23 Best Hotels in Side Trips from Montreal, Quebec

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.

On a bank of the Ottawa River, with its own marina, this grand log-built hotel provides rustic luxury, local flavor, beautiful grounds, great views, and heaps of activities—no wonder it's an annual family destination for many well-heeled Canadians. Every window seems positioned to offer a fine vista, especially in the restaurants, where the menu makes good use of locally sourced ingredients. Some 10,000 red cedar logs went into the construction of the main building, centered on a six-sided stone fireplace. Kids are especially well entertained, with pinball, pools, water sports, mountain bikes, a mini cinema, and even a race track for remote-control cars.

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.

From its lofty perch, this delightful century-old inn has spectacular views day and night—it's within the International Dark Sky Reserve—and is less than a minute's drive from Mont Mégantic National Park and the Astrolab. Sitting at an altitude of 600 feet, within extensive landscaped gardens and 105 acres of rolling hills, the tiny B&B is also in a wildlife-rich area, including wolves, moose, and wildcats. Lovely rooms are spacious and comfortable, with queen-size beds, modern bathrooms, and interesting artwork. Suites, accommodating up to four, have private balconies. Fruit-laden breakfasts and dinner (by reservation) draw on local produce, and hikers can get a packed lunch. Reservations are essential.

Walking into this charming bed-and-breakfast is like being transported to a cozy Bavarian mountain inn. Originally owned by a Bavarian frau and her Quebecois husband, every door, shutter, and breakfast room tabletop—and even the claw-foot bathtub in one room—is lovingly hand-painted in colorful Bavarian designs. With her meticulous attention to detail, current owner Josée Casavant has added some lovely touches of her own, including an antique tricycle and a bespectacled sheep mascot, from her travels in Europe, Tunisia, and Egypt. Pointed cathedral ceilings, rich wooden beams, attic windows, and a fireplace in the small lounge add to the cozy Bavarian Quebecois country ambience. If you choose the B&B option, Josée makes breakfast herself using fresh, organic products to prepare popular favorites like fruit smoothies, homemade granola, French toast, and egg in the basket with Gruyère to fortify you before you head out for a day of cycling or cross-country skiing.

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.

With a year-round Nordic spa and outdoor hot tub, hammocks hung all around the property, and a waterfall, relaxation is the order of the day at this rustic riverside retreat. Rooms in the fieldstone building have hardwood floors, and although furnishings are spare there's plenty of space for spreading out; all suites have fireplaces and double Jacuzzis. The spa includes a steam room and Finnish sauna. Breakfast and lunch are served in the spacious dining room. The auberge also offers a variety of packages that usually include dinner off-site at one of several local restaurants as well as a spa treatment or outdoor activity such as skiing, snowshoeing, cycling, or canoeing.

Among the rolling hills of the Townships and with great views of the local countryside from every room, this modern hotel is part of the Domaine Château-Bromont complex, and well priced, considering all the amenities available. The pool and whirlpool, along with its proximity to the popular Château-Bromont golf course, and some of the best ski hills in the area make this a great choice for a getaway any time of year.

The majority of rooms at this popular inn on Magog's waterfront have lake views, including some with fireplaces. The large windows overlooking the mountain-ringed Lac Memphrémagog make L'Ancrage restaurant bright and airy. The French and Mediterranean-inspired dishes served here include organic pork and veal as well as duck confit and grilled lamb. In summer you can eat outside on the terrace overlooking the lake.

Somewhat hidden away, in the Bondville section of Lac Brome, and on 112 acres of sheer bucolic splendor, is Domaine Jolivent, one of the best kept secrets in the Eastern Townships. Serene, quiet, and elegant, this heritage inn, with its variety of hiking trails, idyllic pond, spa treatments, and overall relaxed vibe, has been an ideal spot for generations of Montrealers in search of peace and rejuvenation. One could spend their entire holiday without ever leaving the grounds as, in addition to its outdoor pool and pond, Jolivent's clients have access to the majestic Lac Brome, which is just across the road. Featuring both indoor and outdoor (in season) dining, Jolivent offers outstanding local fare. Whether snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and chilling in front of a roaring fireplace in winter or hiking, doing aquatic activities, and chilling on the outdoor terrasse in summer, Domaine Jolivent has something for everyone.

With a Nordic shower, Scandinavian baths, and relaxation yurt, plus nearby golf courses, riding stables, and ski hills, this attractive complex fits the bill for an active or relaxing break. Built of cedar, the hotel offers rooms with fireplaces and private balconies, and more than half of them have a view of Mont-Orford. The Pierre de Feu is an upscale steak house specializing in meat and seafood. Access to the baths is included in every booking.

This auberge by the main road is one of the best-equipped spa destinations in the area, and its outdoor terrace is a pleasant place to relax. An all-weather outdoor garden has waterfalls and cold-water pools. Although the rooms are basic and are showing signs of wear and tear, they are comfortable, service is friendly, and the rates include access to all the pools.

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.

At this 1,200-acre resort you can relax in a contemporary room with a valley view or commune with nature in a rustic-style cabin with a fireplace, and there are activities aplenty. In winter, you can ski out from many rooms; in the spring, summer, and fall, you can get your golfing in; and year-round you can indulge your senses at Spa Relaxia—there are even spa packages for kids. The French cuisine at L'Ambroisie restaurant is good, with entrées such as salmon rotolo with balsamic sauce and duck breast with black cherries. On a historical note, this place started out as a log structure with about a dozen rooms, built by Josephine Hartford Bryce, whose grandfather founded the A&P grocery chain.

If you're looking for a room with a double-size Jacuzzi, a fireplace, and a balcony with a superb view of Lac des Sables, try this white-painted, lodge-style hotel, which is also convenient for the boutiques and cultural activities in Ste-Agathe. Inside, the lounge and restaurant are decorated in a casual country style, and you have a choice of either a basic motel-style room or a larger room with pine or wicker furnishings. The hotel also features a small spa area with two small swimming pools (one indoor, one outdoor), indoor and outdoor hot tubs, a cold bath, a sauna, and massage and esthetician services. It gets especially busy here when there's a show on at the theater, Le Patriote, next door.

A longtime favorite with Montrealers, this hotel has seen better days, but it remains a good choice for active types wanting to expend some energy. Built in the 1930s, this rustic spot in the Laurentians, near the lovely Lac Ste-Adèle, offers a good range of year-round activities. These include skiing, ice-climbing, skating on the lake, and snowshoeing with a trapper in winter, and horseback riding, golf packages, and mountain biking in summer. And if you overwork your muscles, massage therapy is available. Rooms and chalets, furnished with Canadian pine, have a rustic appeal and some have a view of the lake. For business guests there are various meeting rooms and conference amenities.

At this Scandinavian-style log-cabin hotel, on 13½ acres on the shore of Lac Ouimet, you'll find great year-round amenities and activities for families and sports lovers and a resort-style feel that survives its busy conference trade schedule. Rooms, from studios to two-bedroom suites, are spacious, with kitchenettes, stone fireplaces, and balconies that overlook the water. The indoor-outdoor Whisky Bar, which overlooks the lake, serves light bistro food; the more formal Chez Borivage has a good wine cellar and specializes in French and Québécois cuisine. Families will appreciate the game room for teens, the pool and skating rink, and activities that include making summer bonfires on the beach and taffy on the winter snow.

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.

Ofuro Station Zen offers a Japanese-inspired thermotherapy experience starting at C$65. The spa features saunas, steam rooms, hot and cold baths, and several relaxation areas set in a forested environment. The spa provides massage and body treatments, as well as accommodation in on-site suites, each of their 5 rooms featuring a queen-size bed, television, telephone, whirlpool bath, and fireplace. Continental breakfast and spa access are included with every stay. Silence is encouraged throughout the facility to maintain a peaceful atmosphere. There is a small bistro on site, and guests have access to hiking trails in the surrounding area.

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.

Once a wartime refuge for well-heeled English children and their governesses, this inn and spa now offers everyone a refuge from everyday stress, with a fireplace and a whirlpool bath in every room and a year-round outdoor heated pool and steam room. The building has a traditional sloping Quebecois roof and dormer windows.  There is no restaurant, but the hotel has partnered with some of the restaurants around town to offer guest discounts.

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.