Make a trip out of your IRONMAN experience

IRONMAN Mont-Tremblant is less than a week away. For many, the week and weekend is not only a race trip but also a vacation. Here are a few ideas for your time before or after your race.

Mont-Tremblant is in the Laurentian Mountains (Laurentides), a favourite outdoor destination year round. In the summer you will find lots of outdoor activities to do with the family; mountain biking, helicopter tours, zip-lining, paddle boarding and hiking to name a few. These activities are right in Mont-Tremblant so you won’t have to travel far.

If you are looking to do a road trip after the race, consider making the hour and a half drive south on the 117/15 Autoroute to the City of Montreal. Montreal, this time of the year, is blooming with summer colours and lots of festivals. With its famous Montreal smoked meat, bagels and poutine, Montreal has lots of cuisine options to explore. Along with beautiful parks, Lachine canal, the 1976 Olympic Park and historic Old Montreal, there are plenty of activities for the whole family.

Head a bit farther east you will come to Quebec City, a city marked with history and a real European feel. Tour around the Plains of Abraham, site of a historic battle over 250 years ago. Close to the plains, Quebec City offers many cafes and restaurants to explore. Enjoy the world famous Quebec dish, poutine, and don’t worry your race is over so enjoy all Quebec has to offer. A few tourist outings to enjoy are Montmorency Falls, Île d’Orléans, or Jacques Cartier National Park. Farther up the St.Lawrence River are other day trip destinations such as Baie Sainte Paul or whale watching from Tadoussac. It’s a bit of a trip out to Tadoussac, but the journey is stunning.

Don’t past up this opportunity that you have to explore Quebec and Eastern Canada. Race weekends are a great way to plan a vacation around. And if you have family coming, it is a great way to spend quality time with them after hours of training for your big race day.