4 Best Hotels in Side Trips from Montreal, Quebec

A local landmark since 1849, when it was first a stagecoach stop, and later a railway stop, this rustic inn is a special-occasion venue for locals and a delightful option for visitors who relish period style and good regional cuisine. Its long porch and antique looking furniture can make you feel as if you stepped back in time. Bistro Le Relais, on the first floor, serves local wines and cheeses and offers a wide range of dishes, including confit de canard (duck), all of which can be savored on the terrace during the summer months.

The centerpiece of the Tremblant resort area takes its cues from the grand 19th-century railroad "castle hotels" scattered throughout Canada. The 22-year-old hotel features wood paneling, copper and wrought-iron details, stained glass, and a gorgeous three-sided stone fireplace in the renovated lobby and bar area, which is furnished with sleek Danish-inspired furniture and treetop side tables. During ski season, guests on the Gold Floor receive complimentary breakfast and evening appetizers. Skiers can zoom off the mountain right into the ground-level Ricochet Café and Terrasse, near the full-service spa. The vegan creations at Restaurant Choux Gras are especially noteworthy.

Massages, algae wraps, and aromatherapy are just a few of the services at this European-style resort, which also includes a large, Turkish-style hammam (steam room) and the Château Bromont Golf Course. Rooms are generally large and comfortable, with contemporary furniture. Sunny Mediterranean colors dress the atrium walls, and center-facing rooms have balconies and window boxes. Greenery and patio furniture surround the swimming pool in the middle of the atrium (there's another pool outside). The restaurant, Les 4 Canards, serves regional cuisine, much of which features duck, an area specialty. The dining room has a panoramic view.

Part heritage mill with original features, part modern environmentally friendly building, this waterside hotel and spa on the edge of Gatineau Park has lots of character, wonderful views of the MacLaren Falls, and plenty of pampering on offer. You can take in the views from an outdoor pool, hot tub, and hotel terraces. Rooms in the Heritage Mills, once part of the grain silos, are elegant; those in the LEED-registered Eco River Lodge have ultramodern amenities and huge windows overlooking the river. The restaurant, Muse, offers French and Québécois cuisine. You can unwind at the wine bar, or listen to live music on Friday and Saturday evenings in the Heron lounge. In the winter, you can enjoy the snowshoe trails on the grounds.