A lack of snow and spring-like temperatures are no reason to forego outdoor activities during the holiday season. Skiing, chilled outdoor ice rinks or even slides – here is a non-exhaustive list of places where you can enjoy the joys of winter.
Outdoor ice rinks
While most outdoor rinks are closed due to the heat, there are some that are refrigerated. This is particularly the case with:
- the quiet Esplanade ice rink in Montreal's entertainment district is the largest refrigerated ice rink in the city (“Good” conditions, free access);
- the Old Port of Montreal ice rink (“Good” conditions, paid access);
- the ice rink at Parc du Mont-Royal (“Good” conditions, free access);
- the Plains of Abraham ice rink in Quebec. The 358 meter long ice ring is located on the flatland sports field (“good” conditions, free access).
Sliding and skiing
Many ski slopes are open to the public during the holidays with artificial snow. This is particularly true for the Saint-Bruno ski area in Montérégie, where 75% of the slopes were available on Tuesday morning.
For those who prefer slides:
- Slides at Montreal's Mont-Royal Park: Friends of the mountain have hinted that the corridors could potentially reopen Tuesday afternoon. Conditions are classified as “difficult”;
- Tube slides in Quebec, the national capital: 18 of 24 routes were open on Tuesday;
- Slides in Saint-Jean-de-Matha, in Lanaudière: The facility offers children's games and seven slides;
- Sliding in Piedmont, in the Laurentians: 61 of 61 slopes and 5 lifts open, as of Tuesday;
- Sliding on the slopes of the Domaine de L'Ange-Gardien in Outaouais.
Note that it is strongly recommended to check the condition of the facilities before traveling to avoid unpleasant surprises.