This past December, my husband turned 40. I wanted to do something special for his big birthday and a weekend away seemed like the perfect gift. In my search to find a destination that was drivable from Montreal, relaxing yet entertaining for our kids, I came across a Chateau Montebello family getaway. I had visited the Fairmont property over a decade ago on a business trip and just thinking about this giant log cabin resort gave me the warm and cozies.

Located an hour and a half away from Montreal, Chateau Montebello is the perfect destination for spending special moments with family and friends. When you enter the main lobby the high ceilings and enormous fireplace in the centre of the room will quickly soak you into vacation mode. Once checked in, you can be as lazy or as active as you please with endless activity options.

Accommodations

For our visit we reserved a Deluxe room which included two double beds and a pull out sofa. While my husband and I didn’t have our own space, the room was quite large and never felt too small, especially since we spent minimal time there. Log cabin chic is most definitely the feel with exposed wood and lots of plaid and rustic design elements

The hotel is currently under renovation with a few wings being revamped to re-open in summer 2019.

Dining

Once you’re at the resort you’ll likely want to stay there. We packed along some snacks and even a bottle of wine in an effort to save on costs. We ordered room service for the kids for dinner and nibbled on hors d’oeuvres by the fire once everyone was cozy for the night (PJs in the lobby? No problem.)

We enjoyed the plentiful Sunday brunch in the Aux Chantignoles dining room with endless options from a yogurt parfait bar to pastries to an omelette station. Snacks can also be purchased in the gift shop throughout your stay.

As we headed home on Sunday afternoon we made a stop at the nearby Le Café Entre Amis. Owned by a husband and wife team, I was first nervous about bringing our kids into such a small space but we were graciously greeted and the kids were given colouring pages (that ended up being taped on the wall in the kitchen before our departure). Do-it-yourself Nutella crepes and insanely delicious eggs benedict were on the menu. This is a must-try while in Montebello. Thanks to Leo, the owner, for telling us that our kids were perfectly behaved before we left (phew!)

Activities

Chateau Montebello truly has something for everyone. Activities differ based on the season but everyone will love the indoor swimming pool, the largest of its kind in Canada. The pool is located in a separate building along with the spa so an outdoor stroll is necessary to get there. A large locker room makes changing on-site effortless.

Outdoor winter activities (not yet open upon our visit due to lack of snow) include: horse-drawn sleigh rides, tubing, curling workshops, ice skating and more. They even rent out snowsuits for those who may have under-packed.

Activities for kids are plentiful from the play room to an arcade to a park outside. A weekly schedule of events includes a supervised kids’ movie on the weekends so parents can enjoy some alone time.

Mom Tips

Most of the activities require payment of the resort fee. At $28/room per night this is a worthwhile investment to give you access to all of the amazing activities.

The front desk is stocked with board games for children and adults of all ages. While we snacked on our dinner by the fire, our kids played a round of Monopoly.

Be sure to get bathrobes for every member of your family. Not only will you be able to snap a cute photo like this one but you’ll have a great outfit to wear to and from the pool, if you please.