Tremblant Lifestyle

Theme parks! Imitation mountains covered with imitation snow; places to eat serving food that just might taste almost like you’re eating in a quaint, foreign restaurant, picturesque little fake villages that are supposed to resemble picturesque little real villages; hotels built around man-made lakes. Sure they’re fun for the whole family but why settle for “fake” or “imitation” or “almost like” when you can have the real thing!

Mont-tremblant Resort located just eighty minutes by air (gate-to-gate) from Newark Airport to the Mont-Tremblant International Airport, is the ideal, four-season family playground with a real village, real mountains with real snow, real lakes for water sports or ice skating, real quaint restaurants, a real gondola riding over real trees. And there are no long, hot boring lines to stand in while waiting to have real fun.

Every season of the year Tremblant located just north of montreal and nestled in the majestic Laurentian Mountains provides non-stop activities for all ages. Mountain biking, hiking, horse riding, water sports and of course golfing on world class courses or mini-courses are just some of the many ways to fill up delightfully warm summer days. There is always something happening in the European style village…festivals, wine-tasting, shops that sell more than dispensable souvenirs, and entertainment.

In the fall the Laurentians put on a majestic show when the trees change to their autumn foliage. Tremblant celebrates this with its annual “Symphony of Colours”. To truly enjoy this spectacle, just take the gondola up the mountain. Don’t forget your camera as this is one of the most spectacular fall displays in Eastern North America.

In winter, from late November to late April (and sometimes even into May), the Laurentians become blanketed with real snow and Tremblant truly shines as a premiere ski resort. Ice climbing, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, horse riding, sleigh rides, and so much more keep the whole family on the go all day long. In the evening, Tremblant also offers the best après-ski and nightlife to help you unwind. There are child care services and baby sitting for the little ones. Parents can safely leave children in the care of responsible, trained supervisors who provide organized activities, light snacks and arts and crafts.

To insure your vacation in the Mount-Tremblant region will be memorable for many years to come, book reservations at the areas newest and only “Small Luxury Hotels of the World”, all-suite resort hotel, Chateau Beauvallon (http://www.chateaubeauvallon.com). Inspired by the local architecture with its quaint exterior of gables, porches, shutters and comfortable, country chick interiors, every visitor will find a haven from the fun-filled, activity rich days. And here, everything is real including the lake and the magnificent Laurentian mountain vistas!

The history of Chateau Beauvallon is closely intertwined with the story and development of Mont-tremblant. Both owe thanks to an adventurous Philadelphian named Joseph Bondurant Ryan, whose great vision, determination and love of the region left an indelible imprint on Tremblant and helped fundamentally shape its destiny.

Born at the turn of the century, Joe Ryan was the grandson of Thomas Fortune Ryan, one of America’s wealthiest railway tycoons. Along with his fortune, the younger Ryan inherited his grandfather’s ambition. Ryan also possessed a love of exploration, wilderness and travelling.

In 1938, Ryan visited Mont-Tremblant for the first time, and after an arduous, unaided climb to the highest peak, fell in love with the mountain. From that point on, his life’s goal would be to make the mountain accessible to others, and to transform the region into a world-class alpine village.

In 1939, Ryan married Mary Rutherford, and Mont-Tremblant was officially inaugurated. By the end of the year, Time magazine noted the Laurentians were a popular destination for American skiers, and Mont-Tremblant was the newest fashionable meeting place.

Joe and Mary Ryan opened the original Chateau Beauvallon in 1942. Initially meant to be a clubhouse for a golf course that was never built, the Chateau nevertheless became an important landmark in the Mont-Tremblant region. In 1949, the Ryans sold Chateau Beauvallon to Harry and Isabelle Stokes, who would run the inn for the next 11 years.

Throughout the 1950s, Chateau Beauvallon became the destination for parties. It was known as the best late-night watering hole in the region, where friends came together to relax. Guests poured their own drinks, wrote their own bills and enjoyed great food and live jazz sessions.

Chateau Beauvallon changed hands throughout the 1960s, but found more permanent proprietors in 1976. Alex and Judy Riddell renovated the property and operated it as a country inn, one that slept up to 30 people. Actor Paul Newman was a guest during the 1980s, and Alex Riddell took him skiing for a day.

In 1998, the Riddells sold Chateau Beauvallon to RHK Developments, who closed the aging inn. In 2003, the empty building was sold to Groupe Avantage, and plans were laid to resurrect the concept of the Chateau.

Today, Chateau Beauvallon has undergone a complete renaissance. The brand new, 70-suite resort hotel evokes the charm and spirit of the original inn, while offering more a luxurious space and modern amenities. The perfect melange of past and present, Chateau Beauvallon remains a destination where family and friends can come together.