Saint-Sauveur, Quebec, Canada: A Breath of Fresh Air
Saint-Sauveur is a town and municipality located in Quebec, Canada which is close to the Laurentian Mountains and only an hour’s drive from Montréal. The area surrounding the Saint-Sauveur Valley is known for its natural beauty and the town itself is a great escape, both for Canadians and Americans with an easy and quick access to the U.S. border. Saint-Sauveur is mostly French-speaking with many business and recreational transactions taking place in that language. Because of the tourism industry, though, English-speaking visitors won’t be left afloat.
A World of White
Each season brings different experiences, depending on the activity desired. While summer weather allows visitors to bike and hike and engage in water sports, it’s in the winter that the area comes alive. Those who love extreme and outdoor sports will revel in the opportunities to connect with nature. The local mountain provides downhill skiing, cross country skiing, winter tobogganing, and snow sledding opportunities. Mont Saint-Sauveur is a ski mountain, resort, and hotel paradise with many options for the serious or amateur snow explorer, including snow school programs and over 30 different trails ranging from easy to double black diamond extreme. The area is famous for having the longest ski season that lasts from October to June of each year. Think all the fun disappears at night? Think again, Saint-Sauveur has night time skiing and après ski fun with pubs and bars that specialise in live music. There are also skating parks, such as the Parc John-H Molson Outdoor Skating Rink, and a ski museum, the Laurentian Ski Museum. Another popular, but less crowded ski area, is Mont-Habitant which also offers downhill skiing.
Summer Fun
When all that snow-white fun has faded into a pleasant summer, Mont Saint-Sauveur still has plenty to offer for those wanting to reconnect with nature and inhale truly fresh breaths of air. It’s a friendly little city nestled in the mountains and provides a fun and quaint experience in any season. If water in liquid form is an interest, consider the adventure at Mont Saint-Sauveur’s water park, Parc Aquatique, which is the largest water park in a mountain setting. The centre offers water slides, a 1.5-kilometre alpine coaster, hiking paths, and double zip lines, as well as picnic areas and water rides. Terraces and cabins can be rented from June through September. There are also golfing, bike paths and camping areas to explore, such as Chimo refuges, Inc. which allows for the unique experience of staying in log-hewn cabins, fabric tents or treehouses.
A Day Off
Saint-Sauveur can provide quiet days of leisure to equal the busy days on the slopes. A quick walk around the village of Saint-Sauveur will point to a several spas, such as Spa Bagni and Ofuro ZEN Station. The spa houses have traditional massages and treatments, but some also have large open-air hot tubs where one can sit under the stars and gaze at mountain views. A tough day on the slope could be well balanced by a quiet day recharging batteries with aromatherapy sessions, private spa suites, and a full range of baths, massages, and body treatments.
Fun for the Kids
An amazing experience for any time of year is to see where Santa Claus, or Père Noël, spends his summer vacation. At the Village du Père Noël, located a short drive away in Val-David, guests can spend the day in year-round fun with swimming in the summer or ice skating in the winter, as well as visiting the ponies who might provide some insight on the jobs of those adventurous reindeer. A quick drive will bring families to Ay Pays des Merveilles, an adventure and fun park with miniature golf, a haunted house, and a visit with the animals at Cinderella’s farm.
Fun for the Parents
It’s not necessary to be a kid or teen to enjoy Saint-Sauveur. There are plenty of activities in the area that focus on cultural and entertainment, including several art galleries, like the Gordon Harrison Landscape Gallery and Galerie d’art Béliveau, and even a theatre, Théâtre St. Sauveur. Boutique shopping involves many speciality shops of antiques, souvenirs, clothing, and chocolate. Visiting a crêperie, restaurants specialising in the creation of crêpes, will be a unique treat at Crêperie à la Gourmandise Bretonne and Crêperie l’Amorique. The village also offers a lot to visitors who want stay in boutique hotels. Manoir due Saint-Sauveur is one such choice and allows guests easy access to the charms of the village and quick access to the ski slopes on the mountain. Saint-Sauveur provides a full range of fun for every taste and pleasure.