Tremblant Resort - Day 5 - Biking and Hiking

Breakfast out at Le Maison de la Crepe was a treat with delicious coffee and crepes on the patio. The group split up, with half renting mountain bikes for a two hour trek, one renting a regular bike to take the bike path into the old town and the rest wandering along the hiking trail that follows the stream. When we convened back in our room for a late lunch of leftovers, it was clear everyone had a great time.

Taking some time to do a little shopping, I have to say the sales tax here is a bit of a bite. It's 15% for Quebec, plus an additional 3% for the resort. Discourages you from shopping at the chain stores. 

Dinner at La Diable where almost everyone in our party of 8 ordered their specialty, the ribs, which were amazing.

Tremblant Resort - Day 4 - Adventure

Time to test our mettle, both families set out for the two hour climbing and zip-line challenge, the Adventure Tremblant. An aerial obstacle course, rising to about 30' above ground and within enough of a canopy to protect us from light rain, we climb, walk on tight ropes, cross rickety bridges, crawl through nets and soar on zip lines. Definitely something I would do again and a lot of family fun, as the kids enjoy laughing at their moms (dads were more fit and upper body strength in particular is an asset).

Delicious lunch, with awesome fries, at Bullseye is followed by the Luge track. They are right - you can't do just one (well I can, but the kids couldn't). Closing off the afternoon, we soak our tired muscles in the hot tub and hang out by the pool. The pool is too small for lengths and it's quite busy with boisterous families, but nice enough.

Had a delicious steak dinner at Le Forge, parking the kids in the downstairs patio while the adults enjoyed a quieter ambiance on the balcony upstairs.

Tremblant Resort - Day 3 - Relaxing

Breakfast in the room and just relaxing on the balcony gives us a pretty slow start to the day. Checking out the lifts, we wander around town and have fun going up and down the lifts. Grabbed some delicious falafel wraps at Pita Express and for a late lunch and decide to see Spy at the cute little cinema. We enjoyed a late dinner at Coca Pazza - a delicious Italian meal, with home made pasta. Yum!

Tremblant Resort - Day 2 - Exploring

Our day starts with a leisurely breakfast in the room, having picked up some groceries from the well stocked market the evening before. Parents can have coffee while the teens sleep in and then breakfast is quick.

Our accommodation includes a pass for the gondola so we head up the mountain to look around. The trip is about 15 minutes and offers an amazing view of the village as you climb. At the summit you can truly appreciate the majesty of the mountains. We pass people climbing up the mountain, very ambitious, and some of our party choose to take a leisurely walk back down. Several hours later, they come crawling back to the room. A mediocre lunch at Puesta del Sol is disappointing, we should have joined the others at Samurai Sushi Pub, for which they gave rave reviews.

The afternoon is spent touring the many lovely shops in the village, after dropping off my 17 year old at Le Source, where they have a squat rack. The hotel gym was not bad, but doesn't have the particular equipment he needs. Finished a great day with yummy pizzas on the terrace at Pizzateria. It's only a short trip to La Vache for delicious home made gelato.

Tremblant Resort - Day 1 - Arrival

Flying direct to Mont Tremblant, our arrival at this quaint little airport sets the stage for that "village" ambiance. Enjoying a scenic drive to the resort we arrive at Sommet des Neiges, with lots of time left in the day to tour around. It is, after all, just a short trip from Toronto. The kids are duly impressed with our accommodations, a very spacious two bedroom suite, with fully equipped kitchenette. We have met up here with friends from Australia and, at first reconnaissance, we agree there is lots to do do for everyone.

A little wander about the grounds, to check out the activities available and get the lay of the land, we finish the evening with good burgers and fajitas at Le Shack.

Mirvish - Kinky Boots

Absolutely great fun. An amazing and talented cast, hitting every nuance, high note and dance step, with non-stop hilarious quips and physical comedy. Cindy Lauper's score is wonderful. Rooting for the son who is trying to live up to his father's expectations, while trying to be his own man, you will love this show! 

Luminato - Contemporary Colour

Not sure what to expect, we were very pleasantly surprised. Presenting 10 Colour Guard teams, it was nice to see some Canadian schools, as I had never heard of Colour Guard and thought It was particular to the U.S. Not easily classified, art vs sport, this passionate sub culture is rooted in military bands, hence lots of twirling of rifles, sabers and flags. Creative choreography, contemporary music, costumes reminiscent of Cirque and customized floor mats complete the show. The enthusiasm by the participants was infectious and they wowed the audience.

Luminato - 7 Monologues: SPAM

Intriguing approach as the story unfolded over 31 days, but not in consecutive order. A man, who has lost his memory, struggles to find clues to his identity. Plot lines intersect as we bounce randomly over the past 31 days. While we enjoyed the show, some plot lines were hard to decipher and the show was too long (2 1/2 hours with no intermission).

Luminato - 7 Monologues: Spell to Bring Lost Creatures Home

Charming and enjoyable show. A series of vignettes, presented with cut-outs on an overhead projector, unfold with accompanying music and sound effects.  The stories are interesting and the timing of the 2 performers is impeccable. The music is lovely. My daughter and I really enjoyed this show.

Luminato - 7 Monologues: El pasado es un animal grotesco (The Past is a Grotesque Animal)

Out of our party of 4, I was the only one that liked the play, although the others appreciated the unique approach. With a steadily revolving stage, featuring four different backdrops, I quite enjoyed experiencing the disconnected stories as they unfolded, sometimes intersecting, but playing out each scene in accordance with their allotted time in front of the audience. It was an interesting reflection of the challenge millenials may now be facing in the workforce - a struggle to convert a series of jobs into a career, desperately trying to land that opportunity that will make a difference.

TSO POPS - The Wizard and I: Broadway Hits

Performing the songs of Stephen Schwartz (Pippin, Godspell, Wicked) was a fabulous cast of 4 amazing Broadway stars. With a selection of memorable songs from Broadway, including the best of Wicked, and less heard songs from Schwartz's repertoire of other work, every one was a joy and a fitting end to this year's concert season. Having two "wickeds" spar was awesome.

Soulpepper - Eurydice

Eurydice unfolds in a very leisurely fashion, truly conveying a sense of timelessness. We root for Orpheus, knowing he cannot win, and mourn for what the dead have lost. We absolutely loved the stones! Touching and beautifully executed. 

Riverdale Art Walk

A fun way to spend a morning, grab a coffee and lunch, visiting the cafes and shops along Queen, just east of Broadview, that were displayed local artists' work. Finishing up at Jimmy Simpson Park, where numerous established and new artists were displaying their work, we found some special pieces to bring home. Really enjoyed the show and will be putting it on my list for next year!

Soulpepper - Bedroom Farce

An entertaining show, with enough laughs to make for an enjoyable evening, but somehow feeling a little dated. The elderly couple stole the show, the other characters were just a little too narcissistic to garner much sympathy.

Lower Ossington - The 39 Steps

Absolutely hilarious! In a small intimate space, this stellar cast, with a real art for slapstick, draws you into the intrigue while seriously tickling your funny bone. To top it off, an awesome trio provided the dramatic effect. Practically sold out, you must act right away if you want to see this show.