A mountain half an hour east of Quebec City, with runs on three sides and a view down over the Saint Lawrence river that widens towards the sea below you. The terrain is varied with a good vertical for eastern North America, extensive night skiing and a long gondola from the base. Grooming and snowmaking are thorough, which they need to be in a Quebec winter.

The real draw is Quebec City itself, which is a walled French speaking city with a winter carnival, an ice hotel nearby and a food culture that has nothing in common with the rest of North America. Staying there and driving out is a better week than staying at the base. It is cold here in January in a way that needs planning for, and February onwards is more comfortable.