4 Best Hotels in Side Trips from Montreal, Quebec

Overlooking Lac Massawippi, with a private beach, this elegant retreat feels rather like a private estate, with many activities, such as tennis, boating, and bicycling, included in the room rate. Built in 1900, the manor was modeled after George Washington's Mount Vernon. Rooms have a mix of antiques and more modern furniture, richly printed fabrics, and lace trimmings; many have fireplaces and private balconies that overlook the lake. Le Hatley restaurant serves excellent Québécois cuisine that follows flavor principles, which vary according to season (e.g., the use of birch trees to make birch syrup in spring; foraged wild mushrooms, plants, and herbs in the summer; local harvests in fall; preserves in winter).  Feeling peckish? Freshly made tea and scones are available any time of day.

There are spectacular views of Lac Tremblant from every room of this quiet, chic, boutique hotel near the ski slopes. Within the stone-and-wood building, on three acres along the lakeshore, each suite has a king-size bed, a balcony or patio with lake views, a wood-burning fireplace, a stereo, and a bathroom with a heated marble floor and Jacuzzi. Service, including a ski shuttle and a concierge who can provide firewood, is an emphasis here.

The accommodations, service, and food at the Ripplecove, 11 km (7 miles) south of Magog, are good enough reason to make the detour. Bedrooms are elegant and furnished with antiques, and colorful walls nicely set off the artwork. Some rooms and suites have lake views, and there's a spa here, too, with a four-season hot tub that looks out onto the lake. The restaurant offers fine cuisine made with locally sourced ingredients. There is also a British-style tavern on-site for visitors who are looking for a more relaxed atmosphere.

The oldest spa in Québec, once a simple health center, has evolved into a bucolic haven for anyone seeking rest and therapeutic treatments, including lifestyle and weight-management counseling. Surrounded by 326 acres of rolling, wooded land 15 km (9 miles) west of Magog, the elegant, simple structure has all the calm of a Japanese garden, and guest rooms have fireplaces, large balconies, and views of Mont-Orford. The restaurant prepares healthy meals following the principles of Tonique Cuisine®—gluten- and dairy-free dishes cooked at low temperatures. Produce comes straight from the chef's garden, and meat, such as lamb and the ubiquitous duck, for which the region is famous, is sourced from local farms.