Dreamscapes Travel & Lifestyle Magazine
FAIRMONT HOTELS & RESORTS
A DREAM VACATION ON YOUR DOORSTEP
In summer, Québec offers a plethora of culinary and microbrewery tours, stunning landscapes, and activities for every taste.
Whether you’re dreaming about a romantic getaway in a charming Old World city or considering a mountain or maritime adventure, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts is there to help you create memories to cherish for a lifetime. Check out these five historic, luxury properties where you can realize your next summer dream vacation:
MOUNTAIN MEANDERINGS
Located in the Laurentian Mountains, Mont Tremblant is best-known for its ski slopes. But come summertime, this sprawling natural playground becomes a wonderland of seasonal outdoor pursuits.
STAY: Fairmont Tremblant offers easy access to Parc National du Mont-tremblant as well as a pedestrian village with shops and restaurants. Accommodations are superbly appointed, offering breathtaking mountain
views, not to mention the resort’s world-class amenities with superb culinary offerings.
PLAY: Golfers who appreciate a challenge can play the Diable course with its devilish surprises, or hit the links at another area golf course. Go off resort for an afternoon paddling the Diable (Devil’s) River, enjoy a forest hike, or rent a mountain bike and hit the trails.
AUTHENTIC QUÉBEC
The Outaouais region, across the Ottawa River from Ottawa, is home to the favourite outdoor playground of Gatineau Park plus 15,000 lakes and a dozen rivers. On the region’s eastern edge, the pretty town of Montebello bustles in summer with boutiques, cafés and restaurants.
STAY: Surrounded by nature, guests seeking a luxury getaway with a nod to yesteryear choose the upscale amenities and bespoke service found at Fairmont Le Château Montebello. You immediately feel at home at this log cabin retreat, which debuted back in 1930 on Canada Day, with its elegant rustic Québécois-style rooms. Pop by the Pop-up Oyster & Champagne Bar pre-dinner then head to the river-view terrace for a popular barbeque dinner.
PLAY: Guests can enjoy kayaking, tennis and croquet, and spend the afternoon by the pool in a private cabana, or tee up at a world-class golf course. Off property, Parc Omega offers a nature and history experience that includes wolves.
NATURE’S BOUNTY
For views of breaching humpback whales, head to La Malbaie in Charlevoix—a nature sanctuary teeming in flora, fauna, and come summertime—it’s whale season. Several species return for the annual migration feeding around the marine-rich St. Lawrence River estuary.
STAY: Nestled between forested mountains and the scenic village of La Malbaie,
Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu has been welcoming guests to this idyllic spot for over a century. The exquisitely styled rooms offer garden or sweeping river views. The Saint-laurent Restaurant—a must for epicureans—offers a seasonal menu of locally sourced produce.
PLAY: Foodies can enjoy a culinary trek along Charlevoix’s Flavour Trail, a network of local purveyors that have made Charlevoix a foodie destination. Putt your way through the on-site mini-golf course or ace a swing during a friendly tennis match. The resort’s Summer Fun package invites guests to additional offerings, such as a round of golf on a 27-hole course overlooking the St. Lawrence River; ATV excursions; or some of the region’s hit-list excursions, like that whale-watching tour.
CITY NIGHTS
From the cobblestone streets and alleyways of the Old Port filled with artisan shops, to the cultural entertainment hotspot of
Quartier des Spectacles, and the many trendy chic bars and restaurants, Montréal exudes summer cool.
STAY: Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth lays claim to one of the city’s most famous hotel suites, the John Lennon & Yoko Ono Suite. What better way to get your glam fix than to book a stay where the iconic couple who staged their Bed-in for Peace recorded Give Peace a Chance in 1969. The posh property, which has been entirely renovated, has that distinct home-away-from-home personalized service. Jet setters including the hotel’s namesake, Queen Elizabeth, have been some of the acclaimed guests. For cocktails, head to Bar Nacarat, inspired by the Glam Rock era of Ziggy Stardust, or enjoy city views on the outdoor terrace.
PLAY: Immerse in the art collection culled from contemporary Canadian artists on display throughout the hotel’s public areas. Tour Cité Mémoire, an interactive multimedia installation about Montréal’s history.
Its latest three tableaux have been added at The Queen Elizabeth. Head to the Wellness Centre for a workout on state-of-the-art training equipment, or book a virtual yoga and Pilates class. Relax at the Moment Spa, a spacious oasis of seclusion, and unwind with a customized massage.
OLD WORLD CHARM
Inside the old city walls of Québec City, boutiques and bistros line cobblestoned streets, the cutest of which is Petit Champlain, one of the oldest shopping districts in North America. Historical highlights include the site of the first French settlement in North America and the oldest stone church.
STAY: For the ultimate stay-over look no further than the legendary castle on the hill. With commanding views of the capital and the St. Lawrence River, the acclaimed Fairmont Le Château Frontenac has completed a stylish renovation of this jewel box while preserving its historical cachet. Over the years the hotel guest A-list has included royalty, celebrities, and notable government officials. Take a guided hotel tour for the big guest reveals. Château Frontenac is committed to using locally sourced sustainable food products—some of which come directly from its rooftop garden and beehives. Think honey-infused cocktails.
PLAY: At the hotel, order a picnic-basketto-go culled from Québec terroir, and enjoy a picnic in Battlefields Park. Registered hotel guests also can take an exclusive guided tour of the hotel’s surroundings and the Petit Champlain district, or rent a bike for local sightseeing.