Overview: A half hour south of Sherbrooke in Quebec’s Eastern Townships, this 36-room Relais & Châteaux wonder is set on 30 acres overlooking Lac Massawippi. A 19th-century mansion, it is inspired by its era, appealing to visitors who pine for the good old days.
Agenda: Full relaxation is the order of the day, but the fun part is bolstering your energy with sustenance from Manoir Hovey's culinary offerings. Le Hatley Restaurant is dedicated to their ongoing mission to offer refined, nature-inspired cuisine driven by sustainability, diversity and creativity. “The quality of the products is part of the recipe,'' says Chef Alexandre Vachon. You can’t throw a stone in the Eastern Townships and not hit a fromagerie, either. Be sure to stop at the noted Abbaye de Saint-Benoît-du-Lac nearby.
Crowd: Guests go for the fresh air, and stay to relax by Le Tap Room’s 10,000-brick fireplace or sit in an Adirondack chair for a few hours. The group is a mix of ages, special occasion celebrants, people looking for a new environment to work from “home,” and those who just need to get out of the city for a few days.
Essential: Splurge on the seaplane arrival package. You take a private car from downtown Montreal to the old port, a boat ride to Longueuil where the seaplane will be docked, and a private 45-minute flight to the resort dock where Champagne awaits. Return to Montreal via limo transfer.
Timing: Enjoy lakefront luxury year-round with seasonal activities. Discover the grounds and waterfront with a fleet of bikes, kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, and paddleboats. In the fall, the region’s maple trees are a blaze of colour. And winter is a wonderland with snowshoeing, skating and ice fishing.
