"Border Crossing" Enjoyed by CVOA
Fine dining in Quebec City coupled with fine skiing in Le Massif lured 17 members of the Carrabassett Valley Outdoor Association across the border for a weekend visit.
The local entourage spent two nights at the Chateau Bellevue in the heart of Quebec's Old City. It was a first-time visit for several members of the group... but it won't be the last. Already, plans are being hatched for a mid-week getaway next year with skiing at both Massif and Mont Saint Anne.
CVOAers arrived Friday night in time for happy hour in the hotel lobby ... and a quick lesson in how to use the hotel's wine bar... where different wines could be sampled or poured by the glass.
The group had the opportunity to choose from four upscale restaurants for dinner each night, with a 5-course gourmet meal included in the lodging package. "Elegant" is how one CVOA diner described the meal.
Saturday, 10 members of the group headed out for Le Massif after an early breakfast at the hotel... Kathy and Danny Gage, Jim and Sandy Osterrieder, Pat and Debra Andrews, Mike Jamison, Bob and Barbara Luke, Jeanne and Cynthia Pernice and Nancy Perry.
Although an ice event had left the trails on the slick side, it was a bluebird day and the views of the St. Lawrence were incredible. Skiers drove up to the top of the 2,645-foot mountain, which has the highest vertical drop east of the Canadian Rockies at 2,526 feet... and then ski down, heading straight towards the ice-jammed river. At lunch, there was indoor dining at the crepe house or outdoor BBQs complete with a skier on stilts.
Back in town, Sandy Jamison did a little cross-country skiing while Walt and Corrine Parady went snow shoeing. Jan Gray and Liz Hoefler took an energetic 2 1/2 guided walking tour of the historic city.
Everyone gathered back in the lobby for cribbage and story-swapping out before heading out for another wonderful meal.
After breakfast Sunday, members of the group explored the old city charms of Quebec before driving back to the valley.
