Canadian March Break (2nd – 12th March) is a week-long hiatus that bridges the long gap between winter and spring. School is officially out for a week as thousands of teachers, students and parents search for amazing destinations to share fun activities and adventures together.
Although sun destinations are ever popular vacation choices, there are those who prefer to fully embrace winter and spend their time in the city or in a vacation village resort nearby.
Still scrambling for ideas? Just shake out your winter gear as Gen’s Delights’ introduces you to various cultural, wellness, sports and epicurean destinations for your whole family to enjoy!
*** Contest: Win a “M ta Region, Cantons de L’Est” discovery package!
Details at the end of the article.
Montreal Nuit Blanche: Saturday March 3rd: All – night free activities for the whole family!
Have you ever wondered what you could accomplish in a full 24 hours?
This Saturday, as part of the 19th edition of the Montreal Highlights Festival ( running 22nd Feb. to the 4th of March ), the city will come alive all night with hundreds of free or low cost activities in most museums, churches, concert halls, businesses and restaurants in the various boroughs of the island of Montreal.
Some top picks include:
- Cider tasting at the central square of Complexe Desjardins – Grande-Place du Complexe Desjardins starting at midnight.
- The Grand Maple Ferris wheel and urban slide on the Festival Site of Place des Arts
- The Night Laboratory: Forest of Mysteries, 4pm to 11:30 pm at CHU Sainte-Justine research Centre
- Express visit of the Olympic Stadium 3rd march 5 pm to 4th march 2 am.
- Art exhibition / installations in the corridors of Montreal’s underground city – all night.
If you click on “events by area” section on the main event website, you’ll get a complete list of all the municipalities and various participants along with all costs and operation time information.
https://www.montrealenlumiere.com/fr-CA/programmation/index/nuit
Fiesta with Etienne Drapeau at the Cabaret of the Casino of Montreal: March 10th and 17th.
For adults who dream of warmer days, come and warm yourself at the latest show to hit the stage at the Cabaret of the Montreal Casino!
Starring singing sensation Étienne Drapeau, surrounded by back-up dancers and a live band, he will performs salsa, merengue , pop , reggae and bachata classics from Ricky Martin, Santana, Enrique Iglesias, Marc Anthony, Elvis Crespo and many others.
Come dance the night away to the sounds of the hottest international latino-pop hits like Suavemente, Black Magic Woman, Bailando, Livin La Vida Loca and internationally recognized Despacito !
March 10th and 17th
8:30 p.m. | Doors open at 8:00 p.m. 90 minutes no intermission
6 pm Dinner-show specials also available
For more information and tickets please visit:
http://casinos.lotoquebec.com/en/montreal/explore/shows/fiesta-avec-etienne-drapeau
WISH TO ESCAPE FROM THE CITY ?
Here are a couple vacation villages / nature parks and ski resorts that are only a couple hours’ drive away from Montreal .
Village Vacances Valcartier: the largest winter playground in America!
Located an hour and a half away from Montreal and only 20 minutes north from Quebec city, this four stars, 153 modern suites resort, welcomes overnight guests and day visitors to partake in the various winter activities on site that include over 35 Snow Slides, 5000 Inner Tubes, 17 Mechanical Lifts, Skating Paths, Snow Rafting, a large Children’s playground as well as a gastronomic “Snow and Fondue” package!
For those who wish to escape the cold, the village also features a breathtaking indoor BORA waterpark that comes complete with 35 heated water slides and 2 themed rivers. There are over a hundred different water games, including a large Wave pool, for water revelers to enjoy.
Adults seeking a quiet haven or relaxing massage can book a time slot at the Valcaltier Spa while avid thrill seekers may choose to spend a night in the exclusive HÔTEL DE GLACE!
Every winter, this must-see, original hotel is completely redesigned and rebuilt, offering an unforgettable experience as the only hotel of its kind in North America. The ice hotel and adjoining ice chapel, boasts 45 themed rooms and suites that feature intricate, yet ephemeral works of carved art and architecture, entirely built out of snow and ice. For 2018, the overall theme of the sculptures in the room is the circus !
All visitors can enjoy a cocktail served in a square ice glass at one of the themed ice bars while overnight guests get the exclusive privilege of relaxing in one or more of the outdoor, artic hot tubs and saunas.
Since its opening in 2001, over a million people have come to marvel at this Quebec jewel of architecture. Visits of the hotel take place daily and room stays can be booked right until March 25th 2018.
Best tip: Afraid of the cold? Although the provided sleeping bags (featured above) are designed to keep you reasonably warm even with freezing outdoor conditions, it is wise to bring an extra pair of dry socks to change right before slipping into your bag. Wet / humid feet will certainly drop your body temperature and make you freeze or feel uncomfortable overnight. It also helps to eat a hearty meal and take a soak in the nearby hot tubs to raise your body temperature right before sleeping.
You may wish to book a reservation at the onsite child friendly Steak house or Safari animal themed restaurant, where delicious ribs, chicken, salads, burgers and even a hefty Sunday brunch will certainly charm you,
For more information on prices, room availabilities and activities at Valcartier, please visit their main website at: http://www.valcartier.com
Sugar Shack Time at Parc Omega
Situated 1 hour and thirty minutes away from Montreal in Notre-Dame-de-Bonsecours, Quebec (just 5 minutes north of Montebello), Parc Omega is a vast 12-kilometre (7.5 mi) wild life nature park complete with fields, lakes, meadows, forests and rocky hills that form a natural habitat for its numerous free- roaming inhabitants.
Open year round to the public, what distinguishes Parc Omega from other wild life zoos is its original drive-through experience through amazing natural terrain that puts people in direct contact to feed and photograph the numerous deer, wolves, black bears, buffalo, moose and other fabulous creatures that inhabit our Canadian landscape.
Recent newcomers are the acrobatic mountain goats that entertain visitors as they climb the rocky mounts with much grace and agility!
Visitors should plan at least 3-4 hours to complete the trail and visit the adjoining First Nations Park, the Magical Garden, Rustic Farm, Log cabin and Trading post as well as catch the Lord of the Flight and Wolf Feeding show.
The latest seasonal attraction to grace the site is the Sugar Shack experience that houses a mini boiler room, a maple souvenir shop, wood oven heated cabin as well as the beloved taffy on snow experience at 3$ per stick.
All activities are accessible with a single day pass admission. The park also offers three walking trails, playgrounds, a discovery center with a panoramic view restaurant and various sleeping accommodations during the summer and Fall months.
For more information on opening hours, please visit:
Parc Omega http://www.parcomega.ca/en/
Smugglers Notch: A great place for families with children to have fun on the slopes!
Snugly situated at the base of three skiable mountain peaks and fondly nicknamed “Smuggs” by locals and visitors alike, this family friendly ski, ride and water park resort is less than 3 hours’ drive away from Montreal.
With over 75 trails spread out over Morse, Madonna, and Sterling Mountain, it is the only resort in Vermont to boast a triple black diamond trail.
The resort’s ski school is the ideal place for beginners to take their first tentative steps on the bunny hills, while intermediate and experts slope veterans can book private lessons with experienced instructors to help them fine tune their eye – feet coordination, concentration skills, improve their overall body form and also find an outlet to manage their stress levels on difficult maneuvers.
From my observation, all staff members also put a heavy emphasis on safety instructions and making sure that all participants in the ski school properly wear the required safety gear and know all the rules before starting out on any activities.
TIP: Smugglers’ has recently introduces RFID technology. This will allow hands-free gate access to the mountain lifts and options for reloading for various products. A personalized Notch Card is required and available to purchase for $5 plus tax.
The resort also offers several recreational entertainment facilities that hosts a variety of interactive and educational activities that brings everyone together in the spirit of teamwork, competition, fitness and most importantly FUN!
The FunZone 2.0 Family Fun Complex is a two story 26,000 square foot family entertainment complex that offers high-energy entertainment and adventure! In the Ozone, with shoes removed, kids can enjoy the bouncy castle, slide or try a round of mini golf. In the Go-zone, for a small fee, you can try your hand at Arcade Games, reach new heights with the Climbing wall, try a round of Laser Tag, do the Smuggs Warrior courses, take a Leap of Faith, or win a Slot Car rally race!
If you are a thrill seeker and want to have a unique bird’s eye night view of the mountain and resort, book an evening ride on the 12 passenger Cat Trax Express . Your trip will be guided by an experienced driver who will gladly share various stories about the Snuggs area and its natural history.
For those in search of relaxation after an energetic day on the slopes, come and unwind at the courtside indoor heated pool or relax in the hot tubs before calling it a night and retiring to one of the wonderfully furnished condos on site.
The resort community at Smuggs offer convenient, comfortable family – style lodging choices with all the comforts of home: fully equipped kitchen, large televisions with cable, telephones, internet access, linens, cookware, dishware, glassware, utensils and in-home or in-building access to laundry facilities. Daily maid service is available at a nominal fee.
For more information on Smuggler’s Notch and their various facilities please visit:
M ta Region: Discover, Save and Encourage local businesses across Quebec
The latest super saver boxset to hit the market. The team at M ta Region has traveled the regions of Quebec to test and select the best local companies that put emphasis on good service and quality over quantity.
Their mission is to introduce you to the best local talents and offer you deep discounts on various services, spas, restaurants, shops, accommodations and other activities in the following Quebec regions: Cantons-de-l’Est, Charlevoix, Laurentians, Laval, Mauricie, Montérégie, Montreal, Outaouais and Quebec.
As of 2018, the various annual options available for purchase are specific region cards or boxsets that are valid in all the regions throughout Quebec.
Please visit : https://mtaregion.com for more info on how to start saving on your next trips.
*** CONTEST: Win a M ta Region box set for les Cantons-de- l’Est!
To participate, please LIKE and SHARE the article and answer the following question and leave it in the COMMENTS section below:
“Which activities would you like to partake in during this March break? “
Good luck to all participants and have a wonderful MARCH BREAK !