Summer Means Playtime in Mont Tremblant
Close your eyes to envision a tranquil place and you could easily conjure Mont Tremblant. Quebec’s open-air playground is a palette of green and blue come summer: balsam fir, birch and spruce trees meet blue skies above and blue waters below. Water sports beckon in concert with endless hiking paths into the Laurentian Mountains. That’s not to say Mont Tremblant is completely remote. The charming village is, too, the stuff of dreams. Cobblestone streets and fountains give way to buildings so colourful they’re akin to bouquets of spring flowers: red poppies, blue hyacinths and yellow daisies. Quebecois cuisine, unique boutiques, and music festivals and sporting events abound. Take a deep breath to take it all in. It’s playtime in Mont Tremblant.
The Hills Are Alive
It’s no exaggeration to say there is always music in Mont Tremblant. From street artists to large music festivals, not a weekend passes without live performances speckled throughout the village and hills. Discover up-and-coming Quebecois artists followed by world-renowned favorites at the big four: The Mont-Tremblant Jazz Festival, La Fête de la Musique Tremblant, Les Rythmes Tremblant, and the Tremblant International Blues Festival. Or, keep it low-key with small stage ensembles. Whatever your pleasure, all music is better enjoyed with a Laurentian mountain backdrop and a beautiful setting sun.
Back to Nature
“We have a saying here in Mont Tremblant,” says Maëlle Tremblay,” Digital Media Specialist at Fairmont Tremblant. “Once is not enough. The amount of activities can be surprising, and so fun, that one hike, one ride, one visit won’t be enough!”
When it comes to water sports, there’s something for everyone. From paddle-boarding to fishing, and even white water rafting. Just be sure to leave time for a little R&R on the beach. There are, after all, over 400 lakes in the area, allowing everyone his or her own perfect spot.
From June 22 through September 2 experience the Birds of Prey show, which takes place twice daily at 12:30 and 2:30pm. Hosted by the Falcon Environmental Service, spectators see magnificent birds in flight and may even experience having one perched on his or her arm. Complete the experience by taking the Panoramic Gondola to the Mont Tremblant summit (where the show is located) and absorbing the Laurentian Mountains and Lac Tremblant vistas from the 360° Observation Tower, a view the more adventurous may prefer to fly past via zipline.
There are four world championship golf courses all very close to Fairmont Tremblant. “Some guests enjoy walking to the courses while our valet delivers their clubs,” explains Tremblay. Also steps from the hotel is a collection of paths to suit all styles of hikers, who can enjoy paved or wooded trails, both beginner and advanced, and rock climbing to boot. The Via Ferrata Du Diable Course, built on a rock wall near the Mont Tremblant National Park entrance, offers a daredevil’s dream hike overhanging the Devil River. Those craving the stunning view without the exertion may opt for another tourist favourite, a helicopter tour.
Horseback riding, alpine luge, dune buggy tours: Mont Tremblant is a place to let go of the electronic world and just play. Play the way a child climbs trees by taking to the trees! The Tree-to-Tree aerial activity course allows adults and kids alike to tackle three tree courses of different skill levels as deftly as a monkey, as high as 60 feet above ground.
Competitions take to Mont Tremblant each summer with both half and full-course Ironman races, a half-marathon, the Crossroads Tremblant mountain and road biking competition, and the MEC Mont Tremblant Trail Running Race. Ironman weekend is more than the full day race, and includes kid-focused activities, open-air markets and fireworks.
Gastron-Oh-My!
What would a perfect day spent outdoors be without a picnic? Guests do the picking while Fairmont Tremblant does the packing. Choose from healthy salads, sandwiches, charcuterie, or a full meal and some bubbly too, with glasses and cutlery, of course. Perch upon a flat boulder near Nanson Springs or Devil’s River and simply indulge.
Inside the hotel, the recently renovated Le Comptoir Cuisine du Marché features a Saturday evening mountain and river-themed buffet replete with the area’s freshest fish, vegetables, poultry, forest mushrooms and spices. Meanwhile, Choux Gras Brasserie Culinaire offers fine dining featuring local comfort food. Embracing a family-style sharing concept to make guests feel at home, favourites include the Tomahawk steak with smoked and maple-glazed Jerusalem artichokes, and the Royal Seafood Tower, which includes a whole lobster, Quebec caviar, eight oysters, 12 shrimps, four king crab legs, smoked salmon, 20 mussels, 20 marinated clams, and seaweed salad.
It’s All About That Base (The Mountain Base, That Is)
Located at the base of the mountain, skiers flash by Fairmont Tremblant in winter, while alpine lugers swish by come summer. Also near the hotel’s outdoor terrace is the ever-popular Eurobungy and a whole lot of music. “We’re located in the true heart of the action,” says Tremblay, “not to mention, the perfect spot for summer sunsets.”
On Saturday mornings, the hotel also offers complimentary yoga, while on Sundays, a guided hike. Every night there are campfires and marshmallows for roasting, not just for the kids! Specifically for the kids, however, are special movie presentations, face-painting, and arts-and-craft stations during special events or on rainy days.
No matter the weather there’s an indoor/outdoor pool plus hot tub, a steam bath, a Finnish sauna, hot/cold therapy plunge pools, a year-round pool bar, and during the ski season, a Veuve Clicquot bar. Though Veuve is readily available anywhere guests choose to sip it, enjoying a glass during spa services at the Moment Spa is particularly special.
As Tremblay so aptly describes, one visit to Mont Tremblant is not enough. Consider taking advantage of the area’s activities with a Mountain of Activities Card, which allows guests to pre-select activities (birds of prey, luge, Euro Bungee, etc.) and return any time during the summer to enjoy them. Tremblay offers some final smart tips: “If you’re not yet a member of our Accor Club, sign up before you come. It only takes 30 seconds, then you’ll receive free WiFi and points to use toward future stays and dining. Finally, use our concierge. It makes us happy to help you discover the best of Mont Tremblant.”
Courtney Lochner is a writer based out of Chicago but frequently escaping to Europe. Passionate for all things food, wine and travel, her work has been published in magazines like Glamour Magazine, Inspirato, and Runway Live, and her short story became a film produced by Moxie Pictures.