10 fun family activities to try with kids in Québec this winter

Find Québec family activities for unforgettable winter vacations. Easier to do than you might think, always adventurous and a guaranteed win with kids.

Dog sledding with Aventure Inukshuk

Dog sledding is every kid’s dream this winter

Apart from ice hockey and big mountain skiing, nothing in Québec is more of an iconic winter experience than dog sledding through snowy forests. Yet you don’t have to travel into the frozen wilderness to test the age-old thrill of being snugly wrapped up on a sleigh as a team of keen, beautifully trained huskies do all the hard work.

Aventure Inukshuk are just over 40 minutes north of Québec City, and fantastically good fun for first time dog sledding.

Kids as young as two are welcome to ride along, over 18s can try out as trainee ‘mushers’, and there’s hot chocolate waiting for everyone at journey’s end. Although that’s nothing compared with the thrill of seeing newly born husky puppies: highly possible between December and March.

Book a stay at Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac in Québec City

It’s never too cold for maple syrup ice

Discover sweet Québec family activities at sugar shacks

Québec is the world’s largest producer of maple syrup, and early spring is ‘sugaring-off season’: a time to celebrate the deliciousness and versatility of the legendary syrup itself and visit as many sugar shacks as possible.

There are more than 200 sugar shacks in the province.  Traditional restaurants number in hundreds too and range from family-style to haute-cuisine, but all with one common thread; everything cooked, baked or brewed has maple syrup in it somewhere.

Seek out heritage shacks to hear live folk music and learn about ancient Amerindian customs; urban shacks with an eco-slant; forest shacks where sleigh rides are part of the fun, or good old-fashioned traditional shacks in the heart of historic maple groves.

Book a stay at Le Centre Sheraton Montréal in Montréal

Snowshoeing, Québec family activities

Take your kids snowshoeing in fabulous forests

Winter in Québec is fabulously snowy, perfect for sharing the local passion for snowshoeing.

What started off as a practical way to get about the frozen wilderness is now one of the province’s most popular sports, so you’ll find well-marked routes scattered with cosy huts to rest and refresh, almost everywhere. And if you need inspiration, there are always plenty of seasoned snowshoeing Québecers to help out with that.     

There are over 20 incredible snowshoeing locations across Québec’s network of national parks. You could start with the sheer atmosphere of trekking the Valley of the Phantoms in Parc national des Monts-Valin.

Book at stay at Auberge des Battures in La Baie

Carnaval de Québec 2024

Wintery and wonderful Carnaval de Québec turns 70 in 2024

The biggest winter carnival in the world, Carnaval de Québec turns 70 this year. And if you feel like celebrating it has 100s of activities planned between 25 January and 11 February 2024.

All the great carnival traditions are in place here, but twists like night parades with illuminated floats add distinctive Québécoise character. Everything from ice sculpting competitions to ice canoeing is done on a bold scale, and you only have to look at the pictures from past events to see why this is one of the world’s top three must-do carnivals for families.

Book a stay at Hôtel Le Concorde in Québec City

Caribou, Zoo Sauvage de Saint-Félicien

Go wild this winter at Zoo Sauvage de Saint-Félicien

For a hint of Québec’s magnificent northern wilderness and close encounters with its wildest residents, head to Zoo Sauvage de Saint-Félicien in Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean.

Don’t worry about the wintery weather, this astonishing park is a year-round marvel, with a comfy train to tour the wildlife, fun pedestrian parts, and lots of places to warm-up on hot chocolate and other freeze-beating treats.

With 1,000 animals from 75 native and exotic species to choose from, kids will naturally have their own favourites. But everyone falls in love with the playful polar bears, loses a little of their heart in the Land of Caribou, and almost inevitably falls head over heels for cute babies in the zoo nursery.

Book at stay Hotel de la Borealie in Saint-Félicien

Huron Traditional Site, Wendake

Discover the rich culture of the First Nations of Québec

Set in the region of the Huron-Wendat Nation, the Huron Traditional Site gives families a fascinating insight into the living indigenous culture of the First Nations of Québec. 

Daily guided tours are rich in myths and legends, and big on interactivity from visits to traditional longhouses and sweat lodges, to story telling in the giant tee-pee.  Plus, kids can learn to make medicine wheels, and test their skills at the ancient game of satéchaquay.

Book a stay at Hôtel-Musée Premières Nations in Wendake

Find snowy Québec family activities in Mont-Tremblant

Enjoy unforgettable Québec family activities in Mont-Tremblant

Mont-Tremblant has a snow-sure season which runs from November to April. That’s in addition to 96 runs and a level-of-difficulty ratio designed to delight skiers of all ages and stages. As well as a cute resort village that looks more European than most of the ones in Europe these days. So you can understand see it’s regularly named one of the best overall ski resorts in North America.

A perfect introduction to the thrill of big mountain skiing for kids, it also couldn’t be easier to reach from Montréal.

Book a stay at Homewood Suites by Hilton Mont-Tremblant Resort

Winterlude 2024, Québec family activities in Ottawa & Gatineau

Celebrate winter with snowy Québec family activities at Winterlude in Gatineau

You don’t have to spend long in wintery Québec to appreciate the extraordinary culture and climate. But just in case any aspect of this passed you by, the annual Winterlude festival in Gatineau will fill in the gaps.

This thrilling and activity-packed celebration runs from 2 to 19 February 2024 at Snowflake Kingdom and other sites across Ottawa and Gatineau.

Younger kids will love meet ‘n’ greets with the Ice Hog family: Winterlude’s legendary mascots. There are concerts and shows to entertain everyone. And the atmosphere is family-friendly, welcoming and warm: only the weather is sub-zero, so don’t forget to bundle up.

Book a stay at Hilton Lac-Leamy in Gatineau

A magical way to see more of Montréal

 Take a wintery spin on the Montréal Observation Wheel

The Old Port of Montréal is great fun to explore. But with winter temperatures dropping to a chilly -10°C, you might want to mix up your outdoor and indoor activities and take advantage of a unique way to see the historic quarter, all of the city and well beyond.

La Grand Roue de Montréal is the fantastic observation wheel which gently ascends to a height of 60m, and keeps everyone cozy in heated cabins. It goes without saying that the view from the top is spectacular any time of year, but a snowy winter day or night is a particularly magical time for a spin.

Book a stay at Hotel St Paul in Montréal

Montréal Canadiens in action at Le Centre Bell

Is seeing the Montréal Canadiens in action one of the top Quebec family activities?

Of course ice hockey tops out all other Québec family activities when it’s cold outside. So go see the Montréal Canadiens in action at Le Centre Bell this winter. The record breaking 20+ winners of the Stanley Cup, are the team to beat and loved with good reason in their home city. So expect incredible atmosphere rink-side, and a super family-friendly vibe.

Book a stay at Le Germain Hôtel Montréal

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