A haven
for rest, relaxation
and the
right to be you!
1-800-567-7320
by Nancy Snipper
Situated in Quebec's pristine Eastern Townships, Estrimont’s impressive
exterior and enormous grounds where tree-lined hills loom in the distance beautifully
embodies the space and freedom everyone experiences once they step inside this
remarkable hotel retreat.
A large set-yourself-at-home lobby with its open concept design encompasses a relaxation and reading room with fireplace. The adjoining dining room - only a few steps down adds further expansion to this wonderfully warm hotel that in 2010 garnered the Grand Prix de Tourisme Quebecois in the category of 4 and 5-star hotels.
A large set-yourself-at-home lobby with its open concept design encompasses a relaxation and reading room with fireplace. The adjoining dining room - only a few steps down adds further expansion to this wonderfully warm hotel that in 2010 garnered the Grand Prix de Tourisme Quebecois in the category of 4 and 5-star hotels.
Designed with
country/contemporary comfortable furniture and subtle décor, Estrimont’s floor
to ceiling windows ensure guests benefit from Estrimont’s signature view:
behold the glorious mountains of Mont Orford. They create a never-ending vista
of majestic beauty that accompanies you - whether walking along one of the
corridors, swimming in the pool or napping in your room.
This mountain inspires while beckoning you to experience comfort and bliss both inside and outside the 91-room hotel.
Yet, rather than making you feel small, the range’s 853-meter height seem to empower and encourage you to do all the things you are aching to do to rediscover your inner self.
This mountain inspires while beckoning you to experience comfort and bliss both inside and outside the 91-room hotel.
Yet, rather than making you feel small, the range’s 853-meter height seem to empower and encourage you to do all the things you are aching to do to rediscover your inner self.
Each time I gazed out
my room’s huge glass sliding-door and stepped onto the balcony of my room, to
gaze at them, I felt a clear message coming from their ageless crests: “Time
stands still here and we are protecting you”.
My room certainly gave
me the feeling that tranquility was my own invisible guest who had just checked
in with me. Ah, such peace, comfort and what space! It was the perfect spot for
a couple with romance in mind or a single person like myself wanting to distress.
All the rooms are suites, with sliding glass doors that look out to some lush
part of the mountain. The vestibule of my room was as big as the one in the
house I once owned. The bathroom was grand – loved those burnt orange big
tiles, and the king size bed was faced with a huge kitchenette complete with
microwave, dishes, a fridge and coffee machine.
There was a huge TV affixed to the wall, and two steps down from the bedroom was a mini living room another TV with a couch, chair, a Murphy bed, and a fireplace. I also was impressed by the built-in reading lights in the bedside lamps.
There was a huge TV affixed to the wall, and two steps down from the bedroom was a mini living room another TV with a couch, chair, a Murphy bed, and a fireplace. I also was impressed by the built-in reading lights in the bedside lamps.
To fill the recipe of
further relaxation and the right to beautify myself, I headed for Estrimont’s
Amerispa that was only a few steps away from my room following a corridor.
I had the anti-wrinkle
and firmness ritual facial – an ‘act’ in at least 8 steps. Using Valmont’s
magical products from Switzerland
The next day I treated
myself to two outstanding treatments to create skin smoothness in the body and
detoxify it. An all-over application of a warm gel mask of nutrients, vitamins
and minerals was applied to my body as part of Amerispa’s signature Elixir Ice
Cider Exfoliation body wrap. Wow! I have sandpaper legs; after that, my legs
felt like honey without the stickiness. Then another hands-on gift was
coming my way: a 90-minute massage took place under the expert hands of
Caroline Collin who also did the body wrap. Every muscle, bone, sinew of every
part of my body was tended to using her expert therapeutic techniques.
The Amerispa experience allowed me self-reflection and great relaxation. I loved the entire gentle experience, and the dipping into the Nordic hot spa outside with a view to snow-covered Orford, followed with a retreat into the yurt for further relaxation.
The Amerispa experience allowed me self-reflection and great relaxation. I loved the entire gentle experience, and the dipping into the Nordic hot spa outside with a view to snow-covered Orford, followed with a retreat into the yurt for further relaxation.
It’s time to talk
about the gourmet meals I had at Estrimont, yet another reason one never has to
leave the premises. Olivier-St Arnaud is the master chef, who is offering a day
of 2-hour culinary workshops this summer.
You get to taste what you make, and under his guidance, was a thrill. I must single out his hors d’oeuvres, such as brie and prosciutto melted in a pastry roll, the turkey soup tinged with nutmeg, or his tender sweet salmon garnished with grenadine and served on yellow beets with fennel. His chicken mousse served in a little spoon was heavenly.
My five-course meal which seemed like the standard 8-course one he creates each evening was outrageously superb. Most remarkable was the risotto with wild mushroom, smokedGouda
You get to taste what you make, and under his guidance, was a thrill. I must single out his hors d’oeuvres, such as brie and prosciutto melted in a pastry roll, the turkey soup tinged with nutmeg, or his tender sweet salmon garnished with grenadine and served on yellow beets with fennel. His chicken mousse served in a little spoon was heavenly.
My five-course meal which seemed like the standard 8-course one he creates each evening was outrageously superb. Most remarkable was the risotto with wild mushroom, smoked
Breakfast was a la
carte or buffet; Once again, it was an embarrassment of riches. I knew I had
gained weight, so it was time to head for Orford Park to do some cross-country
skiing – only a five-minute drive away from Estrimont.
It was recommended I
walk the trails rather than ski them as parts were icy. I was fitted with
crampons, and off I went with my guide Jean-Philippe Baribeau who knows the
trails very well.
He took me on a 30-minute walk uphill to get a
view of the enchanting Etang aux Cerises (Pond of Cherries). The walk up
cocooned me in birch trees, evergreens and maples. The short ascension we
climbed at the end was aptly called Colline des pins (Hill of Pines). The view
was sweet indeed.
The next day, I took a
longer walk trying to follow a path I had in mind, but the markings on the trail,
the map itself and my navigation did not see eye to eye. Nevertheless, it was
all stunning and quietly beautiful. I love this park and hope to go back when
they get more snow to cross-country ski. The staff was really helpful.
Mont Orford National
Park offers / Le Parc National du
Mont-Orford offre :
Network of trails:
50 km of classic cross-country skiing
50 km of classic cross-country skiing
26 km of
cross-country skiing for the step pad
50km of snowshoe trails
4.5 km of trails for hiking on snow
50km of snowshoe trails
4.5 km of trails for hiking on snow
Réseau de
sentiers :
50 km de sentiers de ski de fond pour le pas classique
50 km de sentiers de ski de fond pour le pas classique
26 km de
sentiers de ski de fond pour le pas de patin
50 km de
sentiers de raquette
4.5 km de
sentiers pour la randonnée sur neige
Accommodation :
In winter: 5
chalets in nature, 3 shelters or 14 rustic camping platforms
Hébergement :
En hiver : 5 chalets Nature, 3 refuges
ou 14 plateformes pour le camping rustique.
Here are 2 upcoming
events / Voici 2 Activités à venir :
The
quest for Frodor - February 16, 2013
Guided by the
light of the torches, follow the Coyote Trail on snowshoes in order to solve
the riddle of the quest for Frodor. It’s a remarkable experience that will
plunge you into a mysterious world. Can you enter into the secret circle of
protectors of the jewel of the Sutton Mountains? Camp fires, characters and hot
chocolate await you.
La quête de
Frodor – 16 Février 2013
À la lueur des flambeaux, parcourez le sentier de raquette Le Coyote afin de résoudre l’énigme de la quête de Frodor. Une expérience hors du commun qui vous plongera dans un monde mystérieux. Saurez-vous intégrer le cercle secret des protecteurs du joyau des monts Sutton? Feu de camp, personnage et chocolat chaud vous attendent.
À la lueur des flambeaux, parcourez le sentier de raquette Le Coyote afin de résoudre l’énigme de la quête de Frodor. Une expérience hors du commun qui vous plongera dans un monde mystérieux. Saurez-vous intégrer le cercle secret des protecteurs du joyau des monts Sutton? Feu de camp, personnage et chocolat chaud vous attendent.
Details
/ Détails :
·
Lac-Stukely
Sector / Secteur du Lac-Stukely
·
February
16, 2013 / le 16 février, 2013
·
Time:
from 6pm to 8pm / Horaire : de 18 h à 20 h
·
For
rates, information and reservations: Pour tarifs, renseignements et réservations :
(819) 843-9855
Championship Loppet Subaru Orford -
23-24 February 2013
Prestigious cross-country skiing championship is back for its
21st edition. Cheer on skiers from all across North America!
Championnat
Loppet Subaru Orford – 23-24 Février 2013
Le prestigieux championnat de ski de fond est de
retour pour une 21e édition. Venez encourager les skieurs de partout à travers l’Amérique du Nord!
Web site / Site Internet : www.parcsquebec.com
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