Now that the first snow has fallen and that we are all sorrowful about it, it’s time to plan winter getaways. Let’s face it, the only way to survive 5 months of winter (yep: it is 5 months if you live in Montreal), is to spice things up with short trips here and there. If you can afford it, better go to Mexico or anywhere in the Caribbean where the sun shines majestically and the trees are glowingly green. If you can’t, go on road trips 🙂 !
[Mariam: I hate winter. I hate the cold. I hate ice. I am sure that those of you who were raised in tropical areas know/understand my pain.] [Henry: And because she hates it so much, I know for a fact that if I don’t look for fun things to do in the winter, she will hibernate. Like hedgehog!] [Did I just try to do a foreign accent while typing??? 😛 ] And so, this was one such getaway: a trip to Lac Brome, only an hour away from Montreal.
If you live nearby and have never been to Lac Brome, we highly recommend it. And not just for winter. It’s as beautiful – if not more so – in the fall and summer. This town has a lot to offer: In December they have a beautiful holiday market with a large Santa Claus parade and beautiful lights all around town. The program for that can be found here. For the rest of the winter, there are amazing spaces for ice-skating and ice-hockey games, as well as areas for sledding and beautiful forests for snowshoeing. The rest of the year, you can visit the Knowlton Village, go to antique shops, take a stroll on the Township Trail, or simply relax by the lake. Like we said, plenty to do.
Last time we visited Lac Brome it was to celebrate our anniversary, and we found the most romantic place to do so: Auberge West Brome. This inn has a spa, an indoor swimming pool, a gym, a bistro, and a huge compound in which you can walk around for hours. It was truly beautiful. They also offer different packages for the holiday season, as well as for weddings, birthdays, or corporate events. There is truly something for all occasions.
We opted for the Romantic Package 1-night stay with a full breakfast, and a 5-course dinner. It was amazing. The calmness of the surroundings and the deliciousness of the food were our top likes.
Henry: The dining experience was definitely a major highlight! The 5-course meal was in the inn’s restaurant, which was dimly-lit for atmosphere. The space between tables ensured plenty of privacy, and we were lucky enough that there were nearly no other diners the night we went (and then they left early, so we were alone). It felt like all the uniformed staff were there only to serve us 🙂 . It was a wonderfully romantic setting [Mariam: Yes, it was 😀 ].
The food itself was just excellent. Even the complementary bread – soft and chewy and fragrant – screamed “quality”. The rest of the dinner matched expectations really well. We got fish cakes and blood pudding with bacon(!) marmalade as appetizers, and a gourmet burger and well-aged steak as our mains. Everything was well-presented, and, more importantly, expertly prepared and cooked. There was a lot of obvious, loving care put into the food, and we slowly savoured every last bite so that we could appreciate it all. Every bite was a delight…
The breakfast the next morning was bursting with all sorts of fruits and freshly squeezed juices, and of course the usual eggs, sausages and pancakes/crepes. And because the restaurant was just full of windows, brunch took place in a room flooded with wonderful light. It made for a cheery contrast with the soft-lit romantic atmosphere of the night before.
All told, the Romantic Package made us H-A-P-P-Y.
After such good meals, we had to move. So, we spent the day out and about town, walking on long trails, going into antique stores, and visiting the village. A few places we recommend:
- Douglass Beach Knowlton
- A cruise on the lake
- Blown glass store
- The Santa Clause parade
- The Brome county museum
Thank you Lac Brome, Quebec, Canada, North America, World!
Bonus: Check out the antique lamp we bought as a souvenir!
From Point A 2 Point B 