9 Magical Winter Road Trips Near Ottawa That Need To Be On Your Bucket List

Visit an ice castle & meet a reindeer!
Staff Writer

Grab your car keys; it is time to go on an adventure. These Ottawa road trip ideas will take you to winter wonderlands that need to be on your bucket list.

Chances are you've shaken a snow globe, but have you ever slept in one? It an unreal stay, where you can enjoy watching the falling snow from the bed.

Or, if you don't mind driving a bit further, you can explore an ice hotel just outside of Quebec City. Every year it has a brand new theme, and it feels like stepping inside Disney's Frozen.

Meanwhile, if you are looking for something a bit more low-key, Parc Omega is sure to be a hit. As you drive along the path, gentle animals will walk right up to your car to say hello.

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Fairmont Le Chateau Montebello

Price: $279.00 a night

Address: 392 Notre Dame St., Montebello, QC

Why You Need To Go: You can spend the night in a gigantic log cabin. At this hotel, there are so many activities to enjoy like ice skating and dog sledding. 

'Snow Globe' Tent

Price: $160.00+ a night

Address: 3160 6e Rang, Saint-Calixte, QC

Why You Need To Go: For a romantic getaway, you can sleep in a tent with a transparent roof. Nestled under a warm duvet you can watch the snowflakes tumble all around you.

Patinage En Foret

Price: $14.00 per person

When: From Sunday, December 20

Address: 9 Montee Beausoleil, Lac-des-Loups, Q

Why You Need To Go: You can glide along a tranquil 3.3-kilometre path inside a snow-covered forest. 

Mackenzie King Estate

Price: Free

Address: MacKenzie King Rd., Chelsea, Quebec

Why You Need To Go: It is a short walk to reach breathtaking ruins that look extra magical in the winter.

Hotel De Glace 

Price: $23.99+ per person for a day pass

When: From Saturday, January 2, 2021

Address: 2280 Boulevard Valcartier, Saint-Gabriel-de-Valcartier, QC

Why You Need To Go: It is the only ice hotel in North America, and every year it has a brand new theme.

Almonte

Price: Free

Address: Almonte, ON

Why You Need To Go: It is a must-stop for all Hallmark movie fans. Many festive flicks have been filmed here, including A Cheerful Christmas, Christmas Scavenger Hunt and Christmas Around The Corner.

The Viking At Saint Sauveur

Price: $13.99 per person

Address: 350 St. Denis. Ave., Saint-Sauveur, QC

Why You Need To Go: For a thrilling experience, you can ride a 1.5-kilometre alpine roller coaster that can reach speeds of up to 35-kilometres per hour.

Mont-Tremblant

Price: Free admission to the village

Address: Mont-Tremblant, QC

Why You Need To Go: It is impossible to get bored within Mont-Tremblant village. Not only are there so many festive sights to see, but you can go skiing or snowshoeing.

Parc Omega

Price: $30.44 per person

Address: 399 QC-323, Montebello, QC

Why You Need To Go: You can see so many adorable animals like deer, arctic foxes, and reindeer from your car.

Before you get going, check our Responsible Travel Guide so you can be informed, be safe, be smart, and most of all, be respectful on your trip.

  • Stephanie White was an Ottawa-based Associate Editor for Narcity Canada. She has been writing mouthwatering food and wanderlust-inspiring articles for Canadians since 2012. She has a B.A. and B.Ed. from Ottawa University. When she isn't writing, you can find her travelling the globe and trying new restaurants. Stephanie has previously been published on Insider, Flight Network, Apartment Therapy, Faces Magazine, Daily Hive, Dished and The Spruce.

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