Do you want to plan a winter trip just to make snow tubes in Quebec? After spending a day in Village Valcartier village just outside Quebec, my answer would be a categorical yes. I tried snow tubes across the United States and I have never experienced a destination like this.
“This is the last race … seriously … I think this time,” I said to my daughter when we collapsed in the hits in motion to be transported on the mountain via a towing rope for what seemed to be our 22nd snow tubes race and, about the third time, I had pronounced these words.
It was far from the trepidatory family who arrived for the first time Village Village ValcartierThe largest winter playground in North America a few hours earlier – one of us is afraid of heights, another frightened of the rides and the little one not feeling 100%. A little bravery, a little avil, and a lot of fun later, we were all reluctant to leave and put an epic winter day.
About Valcartier village holidays
Unlike certain snow tubes parks associated with the ski mountains, Valcartier, located just 20 minutes outside Quebec in Canada, focuses on tubes, with more than 35 slides (WoW !!), 5000 interior tubes and 17 mechanical elevators to bring you to the top of the mountain.
Village Village Valcartier is a destination all year round for families with an outdoor water park, a winter play area, an interior bora park water park and the Aroma Spa.
This station also includes a variety of accommodation, including the four-star hotel Valcartier all year round, an ultra-modern campsite of 600 sites and seven rustic cabins for summer customers. The complex resistance part is the Ice Hotel (Ice Hotel), Which, since 2016, has been sculpted every winter with a different design and includes rooms and an ice bar.
Snow tubes in Quebec: Village Village Valcartier
Valcartier has not only more snow tubes than any other mountain I have seen, but they also have really innovative (and possibly exhausted) rides! Snow tubes blades are assessed according to the level of thrills of everyone to the extreme. There are also tubes for groups, such as rafting or tornado, while other slides work with one to eight people at a time.
Fortunately, all races are labeled as ski slopes: green = easy / beginner; blue = intermediary; Diamond black = difficult / fast; Double Black Diamond = Crazy Fast; It was therefore quite easy to find something that suited our temperament. In addition, the two main elevators in the lodge area brought us to the top of the same mountain and it was easy to go to another sliding area to discover the races.
Avalanche
If you want to start slowly, take the rope tug to the right of the lodge when you face the mountain and at the top, take a second smaller facelift towards the avalanche area. But do not worry, while the avalanche seems frightening, you can immediately return to this short lifting section on the path No. 24 – very slow, very easy and a good introduction to snow tubes, especially for small children or frightened cats.
Tornado
From the avalanche section, you can also find the “tornado” tube, which can accommodate three to eight people and is equipped with a special mechanism that runs it (no thanks, I’m ready with Spinny walks.)
Snow rafting
Imagine taking the Rafting experience in live water and put on the snow. In the Snow Rafting section, there are three slides with rafts that adapt to four to twelve people each. Everyone jumps, then you run on the slide at a lightning speed (the more people you have, the faster it goes.
Himalayas
We walked through the woods and passed some of the 600 four-star campsite sites in Valcartier to discover the view of the Jacques-Cartier frozen river, where you can do real rafting in summer in summer. Since the Himalayan slides in this area were all black diamonds, reaching 80 km / h and giving the impression of rushing from the edge of the mountain to the frozen river valley below, we returned to our comfort zone in the central section.
Central section
As we approach our first race and look at the lower mountain of the tiny people below, we were all a little nervous for our first race. Images of concussion, bruised teammates and bumps on jargages have run in my mind.
While we looked at to see who would go first, I knew it was time to jump. With the first piece of acceleration, I obtained the same drop in my stomach which encourages panic each time I walk and I immediately threw a heel to slow myself. But soon, the speed took over and I relaxed and I went with the flow … or the slide … And in a few seconds, I stopped at the bottom of the hill and turning to give my daughter a boost, who was online.
In the central section, we found a mixture of green vegetables, blues and a few blacks who occupied us and happy all day. In this area, supervision is not as tight as the fastest races, who have monitors displayed at the top of each race to bring people connected and spaced correctly, but there were still doors that raised when it was sure for the start of the cursor.
We went up and descending for hours in each possible combination: everyone alone, mom and girl, dad and girl and a family race; With several races on our favorite trails (# 12, 14, 8 and 9.) each walk as smooth as silk, no bumps, no bruise and more fear.
It is easy to spend the whole day of snow tube in Valcartier – whether you are a daredevil or a chicken. Between six restaurants and snack bars, two bars and lots of space to enjoy a crowded lunch. We were also happy to find many lockers available for rental.
Valcartier is very family-friendly, offering a children’s playground with tunnels and slides, animal mascots, family games that could win a free maple taffy from sugar hut and pop music in the background.
Ice skate
If you want a break in the snow tubes, you can rather do ice skating. Village Village Valcartier has a one -kilometer skating path and you can listen to music while you slip into the snowy landscape. The skate rentals are available, so don’t worry if you haven’t brought yours!
Tips for snow tubes in Quebec:
- Hot dress – wear layers and glue with mixtures of wool or synthetic against cotton
- Do not forget your warming, footwear, fabrics, lip balm and sunscreen
- Ski glasses or sunglasses are useful to keep the wind and snow out of your face
- Snow pants and snow boots are essential!
Going snow tubes to Village Vacances Valcartier is an excellent addition to attend the Quebec winter carnival (another of my favorite things to do in winter!) Or by visiting Quebec with children. You can also add a visit to Saguenay Lac St Jean to see the beautiful fjords and enjoy time in a Nordic spa.
Note: Our stay in Quebec City was organized by tourism in Quebec, Quebec tourism and tickets and a tour was provided by the Village Village Valcartier, but my opinions are mine – and we loved it! The featured photo at the top of this post was graceful of Valcartier holiday village.
Tamara Gruber is the founder and publisher of We3Travel. Former director of marketing and travel advisor, Tamara is a award -winning and expert travel writer recognized in family trips. Tamara is a member of Satw, Natja, Ifwtwa and Adventure Travel Trade Association, and headquarters to the Board of Directors of the Family Travel Association. She is also the publisher of YourTimeTofly.com and the co-host of the Mavens Travel Podcast Podcast.