Family-friendly winter activities at the Fairmont Chateau Montebello in Quebec, Canada.
There is still plenty of winter left in Canada so if you’re searching for a great place for the family to get away and have some fun in the snow then the village of Montebello, Québec, located midway between Montréal and Ottawa in the Outaouais Region of Western Québec, should be at the top of your list!
![Large stone fireplace surrounded by chairs, tables and lamps in lobby of the Fairmont Chateau Montebello in Quebec.](https://www.gonewiththefamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/chateau-montebello-lobby-fireplace-1024x683.jpg)
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We love spending a few days at the Fairmont Le Château Montebello which has a full slate of winter activities for guests of all ages. Even someone like me, who really hates winter, can have fun here because there is so much to do.
The Resort
At the very least, a stay at Château Montebello earns you the right to boast that you have slept in the world’s largest log cabin. The stunning red cedar log château was built in 1930 and was a private retreat for the next 40 years until it was taken over by the Canadian Pacific hotel chain. Today this resort is owned by Fairmont hotels and is famed for its rugged luxury and the abundance of year-round activities it offers to its guests.
![Young girl wearing white ski pants and dark shirting holding white ski jacket and ski pole with skis on the ground standing on snowing trail in front of Chateau Montebello.](https://www.gonewiththefamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Learning-to-cross-country-ski-at-Chateau-Montebello-768x1024.jpg)
The lobby of the chalet-style resort is dominated by an inviting stone fireplace that guests gather round to enjoy a warm drink, a chat with friends or to cozy up with a good book. The 211 rooms in the resort are modest in size but, since your family will be spending most of the time outside participating in the extensive activities, it really won’t matter.
The main dining room at the resort is Aux Chantignoles which serves delicious food along with a beautiful view of the Ottawa River.
There are supervised evening movies for children and teens on weekends and during school breaks and summer holidays as well as supervised activities for both during school breaks and summer holidays. In-room babysitting is also available at an extra fee if needed. It’s nice that there is an organized program for the kids but really the outdoor activities that families can enjoy together are the big draw at Château Montebello.
![Two girls standing in front of ice sculpture at Chateau Montebello in Quebec. Older girl wearing jeans, white ski jacket and blue hat is standing. Younger girl wearing light pink snow pants, dark pink jacket and light pink hat is sitting on chair carved from ice.](https://www.gonewiththefamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Ice-Sculpture-at-Montebello-1024x768.jpg)
Winter Activities at the Resort
Château Montebello is a popular resort because it has so many activities available year-round. Winter sport activities include cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and ice-skating. The resort has 7 groomed cross-country trails (totalling 18.5km) available for guests to use and the trails are graded in terms of skill level from beginner to expert. Lessons are available for anyone who is new to the sport or needs a refresher course.
![Young girl dressed in pink ski suit, pink hat and scarf on skis and holding ski poles in snow on cross country ski trail at Chateau Montebello.](https://www.gonewiththefamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Learning-to-cross-country-ski-at-Chateau-Montebello-1-1024x768.jpg)
![Young girl wearing white ski suite and blue hat on skis and holding poles on snowy cross country ski trail through the woods at Chateau Montebello.](https://www.gonewiththefamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Cross-country-skiing-at-Chateau-Montebello-1024x768.jpg)
![Young girl in pink ski suite wearing white hockey helmet with black face guard and skates on outdoor skating rink at Chateau Montebello.](https://www.gonewiththefamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Skating-at-Chateau-Montebello-768x1024.jpg)
When the kids are tired of all the physical activity then head to the tube sliding hill for some good old-fashioned fun on a large inner tube. A tube lift even does the hard work of getting it back to the top of the hill for the next slide.
![Dad and daughter riding tubes down snowy hill at Montebello.](https://www.gonewiththefamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Montebello-tubing-hill-768x1024.jpg)
![Young girl in white ski suit sitting on tube - straw on top of snow.](https://www.gonewiththefamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Tubing-at-Chateau-Montebello-1024x768.jpg)
Anyone who has always wanted to learn the great Canadian sport of curling can sign up for a lesson in the arena and try their hand at throwing a few rocks and sweeping them down the ice – just be forewarned that it’s harder than it looks.
![Young girl in multicoloured winter coat and pink hat kneels with curling rock at Chateau Montebello curling rink.](https://www.gonewiththefamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Chateau-Montebello-curling-rink-1024x683.jpg)
Perhaps my favourite activity of all is dog sledding. The feeling of pure exhilaration as the excited dogs pull your sled across the snow-covered trails is worth every penny of the cost of the experience.
![Man in wooded snowy area standing beside team of dog sleds on leash.](https://www.gonewiththefamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/The-dog-sled-team-1024x768.jpg)
![Team of dogs pulling sled through the snowy woods at Montebello with buildings visible in background.](https://www.gonewiththefamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Dog-Sledding-at-Montebello-1024x768.jpg)
Another great family activity is a horse-drawn sleigh ride through the woods of the resort. Guests can bundle up under blankets and enjoy the winter landscape as the sleigh goes dashing through the snow.
![Two horses pulling red wooden sleigh in snow with man in brown coat and hat holding reins and young girl in white coat and blue hat sitting in sleigh.](https://www.gonewiththefamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Sleigh-ride-at-Montebello-1024x768.jpg)
Indoor Activities at Chateau Montebello
When everyone has had their fill of the great outdoors then the indoor heated 75 foot swimming pool (which is apparently the largest in a hotel in Canada) is the perfect place to head. There is also a spa when mom and dad need a little pampering and a health club/fitness centre which includes a whirlpool and two dry saunas as well as indoor squash and tennis courts.
![Swimming in the indoor pool at Chateau Montebello.](https://www.gonewiththefamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Chateau-Montebello-indoor-pool-1024x683.jpg)
The Village of Montebello
Our favourite attraction in Montebello is Omega Park which is located about 10 minutes from the resort. The safari park has a 10 kilometre winding route that visitors can drive to see wildlife roaming freely in their natural habitat. Don’t forget to purchase a bag of carrots at the entrance so you can feed the elk from your (slightly) rolled-down car window.
![Large elk taking carrot from arm stretched out of window of black Fiat car.](https://www.gonewiththefamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/quebec-montebello-driving-through-parc-omega-1024x683.jpg)
![Elk with face up against car window in snowy Parc Omega in Montebello, Quebec.](https://www.gonewiththefamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Montebello-Omega-Park-elk-1024x768.jpg)
![Two black bears walking in snow behind fence at Parc Omega in Montebello, Quebec.](https://www.gonewiththefamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Black-bears-at-Omega-Park-1024x768.jpg)
When it’s a few days of winter fun that your family needs then consider an activity-packed break at Château Montebello. If a winter-phobe like me can have a great time there then it has to be fabulous.
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![Image for Pinterest - top photo dogs pulling sled through the snowy woods and bottom photo large stone fireplace in lobby of Chateau Montebello. Text overlay reads: Winter Activities at Chateau Montebello.](https://www.gonewiththefamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Winter-Activities-in-Montebello-Quebec-Gone-with-the-Family-683x1024.png)
femmefrugality
You’ve got me sold! I love my warm weather, but lately I’ve been finding myself attracted to winter get aways like this. Everything looks so fun! (Save the cross-country skiing…my thighs don’t love me that much. :p)
Lisa Goodmurphy
I don’t care for winter either but somehow it’s much better when you are actually actively doing something! Cross-country skiing is so much fun – you should give it a try!!
Lisa Goodmurphy
I don’t like winter either but the activities are so much fun that I forget that it’s cold! Dress really warmly and you’ll love it!
Shannon
Oh I want to go back! I loved it when I went as a teenager with my family. Time to take mine for a visit.
Lisa Goodmurphy
I want to go back too, Shannon! I was hoping that we were going to make it there this winter but I don’t think it’s going to happen. 🙁 Your kids will LOVE it!!!