Appreciating Winter

As we have been driving through Quebec, we see so many ice fishing huts on the frozen rivers.  It really makes me think about how cool it is to have something that you do that inspires you during each season, so you really feel the season.  I see these huts and just imagine that these guys that are out there in those huts live for the winter, whereas I and most of my friends just can't wait for it to be over.

Parc Omega

We've been to alot of zoos.  Some are better than others, for sure...but the Parc Omega , about 10 minutes drive from where we are staying in Montebello, Quebec, is probably the most awesome one we've ever experienced.  Here's what it is:  a huge wildlife park, that you drive through.  When you enter, you can put your radio station to 88.1, and have a guided tour.  Within minutes, there are huge elk surrounding your car, mouthing at your windows, waiting for you to roll them down, and feed them carrots.  It doesn't get old.  You move on, and all the while, you are driving through a very natural landscape--there are no fences...the animals really just roam.  Next we came upon alot of wild boar, and then it was caribou, and red tailed deer. Then the largest bison I've ever seen...and babies.  And mountain goats.  There are wolves and bears too, in a very natural environment, but they are fenced off. I only wish we brought more carrots so we could have kept on feeding them...it was such a blast--having wild animals put their faces into our car, and slobbering all over the windows.

(photos Matthew Hranek )

Winter Getaway: Fairmont Chateau Montebello

We arrived here late Monday afternoon, and wow, it is such an amazing property.  First, it's the world's largest log cabin.  It was built in 1930, as a private club, and became a hotel in 1970.  It has a lobby that has a fireplace right smack in the center, that I think is 6 sided,  and is 4 stories tall.  The furniture is great--nothing seems shabby, even though it seems vintage.  The scale of everything is so awesome.  It has a massive dining room, with fantastic artwork and totem poles, that surround a stage.  The rooms are smaller and cozy, but you aren't here to spend tons of time in your room.  It's the kind of place you come to experience the outdoors (cross-country skiing, ice skating, ice hockey, dog sledding, horse sleigh rides, tubing, curling)...and then there's the beautiful indoor pool.  I think it must be so lovely here in the summer too.  The food is really good (and so is the Molson Dry beer on tap)--they use local and organic as much as possible (this is actually a Fairmont standard).  More to come tomorrow.

(all pictures from matthew hranek )