Lifestyle and Leisure
If it's winter, then it must be... hot chocolate
Having spent half of her life under sunny, tropical skies, Quebec resident Louise Willis now has a winter coping strategy: Avoid the great outdoors!
Every year for the last eight years I have decided that I would learn to either downhill ski or snowboard. Every year I decide it's too cold. Last winter I went so far as to join a group of friends at a ski resort. I took one look at the mountain, and decided that I had no desire to fling myself from the top of it. I happily waited at the café at the bottom with my grande hot chocolate and Orhan Pamuk novel.
I don't dislike all winter activities, just those that involve being really cold. Winter in Canada cannot be avoided so everyone needs to find their own enjoyment to get through the dark, cold months. Luckily, there is plenty to keep me entertained while my friends enjoy all of those sporting activities that involve great speed.
Resorts such as Mt. Tremblant recognise that not all visitors want to ski and so there are other winter activities such as sleigh rides and dog sledding, as well as something called 'Acrobranche', which is advertised as an "aerial forest adventure." Horseback riding, indoor golf, ice skating and even helicopter tours are on offer, as well as, ahem, some great shopping and even a spa or two. Who needs to ski when I can spend the afternoon in the Scandinavian baths?
And then there are the festivals in January and February. Don't think that it's just the sporty adventurous types who enjoy the winter. City people get out there too. In the last few years the cities have recognised the need for a winter celebration and so the Highlights festival in Montreal and the WinterCity festival in Toronto came about. Both focus on the arts, culture and food. Alongside indoor and outdoor performances and exhibitions, restaurants in both cities offer special prix fixe menus. It is a great time to sample some of the finest restaurants at affordable prices.
Montrealers are especially known for their love of food. Paris is this year's featured city at the Highlights festival: Some of the selections on offer include 'Risotto & Champagne, from Entrée to Dessert!' and the 'Maple and Foie Gras Festival'. The festival, now in its tenth year, culminates with nuit blanche – an all-night outdoor party (tuques, mitts, and scarves required). If you don't know what a tuque is, you will once winter hits. Trust me.
Don't forget the classic winter festivals – the Winter Carnival in Quebec City and Winterlude in Ottawa.
Get your red hat out and dress warmly for the Carnaval in Quebec – the world's largest winter festival. You will be greeted by Bonhomme (the carnival mascot) and will marvel at the ice sculptures before going skating / sleighriding / dogsledding and eating some 'tire'(maple taffy) – possibly then continuing to enjoy a rich, gooey cheese fondue washed down with local cider before joining in with some singing and table thumping at a local tavern. You can't go wrong with a carnival whose aim is to "warm the heart of all revellers." This year there's even a country night with a free pair of Wranglers for the first 750 who purchase tickets. You could even stay overnight at the Ice Hotel for a true winter experience.
Winterlude in Ottawa is not to be missed. At almost five miles long, the Rideau Canal skateway becomes the largest skating rink in the world. Although you need to watch out for the bits of ice that are painted fluorescent orange (indicating a hole or thin ice) and avoid kamikaze eight-year-old skaters, there is nothing more enjoyable than skating through the nation's capital to go and see a free concert with a hot chocolate and a beaver tail in hand (don't knock it till you've tried it). This year also brings a brand new Sound and Light show – it's called Ukiuk, which means 'winter' in Inuktituk.
I think it's time to get the ice skates out. After all, Ottawa's only an hour-and-a-half away. Who needs downhill skiing, anyway?
For further information:
Tremblant
Montreal en Lumiere
Toronto Special Events
Carnaval
Winterlude
Willis Brazolot
The February 2009 issue of Emigrate magazine features tips from British migrants on how to get the best out of a Canadian winter
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