Anne-Charlotte PasseraRing in the New Year and the arrival of Winter with a fun outdoor or indoor activity in Montreal with the family this January.
It’s official, it’s finally Wintertime in Montreal and with that comes snow and temperatures cold enough to make it seem you have huge buggers inside your nostrils.
If you don’t know what I’m talking about, clearly you haven’t spent enough time outside in freezing temperatures to experience it. When it’s extremely cold outside, the hair inside your nostrils will freeze up making it seem you have buggers.
Put on your winter jacket, your gloves, your hat, your warm socks, and winter boots, and step outside for some exciting family activity in Montreal. I know, just that alone can prevent you from stepping outside of the house but remember kid or not, you need to spend a minimum of 30 minutes outside every single day. So suit up!
So now that you know what to expect and what to wear when you step outside for some January fun, let’s check out some of the family activities Montreal has to offer this month.
Special Family Activities Events in Montreal
Now that the holiday season is behind us, it’s time to burn off some of those extra calories and prevent the Winter blues from creeping upon us. Wasn’t that part of your New Year’s resolution? Besides, kids need to go outside at least 30 minutes every day, no matter what the temperature.
In the vast majority of Montreal’s parks, the city has made sports equipment available for rent. FREE OF CHARGE. Check if this is the case in the park near you. It will save you from having to buy some.
Despite the cold, Montreal does provide us with some special outdoor family activities in January. Here are a few of them.
Pente à Neige (canceled due to the Pandemic 2021)
Open from December 21st to March 29th, let your child learn how to ski or snowboard just a few steps away from Metro Angrignon or Monk (green line). You can even bring your own sled and enjoy the slopes for FREE. Also, snow tubing is available. The cost for the whole day between snow tubing, slope access and complete rental equipment for the day is 41,50$ per adult.
If your kids are under the age of 6 public transit is FREE and between ages 6 to 11, it’s FREE for them on weekends, special holidays and school holidays. So leave your car at home if you can.
Find out more about this activity here.
Fête des Neiges (canceled due to the Pandemic 2021)
For 4 consecutive weekends starting on January 18th, this annual event will take place at Parc Jean Drapeau. It used to be free but now there is a mandatory entrance fee for the site. That being said, for a family of 4, the cost is $38 for the 4 weekends. Try to get there using public transit as parking is $15 and the lot gets full quickly.
Also, there are 16 tube-sliding lanes, a skater’s path, snowshoeing, and tons of various activities and entertainment for the whole family to enjoy.
Learn more about this January family activity in this Montreal event here.
New outdoor quest: The Marquette Brotherhood (NEW)
Take part on this FREE 1hr long quest through the Park of Père Marquette in Rosemont. All you have to do is download the Parcours Ludiques app (French only) and solve 6 riddles.
Suitable for children 12 and up. Don’t forget to bring your ice skates or sleigh as you can also do that there, or rent equipment for free.
We tested the experience and it was a little difficult, especially with the cold. You will need to download a compass app if you don’t have it on your phone. We made it to the last test with my son. Since we don’t know how to use a compass and we were freezing after 1 hour of playing, we gave up. However, we still enjoyed the experience.
Learn more about this activity HERE. It’s only available throughout the month of January.
Igloofest (on line only)
Dance under the stars in the Old Port of Montreal in your favorite winter attire from January 13th to February 5th to the sound of the best local and international DJs at the Igloofest.
Unfortunately, you need to be 18 and older to go there but, if you are like me and had a kid young, you can still go there with your oldest who is of age 🙂
Find out more about tickets and the line up here.
Luminotherapy
Finally a FREE family activity in Montreal in January!
Every year, to beat the Winter blues, Montreal sets up some interactive art installations with lights in the Quartier des Spectacles (Metro Place des Arts).
Last year, we discovered POP! There were 5 fantastical creatures who POPped out from their boxes to the sound of your voice.
This year’s interactive theme is Impulsion, a lot bigger of an experience, available until February 27th, 2022.
Winter Family Activities in Montreal
If you don’t own ice skates, now would be the time to invest in some. It’s like THE family activity to do in Montreal in January and ends up being FREE if you own your own pair of skates. You can find some on Kijiji or at Canadian Tire.
However, in some local parks you can rent equipment for FREE. Check with your borough if that is the case.
Ice Skating
There are tons of parks across town to enjoy this sport all through January, the ones we like are Park Molson (whimsical), Lac des Castors, Park Maisonneuve with the Olympic Stadium as a backdrop and Park La Fontaine.
You can also skate in the Old Port but it will cost you money. However, nothing beats the view from it. Afterward, grab lunch at Venice Mtl to warm up and enjoy one of the most healthy and delicious meals in town.
On January 28th, 2022, at the Old Port Ice Skating rink there is supposed to be a Karaoke event! I’m not sure if it will be held due to the current health situation, but mark your calendars just in case!
Sledding
Not an ice skating fan? How about some sledding?
Once again, go to Canadian Tire and grab a sleigh. We got the cheap ones which are basically a plastic sheet but they do the trick. For some family excitement, go to:
- Parc Pelican,
- Lac des Castors,
- Mount-Royal,
- Parc La Fontaine,
- Parc Frédéric-Back
In Parc Pelican, the doggy park is just next to the slope so even your Nouki can go have some fun.
Cross-country skiing at La Tohu
From January 9 to March 7, 2021, take advantage of the FREE activities offered by La Tohu.
Every Saturday and Sunday you and your children will not only be able to cross-country ski or snowshoe on 5.5km of trails for FREE, but you’ll be able to rent the equipment for FREE.
If you need it, you can even take introductory lessons.
Strom Spa (not available due to the Pandemic)
If staying out in the cold is really not your cup of tea, how about the Spa? Winter is the best time of year to go and part of the Canadian life.
Every Saturday mornings from 7:30 to 10 am, you can go there with your child (age 4 and up). Also, you can even get a massage with your child. Neat right?
For more information, visit their website here.
Family activities outside of Montreal
As I said, investing in a pair of ice skates while living in Canada is not something frivolous.
Ice Skating in Ottawa
How else will you explore the largest natural ice skating path in a city in the world? Located in Ottawa, on the Canal Rideau on a 4.8 miles stretch, you will be able to skate away in the heart of our nation’s capital. It’s totally FREE (if you own ice skates) and is open every day, 24hrs a day. You can even rent skates or sleighs to push young kids in case they get tired.
You’ll have to check the weather conditions prior to going to verify the status of the ice.
Afterward, grab a bite at the farmer’s market located nearby unless you already did that along the canal. Discover more of what Ottawa has to offer here.
Ice Skating in a Forest
I have finally gotten around to checking this place out!
Located 1h30 drive from Montreal, not far from Trois Rivières, discover the Domaine Enchanteur and its 15km of trails. There, you will be able to ice skate surrounded by trees dotted with small animal parks.
It’s a rather expensive activity all the same (18$ per adult for the day), but at least it limits a bit the number of people on site. I strongly advise you to go there in the morning, when the ice is still fresh and it’s still cold. In the afternoon there are more people and the ice is not as beautiful and smooth.
If you need your blades sharpened, you can do so on-site for 5$. Should you not own skates, you can rent them at an extra cost of 10$.
Want to bring grand-ma along? No problem, you can rent a chair for 10$ for the day and skate while pushing it. It’s actually quite fun!
Furthermore, you can eat there at a relatively decent price and taste or you can just pack your own lunch and heat it up in the microwave. There are no lockers, but you can leave your belongings under one of the benches that are free. Bring a small backpack instead of a purse to ice skate comfortably with your belongings.
Dogs are accepted for free and it is relatively easy to skate with one. In any case, Big Boss survived with our Nouki so you should be able to do it without any problem.
On the other hand, try to make him do his big doudou before starting to skate because as I said before, there are no garbage cans. It’s a pain in the butt to have to turn back in the middle of the forest because of a bag of poop.
Last but not least, don’t forget to grab some locally made product that is included in your entrance fee. We brought home maple syrup and honey!
Snow Shoeing
Frankly, if I had bought the snowshoes I had seen at Costco, I would be doing a lot more snowshoeing! They are quite an investment but if it’s something you like to do on a regular basis, I guess it is worth it. Otherwise, just rent them! This is always a fun family activity to do in Montreal during the month of January.
Need ideas on where to go?
Parc du Mont-Tremblant or Parc de la Mauricie
Feel one with nature surrounded by fresh snow and snow-covered trees. For less than 10$ you can rent some horseshoes for the whole day! Park entrance is usually FREE at this time of year. Don’t forget your thermos though as food options can be limited and a bit pricy!
Au Diable Vert
Make a whole weekend of snowshoeing in January at Au Diable Vert. Surrounded by isolated tree houses with no running water or electricity, live in the wild for a few days or just come for the day.
It’s dog-friendly, so really, the entire family can live this one of a kind experience together.
Also, don’t forget your sleigh or your ice skates as you can do that there too. It’s a great place to stay in order to get away from it all, relax and not check your phone every 5 minutes. Disconnect to reconnect!
Book your lodging HERE.
TIP:
Pay the extra fee for the VIP treatment, especially if you have young kids. It takes a while to get the fire started and warm up your lodging. The first time we went up there it took us well over 30 minutes to unfreeze. Don’t forget your board games!
Ice sculpture trail
At Oka Park, if you don’t want to spend your energy on the Calvaire Trail, discover the brand new trail with ice sculptures.
As with all SEPAQ parks, you must reserve your ticket online if you do not have an annual pass.
Dog Sledding and Wood Bison
Yes, you read that right! Located about 1h30 from Montreal and not far from Mont-Tremblant you can not only experience the thrill of dog sledding but also discover the first wood bison reserve in Québec!
Of course, this activity is quite expensive, but if it’s your first winter here, it’s well worth it. It truly is a unique experience, one that your kids will remember for a long time.
Dress warmly and keep your gloves on around the dogs. When we there, Blondie Bear took them off and one of the dogs ran away with one. It took four of us to chase him around in order to get it back! It was quite a hilarious moment.
To find out about the rates, check out their website HERE.
Walking an Alpaca
We discovered last Fall this out of the ordinary activity. It’s a bit pricy considering it’s only for about 30 minutes but fun nonetheless, especially with young children.
Have you ever been around Alpacas?
They are actually more tame than our youngest dog Price.
Well, for $37,50 per group of 3 or 4, you can take one for a walk on a guided path. To get them walking, just give them food which is provided to you.
What’s great about this activity is that you can do it all year long at Alpagas du Domaine Poissant.
Afterward, head down into town (Mont-St-Hilaire). It’s only 5 minutes away. Grab yourself some delicious hot chocolate at La Cabosse d’Or when it’s Wintertime or a glass of apple juice from an orchard nearby during the Summertime.
Another ‘animal’ themed Winter activity would be to go horseback riding. We haven’t tried it, so I don’t have any to recommend yet. Soon, hopefully!
Skiing in January
If Pente à Neige as mentioned above doesn’t quite cut it, check out the closest slopes to Montreal of Mont Saint Bruno. If you are a more experienced skier or snowboarder, Bromont and hipster Mont-Tremblant should provide the adrenaline rush you are looking for.
Ice Climbing
Challenge yourself with your child (8 years and up) to some ice climbing. Although I have yet to try this, it is totally something I would like to test out. I found this site that lists all the different areas where you can actually practice this activity in Québec. It doesn’t come cheap but it is definitely something different to test out.
Winter Playground
Located 20 minutes away from Québec City lies the ever so popular Village Vacances Valcartier. With over 35 snow slides, everyone in the family will be able to get their thrills. If you are coming from Montreal, make a weekend out of it. Unfortunately, you will have to leave your Nouki (dog) at home.
Afterward, spend a night in the ice hotel ($$$) or at least go and check it out (opens January 2nd).
If you decide to spend the weekend there, the next day, before hitting the road, check out their indoor tropical paradise waterpark Bora Parc!
The Golden Flake: GPS Rally
Head on over to the town of Mascouche for a GPS rally suitable for children ages 7 to 12. You’ll have to download an app and pay a fee of $25 + tax for your group.
The activity takes place in Park du Grand-Coteau, lasts about 80 minutes along 3km of up and down paths. This is available until February and can be done whenever you want.
We took part in this activity recently. We did not know this park which is absolutely fantastic. There is an ice trail and a lake for skating. There are trails for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. It’s wooded and hilly so it’s perfect to do some cardio. The activity itself was ok. The GPS had trouble working because of the freezing temperature and we got lost and skipped a few steps. It’s a bit expensive for this kind of activity, but we were still happy to have discovered this park.
More about this activity HERE.
Indoor Family Activities in Montreal
Monet
An immersive experience.
We had seen the works of art by Vincent Van Gogh come to life in this immersive experience two years ago.
The experience is a bit pricy and doesn’t last that long but it’s a beautiful experience and the music is always on point. A great place to relax and take it all in.
Avoid the 10 am time slot on weekends as it is crawling with kids!! Haha I know right? I’m all about family activities but in all honesty, there are way too many kids running around and strollers blocking the view to enjoy the experience to its fullest.
Try to park on one of the side streets as the parking lot is small and they charge at least 10$.
Afterward or beforehand, grab lunch at Satay Brothers. Something different to try out. Ask them what their specials are, as they are not indicated on the menu. Another option is Venice MTL as there is another one (not the same location as mentioned above) not far from there. You can easily park on Notre Dame for FREE around there on Sundays up to early afternoon.
Creative workshop at Montreal Science Center
Starting at noon on weekends, let your child take on a creative challenge to invent and assemble random pieces together at Montreal’s Science Center. It’s a good place for them to learn how to use tools in a controlled environment and let their imaginations run wild. Also, there is also a playroom for younger kids to create mayhem without you being judged by other parents. Finally, if you can spare the extra expense, catch a movie at the Imax. Bring your lunch or eat out (once again) at Venice Mtl. There are lockers on-site to stock your gear and they cost 1$.
Roller Skating at Le Taz
For kids, ensuring that they get regular—and fun!—exercise can help them to build healthful habits that last into adulthood.
Roller-skating is a great way for both kids and adults to stay active, learn new skills, and have fun. Whether you’re looking for an epic birthday party or a day of family fun, look no further than Le Taz.
Indoor Rock Climbing at Horizonroc
Does your child like to climb all over your furniture or in trees? Even if he or she doesn’t, why not discover the joy of climbing in a secure environment together as a family. Also, the space at Horizonroc is adapted for children of 3 years and up.
I Jump
Instead of your child jumping up and down on your bed or sofa, have them jump on a trampoline instead at ISaute. According to ISaute, if they can walk, they can jump. So you are not limited age-wise. Finally, they have a special family time slot if you so choose every day from 9 am to 10 am if you have children 6 years old and under. Family night is on Mondays from 4pm to 9pm. For more information, visit their website here.
Kiki Code (on line only due to Pandemic)
Coding helps children to visualize abstract concepts, lets them apply math to real-world situations, and makes math fun and creative. Children who learn to code understand how to plan and organize thoughts.
This can lead to better writing skills that can be built upon as coding skills develop over time.
At Code & Café, they can learn how to do just that through their various workshops for children aged 5 to 12 years old.
Stay safe!
So there you have it. Don’t let the winter blues nor January get the best of you.
[…] JANUARY ACTIVITIES […]
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[…] For more ideas, you can read my articles about Montreal and the activities to do with the kids each month. Here is the one from January. […]
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