Step Into a Fairytale Winter Wonderland in Quebec City and Charlevoix
Soft petals of snow twirl down from the sky. Cold kisses land on my cheeks and eyelashes like butterfly wings. I laugh and spin around in the quiet, dark street, lit by lanterns in front of the castle where we’re staying.
This isn’t Europe. This is Quebec City.
I always dreamed I’d get to stay at the iconic Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, but I never thought I’d be upgraded to a Gold Suite on a wintery trip to Quebec City and Charlevoix with my partner Tavis.
That evening, snow falls thickly outside our window; white flakes contrast against an inky black night sky. From our view on the 17th floor, we can see gleeful adventurers whip down Au 1884, a long wooden slide, on sleds.
The next morning, brilliant blue skies greet us. We stroll down the scenic Escalier Casse-Cou (Quebec City’s oldest stairway, built in 1635) and nip into cute souvenir shops on Rue du Petit-Champlain. Shopkeepers sweep large pillows of drifting snow off their rooftops. I feel like I’m in a Hallmark movie.
Even in February, Quebec City still feels aglow with Christmas joy: twinkling lights strung between cobblestone alleyways near Rue Saint-Jean bestow extended holiday cheer. Not far away, the epic sight of frozen Montmorency Falls and endless fat biking tracks beckon to adrenaline-seeking adventurers who yearn for fresh pow, but we are happy to settle in for a restful pace—especially after our outdoor adventures in Charlevoix.
Days earlier, we rented a car and drove 100 kilometres to Hôtel & Spa Le Germain Charlevoix. From our room, we had views of farmland housing grazing highland cattle and the steaming Spa Nordique.
After soaking the plane ride away, we visited Le Reine et le Millionaire for a dog sledding adventure, putting ourselves into the drivers seat as mushers. It was a bucket list experience I’ll remember for a lifetime.
We got our hearts pumping on a Via Ferrata—a safe, cable-assisted rock-climbing adventure that started with a zipline. Ice floated in the St. Lawrence River far below as we navigated over icicles on a snowy cliff face, led by an experienced guide. With our boot-clad feet back on firm ground, we tugged on crampons and trekked through the snow-muffled Parc national des Grands-Jardins.
The downhill slopes beckoned, but instead of donning skis or a snowboard, we raced down the longest traditional sledding run in North America on wooden toboggans.
On perhaps our favourite day, we picked up an at-home fondue kit from Swiss-owned Ah La Vache! in Baie-Saint-Paul, then drove to picturesque Repère Boréal.
This forested accommodation features cabins, chalets and A-frames perched in the treetops. We checked into Shipship 5, a converted shipping container with luxurious wooden walls, a floor-to-ceiling window and an intimately cozy vibe that immediately had me pulling on my slippers, brewing herbal Labrador tea and reading next to the snow-lined window as Tavis sparked a flame in the outdoor firepit.
That evening, we visited the romantic wellness area, where golden orbs on string decorated the evergreen trees. We soaked in one of eight hot tubs, enjoying the steaming water all to ourselves. Holding hands, we tiptoed across snow and ice to the freezing bassin froid—laughing and whooping as we cold plunged in the frosty water. Back at our Shipship, we gazed up into a tapestry of stars winking at us from above the treetops.
Now, in Quebec City, we reminisce over the cozy, warm winter vibes we experienced in this chilly province. Quebec is the ideal place to mix wellness and wellbeing with a dash of fulfilling outdoor adventures and embrace the best of Canada’s snowy season.
This article was sponsored by Bonjour Quebec
During this magical season, sub-zero temperatures don’t scare us. Well-prepared, we can even venture off the beaten track and discover new experiences that will have us saying: “Bring on the snow!”
