Stay & Play

Stay and Play at Club Med Quebec Charlevoix

by Jennifer Merrick

The aim in life is to be happy. The place to be happy is here. And the time to be happy is now.

This was the simple philosophy of Gerard Blitz, who founded Club Med in 1950. He envisioned the community atmosphere of an Olympic village where different nationalities could play sports during the day and dance together at night. Club Med has grown to encompass over 80 clubs during its 74 years. Club Med Quebec Charlevoix is one of its newest offerings and the only all-inclusive mountain resort in North America. Its modern décor, sumptuous cuisine and upscale amenities are a far cry from the tents on the beach of the first Club Med. But still today you’ll find guests of all ages from around the world enjoying outdoor activities in a stunning natural setting and reveling in cocktails and live entertainment when the sun sets.

A very happy place indeed, and here’s what made me happiest.

Location: Wherever we were at the resort, the views mesmerized us. Looking to the south, our jaws dropped at the sight of the mighty Saint Lawrence River. It’s at this point, about 60 miles west of Quebec City, where the saltwater meets the fresh, and at 16 miles across, it looks more like a sea. The floating ice floes and constantly changing light put on a show that we never tired of. To the north were the mountains, rising to the clouds. At over 2500 feet, it’s the highest vertical drop east of the Rockies.

Rooms and Amenities: Club Med’s 302 rooms and 25 suites are thoughtfully designed with contemporary design, plush beds, and full amenities. Facilities at the resort included a large indoor pool, fitness center, yoga room, and a large spa, where skilled masseuses and estheticians offered a menu of services. The pampering also included a sauna and outdoor hot tub.

Cuisine: More a food hall experience than a buffet, the main restaurant, Le Marche, has multiple stations set up that serve up well-presented places of locally inspired and sourced dishes. Le Chalet has food available outside of mealtimes and its lodge-style layout with full bar service is ideal for chillaxing anytime of day.

Activities: All-inclusive at Club Med also applies to almost everything you do, and the list went far beyond the usual resort offerings of aquafit and yoga. Skiing or snowboarding? All stays come with lift passes and the slopes are at your doorstep. Don’t know how to ski? Professional all-day lessons are also included. Kids have their own lessons and children’s programming that will have them performing on stage, trying out circus moves and having the time of their lives. But even adults can indulge their inner child with classes like juggling and trapeze. Our favorite activities, though, were the guided snowshoe outings. With a knowledgeable local guide, our small group tramped the trails at the base of the mountain through the maple woods and historic homestead buildings on the Le Forestier hike. And the next day we were whisked up on the gondola to walk the trails at the peak of the mountain on the Le Bouton hike. Taking in the 360-degree panoramic view of this extraordinary landscape, we were all in our happy place.

www.clubmed.ca/d/canada/quebec