5 activities for a Nordic holiday season

Cooler temperatures are good for you. In their grip, the air is invigorating, the scenery is magnificent and nature transforms itself into an amazing playground. And these winter temperatures allow us to enjoy a holiday season with a Nordic flavour. Tie on your toque with a brooch (wool will do) and get outside for some fun!

Tubing and sledging

Who doesn't love speeding down snow-covered slopes? The question is rhetorical. The love of sledding is cultivated from childhood and extends well into adulthood. To live your sledding passion to the full, or simply to introduce your family to the pleasures of this sport, the Parc de la Rivière-des-Mille-Îles is the place to be.

The Parc de la Rivière-des-Mille-Îles is also a superb place for winter hiking, and you can even get your hands on free sleds adapted for people with reduced mobility.

Ice, skates and skating

In the movies, you see all these couples skating and they seem to float above the ice effortlessly. It's so beautiful. Yes, it's magical, and even if in real life the exercise is a little less fluid, the fact remains that skating is quite a pleasant sport, and not just for two. With family or friends, in the moonlight or under a powdery sky, it's a winner. Visit Nature Centeryou can rent skates and even hire a teacher to help you learn.

Field hockey is your passion, more watching it on TV than playing it. And yet, you want to play a friendly game with your buddies. At the Centre de la nature, that's possible too.

Snowmobiling and shopping

Did you know that you don't have to go far, far away or into the mountains to go snowmobiling? Surprising Laval continues to score points as one of our top attractions, with 60 kilometers of trails marked and groomed by the Club de Motoneige Laval. So it's possible to take a day trip (snowmobiling and meals included) in an urban area and end the adventure with... shopping. It's anything but ordinary.

Wood, snowshoes, skis and larks !

Le Bois Sainte-Dorothée in Lavalis six kilometers of winter hiking trails. It's the perfect place for snowshoeing, cross-country skiing or hiking. And you can even bring your dog along for the ride. Of course, there are certain conditions to be met, so please think of others!

Other winter trails include the 2.6 km long Bois de l'Équerre and the Sentier du Lièvre, specially designed to facilitate access for seniors and people with reduced mobility.

Deer, foxes, hiking and snowshoeing

Le Papineau Woods is home to fascinating flora and fauna. With snowshoes on your feet, you can cover almost seven kilometers of trails and hope to spot a deer or fox in the distance. It's also an ideal place to hike and stop at the interpretation panels you come across along the way.