Hotel at a Glance: Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu

Gaze through the Astronomical Observatory’s telescope to explore the skies above, or try your luck at poker and baccarat at the Casino de Charlevoix. Several snowmobiling trails also cut through the surrounding wilderness and lead straight to the resort, which offers snowmobile rentals. 

• Included add-ons: Enjoy a $20 credit at the Casino de Charlevoix (which is linked to the resort via tunnel), a $20 credit towards a massage that’s 50 minutes or longer, and an additional $20 credit for use at any of the resort’s restaurants, valid for dinner only.
• Where you’ll stay: Fairmont rooms are spacious yet simple, and offer views of the surrounding gardens and grove.
• Take a private sleigh ride through the forest. If there’s no snow, you can still take a horse-drawn carriage ride in any season.
• Get active: The resort offers snowshoeing, ice skating, and walking trails. You can also head to nearby Mont-Grand Fonds for some skiing.
• Take it easy: in the heated, indoor-outdoor hot tubs and saltwater pool, or indulge in a body wrap facial or massage at the onsite Amerispa.
• Le Charlevoix Restaurant: One of five onsite restaurants, this fine-dining spot uses locally sourced, regional cuisine and a Wine Spectator-winning wine list.
• Award-winning resort: Notable accolades include a five-star rating by the CITQ, a Four Green Keys rating by the Hotel Association of Canada, and placement on Condé Nast Traveler’s 2011 and 2012 list of Canada’s Top 20 Ski Resorts.

La Malbaie, Quebec: Riverside Resort Town in Mountainous Country

Perched where the Riviere Saguenay meets the St. Laurence, La Malbaie resemble a Renoir or Manet painting—rolling hills covered in lush forests give way to rocky shores; stately churches and quaint homes bask in the sun in a clearing on the water’s edge. This natural beauty first attracted the likes of William Howard Taft, cementing the town as a vacation spot for North America’s elite. The mountains and forests surrounding La Malbaie provide more than just scenery. Go skiing at Mont-Grand Fonds or hike the Mountain Road through the Charlevoix World Biosphere reserve. Not only will you see breathtaking landscapes along the way, but you’ll discover small villages and the Parc National des Grands-Jardins. 

If mountain-climbing isn’t your thing, head to the Musee de Charlevoix. Instead of covering a single discipline, this comprehensive museum has them all—here, you’ll see historic maps, archaeological collections, Naval artifacts, and modern and contemporary Canadian artworks. Or eat your way across the countryside on the Flavour Trail, which features more than 40 local growers, food producers, and restauranteurs where you can sample artisan beers, pâté, fine chocolate, and cheese.

Love to travel? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for travel tips, inspiration, and photos from around the world.