Activities

The best places to meet Santa Claus

Santa Claus Village

Val-David

You will need a full day to satisfy your children because in addition to sit on Santa’s lap, they will participate in a whole range of outdoor activities: snow tubes, Kingdom of ice, Glacial areas (climbing walls), a musical tour of the workshop, the Elves House, the Glass House, ducks and other animals, the skating rink, Santa’s electric train, giant slides, giant blocks and much more!

Open on December 1-2, 8-9 and 15-16 and from December 21st to January 6th (closed on December 25th) from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Free for children under 2
2 to 65 years old: $18
Seniors: $16

Santa Claus Town

St-Gérard des Laurentides

Santa Claus is waiting for you and your family in his little town of the Domaine Beauséjour, a patrimonial site of 15 historical houses (the oldest house was built in 1885) in St-Gérard des Laurentides. The elves will welcome you to their house, their small farm, the candy laboratory and the village’s inn. Even Santa’s wife will be there! Children will see miniature horses and you will be offered a sleigh ride. The tour takes about two hours. Reservations are required.

Open every weekend in December and December 24th and 28th 2012.

Prices:
Adults: $22.95
children 2 and under: free
Children 2 to 12: $11.95
Children 13 to 16: $15.95
Family ticket (two adults and two children): $65

Downtown Nicolet

Santa Claus will visit Nicolet on Saturday, December 8th and he will meet children for a day full of surprises, fun family oriented activities and contests.

Saturday, December 8
Free
226 Leon-XIII Street, Nicolet

The Secret Valley

St-Raymond

The gnomes forest Tinini-Nain, visited by little and big explorers since 2003 will welcome Santa Claus this year and he will greet children in his private cabin. You can also enjoy two Christmas tours in the forest with the family. Children will then attend a show in the Tinini-nain hideout. Children who have a special request can write a letter to Santa and give it to him in person. The Christmas schedule starts on November 3 and ends on December 23. See the full schedule. Departures are every half an hour between 9:00 AM and 2:30 PM. You must make a reservation to enjoy the Secret Valley.

Prices:
Adults (13 and over): $12.75
Children from 2 to 12: $9.75
Family (2 adults and 2 children): $43
2 adults and 3 children: $51.75
2 adults and 4 children: $60.50

At the Montreal Museum of Archaeology and History

Pointe-à-Callière

In December, head to the Montreal Museum of Archaeology and History to meet all the Santa figures from around the world. The activity « Who is the real Santa? » lasts about 45 minutes and you will get to meet four Christmas figures who will tell you all about how the holidays are celebrated in their country of origin. On December 8-9, 15-16, 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30 from 12:30 PM.

Prices:
Adults: $ 18
Children from 0 to 5: free
Children from 6 to 12: 7 $
Children from 13 to 17: $ 9,50
Students from 18 to 25: $ 10,50

Ogilvy

Montreal

The prestigious St-Catherine store organizes breakfasts with Santa for the 65th year in a row. It will take place on the first three Saturdays of December (1, 8 and 15) at Romy, the store’s restaurant. Children can have their picture taken with Santa… and receive a little gift! You must reserve by calling at 514-842-7711, extension 275. It will be a great opportunity to admire the beautiful mechanical Christmas window that every family anxiously wait for every year!

Santa’s House

Girardville

Santa Claus will be ready to meet all good children from December 1st  in his own house. With the whole family, they will travel the elven or the deer paths. You can also ride a sleigh, go tubing and say hello to Santa’s wife.

On December 1, 2, 8, 9 and 14 and every day between December 15th and January 5th.
From 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Price: $10 for an adult and $5 for children under 12
2372 rang de la Pointe, Girardville

Animal’s Garden

Sherbrooke

Santa Claus loves animals and that’s why he chose the Jardin des animaux to meet children in Sherbrooke. You can even bring your animal to be photographed with Santa! Taking pictures and digital files are free.

December 1 and 2, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Free
3315 Blvd. Portland, Sherbrooke

Santa’s village

Bracebridge

Are you going in Ontario during the Holidays? Santa’s Village in Bracebridge is definitely worth the ride. This little town, about 200 km north of Toronto, has a wonderful site that is now one of the most popular attractions of Ontario. It is a bit expensive but a lot of activities are included in the admission fee: sleigh ride, ice-skating, slides, indoor activities to warm up, ginger cookies decorating, coloring, letters to Santa, s’mores… In addition to meeting the man himself and listening to him reading stories, children will be allowed to feed deer on site. Furthermore, Santa Claus and his elves will teach children about the most eco-friendly ways of treating our planet. Between rides and lemonades, no child will get bored.

On December 22, 23, 28 and 29 from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m.

Adults: $29.95 (taxes not included)        
Children under 2: free
Children aged 2 to 4: $24.95 (taxes not included)
Children aged 5 and over: $29.95 (taxes not included)
Seniors: $24.95 (taxes not included)

Complexe Desjardins

Montreal

On November 17 at the Complexe Desjardins, a host of activities are scheduled for your enjoyment including a giant slide, a playground for toddlers, face painting, coloring, stories told by a storyteller and several magical shows. Santa and his dynamic team of elves will arrive around 1 p.m.


This week
Ear infections, antibiotics, and prevention

Becoming a parent also means being acquainted with several small infections encountered during our own childhood. Ear infections are numerous and can leave you having lots of questions. We try to respond to the most frequent ones.

My child is often absentminded!

Do you find yourself often repeating phrases like "Hello? Is anyone there?" ? If so, it seems that your child is often absentminded. Here's how to help your distracted children stay concentrated.

A teenager’s bedroom

Your teenager's bedroom is a disaster. You even invented new words to describe this horrendous place where food and clothes seem to blend into a new kind of carpet but your child doesn't seem to mind. What can you do?

My child is smelly!

Your child is now 6 years old. The innocence of childhood still shines brightly in his or her eyes but… they're smelly! When your child gets hot, you scrunch your nose and smell a tinge of sweat. Are they too young for deodorant?