Head to the Laurentians for a family getaway and to make the most of winter! With so many great activities to choose from, we guarantee you’ll never be bored bundling up and playing in the Laurentian snow! It’s the perfect winter setting for outdoor recreation and hours of family fun. Lace up your skates, buckle up your snowshoes, or step into your skis to explore a spellbinding winter setting with a group of your nearest and dearest. Between tradition and modernity, these winter activities will keep your kids happy and engaged and are a great way to bond with them. They’re sure to bring hours of delight while keeping them physically active. You’re sure to be happy as well: Parents and kids on the same page, having a wonderful time in spectacular surroundings. What a great way to create lasting memories!
For young biking enthusiasts, even in winter!
Are you hoping to introduce your kids to your favourite winter sport? Espresso Sport in Sainte-Adèle can make this a reality with the option to reserve junior fatbikes, suited for children aged 5 to 11 with oversized tires designed specifically for them. Once you have your fatbikes, head out to the P’tit Train du Nord. The path is right on Espresso Sport’s doorstep! It’s the perfect place for newcomers to the sport to learn, since the terrain is flat and there are lots of services nearby. Take the opportunity to share your love for the sport and the outdoors with your family. All ages are welcome!
Skating with the entire family
What better than a skating outing to get the whole family moving! Head to the incredible Mercier Lake at the heart of downtown Mont-Tremblant and skate on a one-kilometre rink. What’s more, younger adventurers are sure to love the ice slides out on the frozen lake. At Action Tremblant, you’re invited to a private lake located at the entrance to Bel Air Tremblant. For less experienced skaters, book ahead of time and take a private lesson with a certified instructor. It’s never too late to learn! For music in the evening, skate at the Chapelle Saint-Bernard at Tremblant Resort. Open day and night, there’s fun for the whole family to be had on the ice in a magical setting. A bonfire and music await. All you have to do is lace up your skates!
Animal friends
Head out to introduce your children to wildlife observation in the winter. Located in Mont-Tremblant, Domaine Saint-Bernard is practically an open-air aviary! With all the nests on the premises, you can walk through the Jardin des oiseaux or Bird Garden, a garden filled with bird-friendly trees and shrubs. If you went out for a cross-country ski, snowshoe, or hike, would you be able to identify certain species? To the north, Parc écologique le Renouveau Rosaire-Sénécal is perfect for nature lovers. In addition to cross-country and snowshoe trails designed to introduce children to winter sports, the park is home to a number of interpretation trails that are perfect for wildlife observation and protection, specifically birds. So, make your next family adventure an educational one!
A real playground for youth
If you’re looking to stretch your legs with your family this winter, head to Parc régional éducatif Bois de Belle-Rivière in Mirabel for a vast range of activities! Snowshoe through the forest and zoom down the hill with your children on two 20-metre tubing runs. Tubes are provided. Located in Saint-Jérôme, Parc régional de la Rivière-du-Nord offers cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and a handful of trails for forest walks. Snowshoe and cross-country ski equipment is available for rent at the Marie-Victorin reception building. The park is easy to access, the trails vary in difficulty, so you can have fun in the snow in the quiet of winter!
Winter sports—where to start?
It’s the perfect season to let loose and play outside! That’s why outdoor centres in the Laurentians are opening their doors to families who are looking to take up all kinds of activities. Learn to cross-country ski or snowshoe at Parc du Domaine Vert in Mirabel with all of its beginner trails. There’s also a sledding hill and ice rink. If you’re looking for festivities, don’t miss the Lumino evenings on February 11 and 25, featuring bonfires, torches, music, and a food truck on and around the trails. In Brownsburg-Chatham, Centre de ski de fond La Randonnée also has lots of beginner trails. Access to the facilities is free, making it perfect for young families! Head to the sledding area to end the day on a high. Note that both centres offer equipment rentals for skiing, snowshoeing, and sledding!
On Go, everyone outside!
Still looking for ideas to get your children outside? Don’t forget that the Laurentians are fun for all ages. At Camping et centre de plein air Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts, there’s 60 km of cross-country skiing trails and 30 km of snowshoeing trails, all in a family-friendly atmosphere! With huts and a rental service, there’s no reason not to get out and adventure. Free for children 16 and under. In Val-David, Léonidas-Dufresne park welcomes you to its ice rinks. Choose from the free skating oval, the small children’s rink, or the marked rink for a game of family pickup hockey! There’s a change room on site. For all-ages nature immersion, Parc de la Rivière Doncaster is ideal with its Familiale trail, which runs along the river and the forest. There’s a total of 9.7 km of hiking and snowshoeing trails. With so many places to go for both young and old, what are you waiting for to get outside?
For all tourism-related questions: info-tourisme@laurentides.com or call: 450-224-7007 | 1-800-561-6673.