Canada was a great place for a family trip/Christmas present. Montreal was sophisticated with great shopping, restaurants and clubs. We stayed three nights in a 12th floor, 2 bedroom suite right in the best part of town for $109(Can) night. (Chateau Royal Hotel Suites, online reservations via www.travelnow.com) I picked our second day there to break my wrist ice skating at the rink in the Old Port. Hopital Sainte Luc treated me like royalty, probably due to my limited French and ability to pay cash. I've only once broken a bone before and that was 10 years ago. But I was cast and perscribed and resting back at the hotel in about 4 hours. The cafe/bakery downstairs was perfect for croissants and coffee in the morning. Holly (21) and Alec (18) got out on their own and decided Montreal's club scene is worth a return trip someday. <BR> <BR>Quebec City was magical. Our 15th floor suite at Lowes' cost a bit more($175/night Can), but was worth it. Extraordinary view of old Quebec, the Frontenac and the St Lawrence. We ate at the revolving restaurant on top (L'Astral - Thank you Donna for the rec)for Christmas Eve. Christmas Day Holly and Alec took a trip to nearby Mount Sainte Anne (bus left from the hotel at 8AM, returned at 4) and learned how to snowboard. Holly came back with a very bad cold. But if you have to be sick, the Lowes was a pretty nice place to be stuck. Alec, Steve and Holly used the sauna and jacuzzi facilities(I was afraid my cast wouldn't weather the wet or the sweat.) We got treated to a fruit basket, and the "kids" got stockings filled with candy Christmas morning. It snowed all day the 26th -- lovely. We had a great brunch downtown at Vieux Hotel Quebec. <BR> <BR>We dropped Alec at Mt St Annes for another day of snowboarding on our way further out of town the 27th. (Picked him up after we'd rested the afternoon in our cosy B&B.) The Charlevoix region further east along the St Lawrence River is really beautiful. We stayed that night at a Gite chez Gertrude which was spic and span and made us feel like we were visiting someone's home. (Gertrude and her daughter Raymonde Tremblay were just wonderful hosts.) Cost about $65 Canadian INCLUDING a full breakfast the next morning. <BR> <BR>The dog sled trip was clearly the coolest thing we did on the whole trip. (Husky Adventures - www.quebecweb.com/dogsled, $75 Canadian per person ) About 10 minutes from our B&B, we pulled in to the home of Johnny and Suzanne Dufour at about 8:30 AM. In their kitchen, they supplimented our clothing with big wool socks, HEAVY bib pants (over the 3 layers of clothing we were already wearing). Big waterproof boots, long leather gloves with an extra woolen sock over my cast hand/arm. Then Johnny took us up to the kennel via a snowmobile towing a sled. As they harnessed up the huskies (six to a sled) Johnny explained the key things to know about driving a sled. (There were three sleds, for the 4 of us plus Johnny and Mario, our guides.) <BR> <BR>"You must keep the rope straight" and "Zee most important ting --- you know shit?...if zee dog starts to squat (demonstrated dog squatting) you MUST trow up your arm, step on zee break, and yell STOP. Zee sled does not stop witout zee break. Don't worry 'bout zee otter (demonstrates lifting leg) -- but you must watch for zee shit!" So, the line we will all remember from this trip: "Ze MOST important ting....you know....?" <BR> <BR>The sled trip itself was great fun. We followed trails through wilderness, mountains, fir trees and lots of snow. Everyone (but me) got pretty good at driving (I only could ride). It lasted about 4 hours. Turned out we were their first customers this year. At the end you make a big celebration of thanking all the dogs, who just love the attention. We went back to their house to and had homemade fudge. What a charming end to our family Christmas celebration. <BR> <BR>BTW, no problems or delays at the border in Vermont.

OK, this gets my nomination for coolest trip report ever. The Europe forum may have a lot more threads but I have never read anything there about dog sledding. I am dying to go to Quebec City now. Haven't been to Montreal since I was a teen myself and your post brought back some great memories. Thank you so much for posting this!

WE had a yen for fine French food and headed north from mid-coast Maine just after 2o on Sunday. We crossed the border with ease and were in Chateau Frontenac by 8pm with the kids treated to Room Service, we were eating foie gras and pheasant by 9! WE had a swim and steambath to begin the day followed by French pastries and espresso. It's cold and snowy, but fun and exotic in the same amount of time as a trip to Boston.

Thanks Lisa! Quebec is almost like going to Europe -- and you can drive there.

Thanks Diane for your post. I'm going to Quebec City in July, but am going to make a special trip back for the dogsledding... now that I know the most important thing. <BR> <BR>Thanks for sharing! Lisa

We are going to Montreal next week and my son and daughter (ages 21 and 19)want to visit some clubs. do your children remember the names of the clubs that they visited.