada in what felt like no time at all. The Canadian portion of the drive is calm and
quiet through endless open countryside or industrial spaces - until you reach the grande dame
Québec City in all her chic European glory.
We enjoyed a stroll and a late lunch in old town QC at Les Frères de la Côte before
continuing 30 minutes northeast to our modern ski-in ski-out accommodations
in Espace Nordik at Château Mont-Saint-Anne. The spacious and inviting living
room lobby with a roaring fire set in a grand cast iron fireplace was bustling with
families and après skiers when we arrived. The next morning it sat quiet and light filled
with the promises of a sunny day on the slopes.
Contemporary meets cozy in the Nordik Studio rooms, where exposed concrete walls juxtapose
soft brown couches, light wood furnishings and a sleek kitchenette. Thoughtful touches within the
rooms that I loved: the white subway tiled bathroom walls, lots of entrance-way hooks to hang ski
gear, a wide full length mirror, the Nespresso coffee machine providing extra frothy cafes, and
thick, luxurious bedding to melt into at the end of it all.
Shortly after checking in, we were ready to hit the slopes. We boarded L'Etoile Filante
(the shooting star) gondola directly outside the hotels back door as dusk fell and arrived to
the summit as the sun was setting in the distance behind the Laurentians (mountain range). We
both remarked how this was our first time ever night skiing - neither of us realizing the other
hadn't been. The terrain was well lit and freshly groomed offering corduroy cruisin', meanwhile,
the stunning views of the Saint Lawrence River partially illuminated below stopped us in our
tracks. Night skiing at Mont-Sainte-Anne was a blast, an ideal way to kick off a winter vacation
and get outside after hours in the car.
Later that evening we enjoyed dinner at the Châteaus warm and relaxed Bistro Nordik. Sinking
into wide, plush gray chairs near a toasty fire, I sipped my favorite french apertiv Ricard ($8)
and we shared a lovely Salmon Tartare ($14). My entree, the Mountain Herb Crusted
Quebec Lamb Medallions ($42) with a honey berry demi-glace and an array of delicate
vegetables was perfectly executed and nicely showcased the regional cuisine. We ended on a
traditional sweet note with Lavender Crème brûlée ($9).
Breakfast views at the Château's common dining room were something to look forward to every
morning, and so was the buffet food. Poached eggs with hollandaise and spinach, french toast,
crispy potatoes, a plethora of fresh fruit and soft cheeses - this was definitely the most impressive
breakfast spread of all the hotels on our trip.
Our day on the mountain set under a bright winter sun and bluebird sky further highlighted the
dazzling Saint Lawrence River views. With warm and welcoming local guides Chantal and her
daughter, Veronica, we were in good hands. They challenged us with steep and fast double blacks
off the Panorama Express Quad, made sure to take us to the "secret trails" off La Corde
Raide Tbar, and fulfilled the mogul and glades quota on La Buissoniere and La Yahoo.
Veronica and her Mom embodied a joie de vivre and we loved getting to know them and their
mountain. They noted these were some of the best conditions all year - with recent fresh snow and
no cold rain to follow in its tracks! (As had been the unfortunate case with prior storms.) The four
of us had lunch at the base lodges second floor bar where we cheersed with Hoegaarden pints.
After lunch we made some more turns and were thankful not to miss the Cabin au Sucre off La
Pichard trail for a maple taffy. The steaming maple syrup is poured onto the snow where you roll
it up with a wooden stick - et voila - a sticky, sugary-sweet maple taffy pop! The outdoor hot tubs
are where it's at for après - we sipped on cans of Archibald, a local microbrew purchased
from the well stocked convenience store inside the hotel. Later that evening we ventured into
Québec City for an excellent meal at Restaurant Toast. The bison tartare with whipped foie gras
was one to write home about. On the road the next morning we made a quick stop to take in the
towering (30 metres higher than Niagra!) Montmorency Falls. The visitor center and cable cars
are not open in winter, but the breathtaking falls is certainly worth a closer look.
And with all that, our trip was off to a really great start!