Summer at the Fairmont Le Château Montebello

We visited Fairmont Le Château Montebello in the fall, but this was our first time visiting in the summer! After a looong school year, my youngest kiddo needed a fun getaway and Montebello promised (and delivered) everything.

If you’ve never been, Montebello is a treat for the whole family. The massive cedar Château wowed my kids the first time we arrived, and my daughter was just as excited this time to pull into the stately grounds and catch a glimpse of the main building, a masterpiece constructed 90 years ago from 10,000 red-cedar logs. The 300-acre property spills out towards the Ottawa River, with gorgeous walking trails and, if you can catch it, a great vantage point for the sunset.

We stayed in a newly renovated room with two double beds, which was perfect for the two of us. I think if we decide to go back as a family of four we’ll check out the deluxe rooms with two Queen beds and the pull-out sofa, which would give us some extra space to spread out.

Since we were only staying one night we decided to cram as much as possible into our mini vacation. Included in your resort experience fee are enough activities to fill an entire week. It’s truly a one-stop shop family destination!

After check-in we headed straight to the outdoor pool, because it was a gorgeous, hot day, and we wanted to soak up the sun before dinner. My daughter was delighted that they served ice cream at the bar, and I enjoyed a very tasty Mojito. The outdoor pool atmosphere is reminiscent of beach vacations down south, with plenty of chairs, umbrellas and cabanas for rent, fun music and pool floaties.

We headed back to our room to freshen up before dinner, which was at the outdoor BBQ. The covered terrace was adjacent to a pretty vegetable and butterfly garden, with views of the river. This family-friendly service is perfect for kids, as the food was brought out quickly and we could order more when we wanted - the courses included salads, fish/seafood, meat and dessert. A word of warning: if you are visiting with a young, picky child, you will need to eat almost ALL of the food. I was stuffed!

After dinner we had a nice walk along the river and stopped by the nightly campfire. We then headed over to the new playground. Inspired by the wilderness, the double-sized play area features three slides, a rustic climbing wall, a stone cross-bar, sugar maples to climb and a perched hut. My daughter loved it!

We woke up bright and early the next morning and opted for in-room dining, which was another new experience for my daughter. She had the rich, buttery crepes and I had muesli, yogurt and fresh fruit. We felt very spoiled!

We had made a reservation for the indoor pool for 9am, which is part of COVID procedures. We had the entire pool to share with only a few other families! In contrast to the outdoor party pool, indoors was quiet, with plenty of room to do laps. I was told that if you want to have a quieter experience at the outdoor pool, 10am is the best time to go!

After that we went to grab a bike rental and did an easy 3km ride, followed by a round of mini-putt. Following the noon check-out we stayed on the resort grounds for a couple of hours, and headed back to the outdoor pool for another swim. If we’d had had more time, I would have tried to squeeze in a kayak or canoe paddle along the river!

If this sounds like a lot, it IS, which is why two nights would be perfect. We’re already planning our trip for next year!

Other things you should know

• Montebello is a pet-friendly resort. We loved seeing everyone’s dogs, and the resort has a new canine ambassador named Vic, who joins 7 year-old Bello! Both are Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind and now enjoy a quiet retirement on the resort. We tried to spot him on our tours around the grounds, but maybe we’ll catch him next time :)

• In addition to the BBQ and in-room dining (plus other dining options we didn’t visit), there are picnic baskets available in the summer. All you need to do is call down in the morning before 9am and then enjoy your picnic lunch!

• There is a Summer Fun Package available now until Labour Day. It includes 2 nights accommodation, daily breakfast, daily resort fee and more! If you’re looking for a way to celebrate before the start of school, this is it!

Disclaimer: I was provided a media rate for our room, which included the daily resort fee. All opinions are my own.

Family Travel: Nashville, Tennessee

KITC would like to welcome back guest blogger, Stephen Johnson. Stephen Johnson is an Ottawa writer who loves to write about family travel.  During the summer, you will most likely find him and his family at a local fair or festival. During the winter, a beach in Mexico is a likely bet.  

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If you like music, you will love Nashville, Tennessee.  Often cited as the home of country music, Nashville is also home to a vibrant rock, blues and folk scene.  The good news is Nashville is also a great place to visit with kids. After a recent trip to the Music City, here are a few of my suggestions.  

Things to do -  Country Music Hall of Fame - A great place to start any visit to Nashville is at the Country Music Hall of Fame.  As one would expect, the Hall of Fame traces the history of country music. A few of my favourite displays included seeing Elvis’s gold car and more guitars from famous singers than I could count.   

The kids will be happy at the Hall of Fame as well.  The Taylor Swift Educational Centre has plenty of interactive displays and kids activities.  The day I visited the museum was jam-packed with school groups.  

As one of the add-ons to your Hall of Fame ticket, a person can do the RCA Studio B tour.  A short ten minute bus ride from the Hall of Fame,  Studio B is where Elvis recorded many of his greatest hits.  Other recording artists at Studio B included Dolly Parton and the Everly Brothers.  Our guide explained the history of the studio and why it was world renowned for the sound achieved in the studio.    The tour was very interesting but might be more geared towards older kids.  

Another addition you can choose to do is the Hatch Show Print Tour. Hatch Show Print has been a letterpress print since 1879.  Today, the print shop is housed within the Country Music Hall of Fame building.  The tour covers the history of the print shop, how posters are made and perhaps best for kids,  you get a chance to make your own poster. Some of the famous artists who have had their concerts promoted by Hatch posters include Elvis Presley, Hank Williams and Duke Ellington.   

Old Town Trolley Tour Nashville -  One of the best ways to get an overview of Nashville is to take a trolley tour.  The tour is a hop on hop off service with fifteen possible stops. I found the tour to be a great introduction to the history of Nashville.  Our guide was very knowledgeable and had a good sense of humor. The entire tour was about an hour and forty minutes. It was very kid-friendly and many of the stops would appeal to kids including several large parks.  

I also chose to do the evening Soul in the City music tour.   Our guide brought along his piano keyboard to play a few tunes on the bus.  We were introduced to the musical history of Nashville including studios where some of the best known hits have been written and recorded.   We also made a stop at a cafe where we got to see a song-writing circle. A trio of three musicians were sharing their songs.  

Madame Tussauds Wax Museum - Nashville -  I love Madame Tussauds because it is a very passive way for kids to learn about history.  I got to take my photo with almost lifelike wax figures including Justin Timberlake, Bono and Beyonce.  None of the above have ever invited me to their house so my photos at Tussauds are the closest I will ever get to the stars.  There was also a large section about the history of country music. As mentioned, the museum is a great place to learn history and have fun at the same time.

Soundwaves Water Experience -  This may be the favourite attraction for any kid visiting Nashville.  Set in the impressive Gaylord Opryland Resort, this indoor/outdoor water park features multiple waterslides, a lazy river and rapids river, a younger kids area and a crowd surfer.  

I appreciated the water experience also offered an adults only area where one could rest and relax.  

During the summer, the outdoor area features more waterslides and even a huge LED screen.  

Where to Eat

Barbecue is almost considered a food group in Nashville.  Jack’s Bar-B-Que,  found along the main entertainment strip, Broadway Avenue, was one of my favourites.  The place wasn’t fancy but served up delicious smoked chicken, pulled pork and brisket.  It is tradition to order a meat and three, meaning three side dishes. I loved the mac n cheese and the cornbread.  

The Peanut Shop - The Peanut Shop is like taking a trip back in time.   The shop has been at the same location since 1927. It originally was a Planters Peanuts store.   The day I visited, I was greeted by the friendly owner Kathy. The smell of freshly roasted nuts filled the shop.  The walls were decorated as if it was still 1927. Every type of nut was on sale along with items like licorice and gum balls.  

I ordered a bag of sweetened cashews and roasted peanuts.   They were the most delicious nuts I have tasted in my life.   Before I left Nashville, I made several trips back to the Peanut Shop and would have brought home half the store if it was not for import food regulations!

Where to Stay   Nashville is booming right now and it is a tourist city so it is a good idea to book ahead.  I had an enjoyable stay at several hotel properties.

Drury Plaza Hotel Nashville Downtown - This hotel was so new, it took awhile for my taxi driver to find it.  The day I checked in, the 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm free happy hour was just starting for guests of the hotel.  We were offered buffet style finger foods like nachos and sliders. Of course, there were juices and pops for the kids and adults are offered two free adult beverages if they so choose.  It was the perfect bridge between supper and going out to explore the city.

The hotel is located within easy walking distance of the Country Music Hall of Fame, Broadway and all downtown attractions.  

The following morning, the breakfast buffet was delicious.   My room was very clean and the hotel comes with free WiFi.  

Hotel Preston - Hotel Preston was quirky in the best sense of the word.   In true Nashville spirit, guests are able to borrow guitars from the front desk.  Perhaps the next great hit will be composed with a Hotel Preston guitar.   

The hotel staff were very friendly, including the front desk staff who offered me an umbrella on a rainy Nashville day.  

The hotel also has a regular-changing art exhibition featuring local artists.  

The standout for me at Hotel Preston was the on-site restaurant, Blackwood.  I had excellent Southern food including fried chicken and waffles for breakfast and a yummy burger for supper.  Prices were very affordable and the taste was far beyond standard hotel fare. There is also live music there certain nights of the week.  

The hotel is located very close to the airport and is a short Uber ride from downtown.  The hotel also offers a shuttle to the airport.

Gaylord Opryland Resort  - This hotel could be worth an entire article on it’s own.  Listed as the largest non-casino hotel in the United States, this hotel is an architectural marvel.  As previously mentioned, it is home to an indoor/outdoor waterpark, a nine-acre indoor garden and an artificial river that offers boat tours and even has waterfalls.  There is a free fountain light show that would be worthy of anything found in Vegas.

The resort is so huge, guests are given a map to navigate the property.   Part of the fun is getting lost and exploring all the nooks and crannies of the hotel.

The resort is conveniently located within walking distance of the Grand Ole Opry.  The resort offers a shuttle bus downtown and to the Grand Ole Opry and Opry Mills shopping mall.  

If you go - The only problem visitors to Nashville will have is finding enough time to do all the activities.  You can literally find venues playing music from breakfast until the wee hours of the morning. A great place to find information about everything going on is www.visitmusiccity.com.

I found Uber to be a great way to get around the city.   All the drivers were very friendly and offered local tips that were useful.  I also found all the local residents to be polite and friendly as well. Don’t be afraid to ask for directions or just chat.  There is a good chance the person working at the coffee shop or front desk at your hotel is also working on the next hit record or is the lead guitarist for your favorite musical group.  

Family Travel: Lake Placid, New York

KITC would like to welcome back guest blogger, Stephen Johnson. Stephen Johnson is an Ottawa writer who loves to write about family travel.  During the summer, you will most likely find him and his family at a local fair or festival. During the winter, a beach in Mexico is a likely bet. 

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It is not every day you see your child hurtling down an Olympic Bobsled course at sixty miles per hour.  My wife and I got to live that experience on a recent trip to Lake Placid, New York.   

Lake Placid was home to the 1932 and 1980 Olympics.   The town and surrounding area still have the infrastructure of what you would expect from an Olympics including the aforementioned bobsled run, ski jump and hockey arenas.  

Conveniently,  it is also only about a three-hour drive from Ottawa.  Here is our family guide to Lake Placid, New York.  

Things to Do -  Olympic Sports Complex  - This area is home to the bobsled experience and also to the nearby cross-country ski and biathlon center.  

Our son, David, has always been the daredevil of our family.   Sandy and I declined to do the bobsled experience while David eagerly signed up.   After I filled in the paperwork, David was taken to the top of the bobsled run by vehicle.  Sandy and I walked to the midway point platform.   

We saw several bobsleds go by at extremely fast speeds.  Sandy held her breath every time the sleds passed by. We honestly did not know if David had gone because the sleds went by so fast.  

Upon further investigation,  we found an area near the finish line that offered a better view.   We also found out David was to go next. We could hear the sled coming down the course and saw it approach the finish line.   Again, Sandy held her breath and even I held my breath. Once David and the sled safely stopped, his smile ear to ear confirmed it was a great experience.  

David described it as being one of the coolest experiences of his life and said it was a similar feeling to a roller coaster.   

David was shuttled back to the centre and was given a commemorative pin and t-shirt.  We also learned one of the bobsledders working that day was U.S Olympian, John Napier.  While he did not guide David’s sled, he was very giving of his time as we chatted about his Olympic experience and took photos.   

Olympic Jumping Complex - I’ve always thought that Olympic ski jumpers are a bit crazy.   At Lake Placid, it is possible to get the perspective of a ski jumper at the Olympic Jumping Complex.  

We arrived on-site and took a gondola ride up to the base of the 120-metre ski jump. On the gondola, we were treated to a panoramic view of the Adirondacks.  

If it was not already high enough,  we took an elevator to the top of the ski jump.  We proceeded outside to the observation deck. The view was amazing but it still confirmed my idea that ski jumpers are crazy.  I had also gained a new admiration for their bravery.    

We eventually made our way back down the elevator and gondola.  I must admit, Sandy and I were both happy when David said he does not want to become a ski jumper.

Cloudspltter Gondola Ride -  Whiteface Mountain is one of the most popular downhill ski hills in the northeast United States.   Luckily, the Cloudsplitter Gondola takes skiers and non-skiers to the top of Little Whiteface Mountain.   Our family fell into the non-skier category. The gondola ride took about fifteen minutes to reach the peak.   It was easy to understand why Whiteface is so popular. Skiers and snowboarders were carving up the freshly fallen white powder.  

Once at the top, it was a perfectly clear day and we were treated to a stunning view of the valley and surrounding peaks.   David wanted to explore some of the side trails. If he had it his way, he would have spent hours at the top of the mountain. The only problem was that the temperature at the top of the mountain was a brisk -20 C with the wind chill. I was good after about fifteen or twenty minutes.    

We made our way back to the gondola and had worked up an appetite.  We checked out the Base Camp Market and all had a delicious clam chowder soup.  

Where to Stay - We had a very comfortable stay at High Peaks Resort.  Located right in downtown Lake Placid, the resort was centrally located to everything.  Some of the touches I liked was the central lobby area where one could find multiple fireplaces and comfortable chairs. It was the perfect place to lounge and just relax.  There were many board games to be found including chess. The resort provided a delicious hot chocolate and cookies to complete the ambiance.

David, Sandy and I also enjoyed the swimming pool and hot tub found in the resort.   

We look forward to checking out the resort in the summer as well.

Where to eat -  There is no shortage of restaurants to be found in Lake Placid.  One thing I did like is that most seemed to be locally owned. There were no golden arches on every street corner.   We had several good meals in Lake Placid but for us, the standout was the Lake Placid Pub and Brewery.   It had the right mix of the friendliness of a pub mixed in with relaxed family dining.  The food was delicious with Sandy and David enjoying the fish n chips while I tucked into the bacon cheeseburger.   Our server was extremely attentive and friendly.

If you go - It is impossible to summarize everything there is to see and do in Lake Placid during the winter in one article.   A few other activities include dog-sledding on Mirror Lake, tobogganing down a chute, and skating on the outdoor oval where the Olympic speed skating took place. It is also a pleasure to just walk around Lake Placid downtown.  It is not uncommon to find winter sports competitors from around the world mingling.   

Lake Placid will be celebrating the 40th anniversary of the 1980 Olympics from February 14-23.  There will be many activities with an Olympic theme.  

As with any winter activity, it is necessary to plan ahead and check the weather.  A very useful website for all Olympic related activities is www.whiteface.com.  For an overview of all tourism-related activities in Lake Placid visit, www.lakeplacid.com.

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Full disclosure, we were guests of the tourism office of Lake Placid. Our hotel and attractions were covered but as always, all views are my own.

Arbraska Lafleche Caves

KITC would like to welcome back, guest blogger, Stephen Johnson. Stephen Johnson is an Ottawa writer who loves to write about family travel.  During the summer, you will most likely find him and his family at a local fair or festival.  During the winter, a beach in Mexico is a likely bet.  

Our family has always tried to embrace the idea of exploring your own backyard. We are fortunate to have an abundance of natural and historic attractions in or close to Ottawa. 

Keeping with the idea of local tourism, my son, David and I decided to go check out the cave at Arbraska Lafleche. My wife, Sandy, decided to pass since she found out there are bats that hibernate in the cave. 

Bats hibernating in Arbraska Lafleche Caves

David and I arrived at Arbraska Lafleche and were treated to a nature sighting. We saw a group of wild turkeys eating and then slowly meander across the road. They were not bothered by our vehicle and seemed to be saying they had the right of way.

We entered the main building and were greeted by our guide, Marc Andre Dorval. Marc immediately made us feel welcome and introduced himself as the caveman. The nickname is well-earned as Marc has been exploring caves for the past forty years and started as a young child. 

Marc got us suited up with a helmet and showed us how to turn the headlamp on and off. We entered the cave and spotted a number of little brown bats hibernating. David was fascinated to see the animals in their natural environment and not just on a youtube video or zoo. The bats glistened as it had recently rained and they were wet from the dripping inside the cave.

Marc told us that the bats prefer a temperature of between 4-7 celsius when they are hibernating. We did not linger too long as not to disturb the bats.

For the next part of the cave, we descended a small ladder and entered a larger cavern. We made ourselves comfortable and Marc shared with us how the cave was discovered and the geologic history. The cave had first been discovered by a bear trapper in the 1800’s. Of course, the geologic history of the cave stretches back many more years than just the 1800’s. 

It was time to visit another section of the cave. We climbed a longer ladder to what I called the upstairs floor. After a short walk, I noticed two yoga style mats on the cave floor. I was intrigued but did not say anything. Marc shared more interesting information about the cave. I was listening but frankly could not get my mind off the mats. Was there a special yoga class offered in the cave? Perhaps some mystic had made the cave his/her permanent home? 

It all made sense when Marc asked us to shut off our headlamps. We were enveloped in total darkness. I literally could not see my hand in front of my face. Marc shared that he slept in the cave three nights a week as it was too long a commute from his house to the cave. The only problem he mentioned was that sometimes the bats would disturb him in the summer. He truly is a caveman!

As we neared the end of the tour, Marc shared with us some of the future plans for the cave. We were also able to see a gigantic icicle that had already formed on the cave floor. Marc said by January, the exit would be filled with huge icicles. I can imagine it would be a very popular place for Instagrammers. 

David and I made a vow to return to Arbraska Lafleche in the summer when we can do the zipline course. I’m sure Sandy will join us as well. Just as long as she does not see any bats.

If you go - Arbraska Lafleche is located about forty minutes north of Ottawa along route 366. David and I chose to do the cave discovery tour which is about an hour. There is also a cave explorer tour for the more adventurous. For the explorer tour, you will be crawling through small spaces.

I would recommend the cave tour for slightly older children and those without mobility issues. There are some stairs to climb.

The temperature of the cave is 4-7 C year round so dress appropriately. 

Arbraska Lafleche also offers ziplining, an aerial game trek and hiking. In the winter, they offer a snowman adventure tour that includes a zipline, snowshoeing and the cave discovery tour. 

For more information, visit www.arbraska.com.

Full disclosure, we received free passes for the purposes of this review, but all views are my own.

Family Travel: Touring Montreal, Quebec in the Fall

KITC would like to welcome back guest blogger, Stephen Johnson. Stephen Johnson is an Ottawa writer who loves to write about family travel. During the summer, you will most likely find him and his family at a local fair or festival. During the winter, a beach in Mexico is a likely bet.

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You know a city is cool when there is a huge mural of Leonard Cohen in the downtown. Of course, I am talking about Montreal. 

We saw the giant mural of Leonard as we headed towards the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. I tried to explain the greatness of Leonard to our eleven-year-old son, David. I cited songs like Suzanne and Hallelujah but to no avail. At least, my wife Sandy and I have similar tastes in music. 

David was much more interested to check out the Egyptian mummies at the museum. The temporary exhibition features six mummies from the collections of the British Museum. The British Museum has always had the policy of not unwrapping any of the Egyptian mummies since it would cause extensive damage. Through the enhancement of CT scanner technology, it is now possible to do a 3D scan of the mummies revealing their internal organs. 

Aside from the interesting technology, there were numerous artifacts on display from the time period of the mummies. There were also videos to provide a context of what life would have been like in Egypt during this time. By the end of the exhibit, a person feels like they have a far better understanding of Egyptian mummies and ancient Egypt.

One thing I love about Montreal is that it is possible to get a cup of coffee and desserts outside of the major chains. We discovered a local place, Cafe Vasco da Gama close to the museum. We enjoyed a warm coffee and delicious Portuguese dessert on the street terrace. For a moment, I felt like I was in Lisbon, Portugal rather than Canada. 

It was time to check into our hotel. We love the Residence Inn by Marriott Montreal Downtown for a number of reasons. First is the location. The hotel is located right on Peel Street and is about a two-minute walk to the metro. We can park our car and then walk or take the metro everywhere. Also, the rooms have an in-suite kitchen and fridge which can help save on food costs. Finally, the staff have always been very friendly and have even encouraged my sometimes broken French. 

Being Montreal, the night was still young. We hopped on the metro over to Parc Jean Drapeau. The park is home to a new space called Espace 67. The area serves as a location for many of the large festivals in Montreal. We had come to check out Feux Follets. A simple description of Feux Follets would be to call it a Chinese Lantern festival but it was so much more than that.

We arrived on-site and were greeted by Chinese drummers. There was a huge variety of illuminated structures ranging from pandas to a huge Chinese pagoda. We also enjoyed a Chinese cultural show that featured song and dance. Some of the entertainment was more high-tech including an illuminated drone show that was set to music. 

The highlight of the entire night was projections set against a huge water fountain in the middle of a lake. I have never seen anything like it. Images of lions and tigers danced across the water. It would be cool to see something like that in Ottawa perhaps at Dow’s Lake or the Ottawa River. 

Our night on the town was still not done as we headed back into downtown Montreal and visited Juliette & Chocolat The resto features everything crepes and chocolate. David chose a crepe that had hazelnut ice cream, Nutella, meringue and whipped cream. Needless to say, it was delicious. I was also impressed that he was able to sleep afterwards after ingesting so much sugar.

The next day, we started off with a huge buffet breakfast at the hotel. I saw a few tall young guys sporting the colours of my former alma mater, the University of Saskatchewan. They were members of the U of S basketball team and were in a match against Concordia. I am not sure the results of the match but I am sure the breakfast helped. 

After such a busy schedule the day before, we planned a more relaxed day. The only thing on the schedule was to visit a store that sold reptiles, Magazoo. David has loved reptiles since he has been three and that interest has not gone away. We took the metro to east Montreal and arrived at the store. The staff were very friendly and shared David’s love for reptiles. We also learned there is a large reptile show in Montreal every February so we are already planning our return trip. 

The best place to find out about the latest attractions and events in Montreal is at www.mtl.org.

As mentioned, we always stay at the Residence Inn by Marriott Montreal Downtown. For more information, visit, www.marriott.com/montreal.

Disclosure: Stephen’s hotel and attractions were covered but all views are his own.