5 Activities for a Nordic Holiday Season

There’s something to be said for colder weather. When it sets in, the air is invigorating, the scenery is breathtaking, and nature transforms into an amazing playground. And these winter temperatures let us enjoy a holiday season with a northern flair. Secure your hat with a pin (a piece of yarn will do) and go have some fun outside!

Tubing and Sledding

Who doesn’t love zooming down snowy slopes? It’s a rhetorical question. A love of sledding begins in childhood and lasts well into adulthood. Whether you want to fully indulge your passion for sledding or simply introduce your family to the joys of this sport, the Parc de la Rivière-des-Mille-Îles is the perfect place.

You should also know that Rivière-des-Mille-Îles Park is a wonderful place for winter hiking, and you can even borrow sleds adapted for people with limited mobility at no cost.

Ice, skates, and skating

In movies, we see all these couples skating and seeming to glide effortlessly across the ice. It’s so beautiful. Yes, it’s magical, and even if in real life the movement isn’t quite as fluid, skating is still a pretty enjoyable sport—and not just for couples. With family or friends, under the moonlight or a snowy sky, it’s a win-win. At the Centre de la nature, you can rent skates and even hire an instructor to guide you as you learn.

Hockey is your passion—you’d rather watch it on TV than play it. And yet, you’d love to play a friendly game with your friends. At the Nature Center, that’s possible, too.

Snowmobiling and shopping

Did you know you don’t have to go far, very far, or up into the mountains to go snowmobiling? Laval, the city that keeps surprising us, scores another point on our list of top attractions with its 60 kilometers of trails marked and maintained by the Laval Snowmobile Club. So it’s possible to go on a day-long excursion (snowmobile and meals included) in an urban area and end the adventure by… going shopping. It’s anything but ordinary.

Wood, snowshoes, skis, and so on !

The Bois Sainte-Dorothée in Lavaloffers six kilometers of winter hiking trails. In short, it’s the perfect place for snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, or walking. And you can even bring your dog to this beautiful wooded area. Of course, certain rules must be followed—we need to be considerate of others!

When it comes to trails that are accessible in winter, the 2.6 km Bois de l’Équerre and the Sentier du Lièvre, which have been specially designed to facilitate access for seniors and people with reduced mobility.

Deer, foxes, hiking, and snowshoeing

The Papineau Woods is home to fascinating flora and fauna. With snowshoes on your feet, you can explore nearly seven kilometers of trails, hoping to spot a deer or a fox in the distance. It’s also an ideal spot for hiking, where you can stop at the interpretive signs you’ll come across along the way.