5 Activities for a Nordic Holiday Season

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

Tubing and Sledding

Who doesn’t love zooming down snow-covered slopes? It’s a rhetorical question. A love of sledding begins in childhood and lasts well into adulthood. To fully enjoy your passion for sledding or simply to 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 that you can even borrow sleds adapted for people with limited mobility for free.

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 though in real life the movements aren’t quite as fluid, skating is still a really enjoyable sport—and not just for couples. Whether with family or friends, under the moonlight or a snowy sky, it’s a surefire hit. 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—though you’d rather watch it on TV than play it. And yet, you’d love to play a friendly game with some friends. At the Centre de la nature, that’s possible, too.

Snowmobiling and Shopping

Did you know you don’t have to go far—or very far—or even to the mountains to go snowmobiling? Laval, the city of surprises, 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 (snowmobiling and meals included) in an urban area and wrap up 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, there are certain rules to follow—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 provide easy access for seniors and people with limited 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 and stopping at the interpretive signs you’ll come across along the way.