Roadside Adventures; 502; Christmas At Fairmont Le Chateau Montebello

Rob it's Christmas at Fairmont place chateau mont of Dallas one of the largest log structures in the world and the perfect place to hang out for the holidays. Sure you can put your feet up and chill out I'm one of the lobbies ate fire resist or take the pampered treatments at their luxury spa. But we came for some of the best food in the NAPM province of tobacco as well as a great winter activities from the gentle but curiously competitive

curling lessons to taking off across the snowy fields on our own ATV adventure along the frozen shores of the Ottawa River. If that's too tame for us stick around because Catherine here is going to let me drive a $52000 land. Rover where only Land Rovers are supposed to go. So join us for Christmas at their monthly Chapeau month the Belo nest on the roadside bent. I don't think this is going to be good production of roadside adventures is made possible in part by a Northern car crushers by division of George Moore truck and Equipment Corporation. He's built New

York. His workshop North Pole New York America's first theme park beautifully restored to its former glory located on Whiteface Mountain in the heart of New York State's Adirondack Mountains. And by the members of mountain lake PBS who know how important each membership is in making possible the production of programs like roadside adventures. Thank you for your support on the banks of the Ottawa River. About an hour west of Montreal stands the Fairmont Les chateau Montebello

constructed of old red cedar logs the chateau is an impressive edifice in any season and has a well-deserved reputation for its family activities and warm hospitality. At Christmas time the staff really pulls out all of the stops in the celebration of the season. The five story lobby is decorated in a cheery manner the centerpiece of which is this towering Christmas tree winkling lights ornaments and red and gold buttons. The eight that's right eight fireplaces which ring the octagon 65 foot stone chimney are kept burning day and night from the yearly supply of one hundred and eighty cords of seasoned are radiating out from this impressive lobby.

Our multiflora sections of rooms all Woody and comfortable each with views of the woods or washing. And every room is warmly appointed complete with a comfortable bed. Cable television and Internet terminal the bathrooms are warm and bright with great water pressure tub showers hair dryers and plenty of thick fluffy towel. There is a main dining room for special occasions like Christmas dinner and other rooms for breakfast then lunch. Now activities of the day are posted throughout the chateau and directions are clearly marked by any number of indoor as well as outdoor venues such as the huge indoor swimming pool nearby exercise room and indoor tennis courts or the shack Towles luxury spa which has been carefully designed to pamper to the

needs of even the fussiest guests. Now we wanted to partake in as many of the chateau winter activities as possible during our all too brief day. But first we thought we'd catch up on the pass and eating history of the place by a chat with Natalie. Both chaps chateau Montebello those markets right. So tell me who built this place and why the shuttle was built in 1930 as a private club and such until 1970 where it became a hotel at the time and was it was it owned by Canadian Pacific at one point Canadian Pacific was always involved since the beginning even of the construction because they built rails and factoring all of the lugs came from the other side of the country. Red Cedar lies.

And this is why can a Pacific has always been part of the history and in 1071 it became it was on there and it is the largest in North America. To the best of our knowledge we know that it is the largest structure and North America. So who now and what is it that is managed by family and resort with over 40 activities whether it be winter or summer there's activities for everybody for the family for all ages. Why is magical here and here at home. It is magical for the kids. There are gifts for the kids and then the program is a typical celebration of Christmas and Santa makes a personal appearance right here on Christmas Eve is that right. Oh that is absolutely right

on the river. All the kids run out to go in season and then all of a sudden someone says Look on the roof right there on the chimney out and coming in the resort and then the Russian and what happens. Sent us right next to the chimney waiting for them to I guess to the kids. Absolutely magical. But you got to be here to see that so we won't give anything away by showing any pictures. How do you say Merry Christmas. Well thank you and a very Merry Christmas to you too. Thank you very much. Wow here is a listen just some of the winter sports you can do here. Skiing of course cross-country skiing. And there's also downhill because there's a there's a hill up there and two sliding snowshoe gating they've got several outdoor skating rinks

just magical in a winter's night. Curling. Ice fishing. They got dog sled rides ATV over the snow and of course snowmobile and now we're not going to get all of these. Where shall I start. You know what I've always wanted to learn how to. Well this is certainly a curling rink a probably need that. Here's Luke. Yes how you doing Mary Good good to see you. Yes. You're one of the sports activities coordinators here is that right. As a matter of fact this summer you do summer sports here and in the winter sports one of the sports you do is curling. What is curling quickly. Yeah it's Detroit heavy rock yeah. On Ice. Yeah. Slide a heavy rock heavy rock all the way to the other end where there's a target just like this for exactly. And try to bring it as close as possible to the center well back a little bit give it a try you'll see. OK.

Now we start here these are called the blocks we have hack hack hack. OK this is your power point to push. Yes you need a good grip to start. Yes. Now I'll show you the first technique since we work with beginners here most of the guys you got a beginner here this morning going to use a shot the Montebello technique. OK so it's basically just to be pushing the rock with your broom. OK. What's important is always that curling is to give it the kernel side turn a row exactly and then you're going to walk you have to block going to let it go off it goes and you go I go by the back line Oh that's a penalty. Exactly. OK you're blue right. You want to read. I want to read. OK. And I'm right handed some of them almost in like this. That's it. OK. You should be actually on this side of the hack. OK like this actually that's it. You push given the kernel side and let it go before the black light. So why do you suppose curling is so popular in Canada not United States is a

lot of fun fun. I would say it's from the English immigrants that came that put the sports on and we just adopted. And you can come here and curl. What's the season the curling season here at the three seasons. So when the states were going to start late in the fall and winter Carol until late in the spring. How long have they been curling here at the chateau. Oh since I would say 1935 really. So when you come up here and you want to learn how to curl you'll give us lessons. Yeah we can we have some free clinics going on Sundays of the week. So you come we'll show you how to play. Yeah safely to respect the equipment right off we go. Well I learned a lot today. Yes yes this was fun. Thanks Luke. OK now. When I put a twenty on the snake skin the curling was

great fun. But next it was time for a little speed on the ice. So Luke suited me up against the cold and after some brief but thorough driving and safety instructions we were off on a couple of the chateaus ATV. What fun this was and although we just tooling around the grounds Luke told me later that there are a whole day long guided ATV trips available with lunch included. I got the hang of things rather quickly I think. And yes I managed to keep myself and the machine out of the Ottawa River on the right path and as instructed always behind the lead ATV. And now for one of the grand occasions when you come here to the chateau

and that is dinner in their world class dining room along the shores of the Ottawa River. If you're in a big hurry and you want to grab and go dinner then I suggest maybe you run down the street and get a pizza or a hamburger or something like that because dinner here is something to be savored. Take your time and enjoy the ambience and the food. Start with the wine list they have an excellent wine list here at the chateau with choices from all over the world with some very good choices by the way from Canada and then on to the main menu. The menu here changes seasonally. Now in winter there is hearty fare. I'm going to have a tough time deciding what I'm going to have for dinner tonight. But you know I got a little bit of time because the executive chef has invited us to take a look at his kitchen and watch him prepare one of this special dishes from his very own menu.

Chefs there is the executive chef at the chateau and he dove right in to preparing one of the hotel's winters specialty roast. Terrible week with all the trim salvage shop to show us and we will see them used a red wine to start our nice sauce and we go oh we Zoraida line an hour testament to read news. I'm so old. Liquid is a vibrator and you only wanted to use on the way to wind them apart. Meanwhile we go over to meet some which I was startled to re. Celery root through it. Now you're making your own puree out of a celery root. Yes I've never seen this this is interesting and honest. Next Door wine with action and let it go. Knowing you over to make smaller a garnish.

He's yellow me troops as we put it all and mango mango mango. Interesting whimper Lanch this we've heard it all and been in Seoul on the morning. So here we have a blanched sweet will and beans beets knowing cut I mean their own shit and they do the same as a mango and as well when the yellow beetroot rice into a nicely once it's finished you just need to go in your own and we've put the data Karibu you will see.

And now we'll have a live insider. Just want to try that. So now we will do our memories as I'm sure you know and we will put just a small school of those real memories in the sauce to bring color and the tears and remove those Any memories and the shallows. But you want to tease the only kept there while the eyes before the tease of the show then the rain wind and rain.

You have to give it off. Don't forget to put sealing it all nice and low. There's a small bear of a carry move first for Sheriff what is the most important is of course the nice solos and doorways there beautiful car in the morning Betty.

I mean that's just beautiful. OK here we go. An NT moon now an Like I say it is the line of homes here. It's like a winter wind of food it's radiant and berries in the Perry movement and there is a delicious air so that's just wonderful. An my new friend to me when I see Boko. Yes yes you are someplace here with us after I have another place I can call home. The next morning to work off the delicious dinner of the night

before. Oh yes and the crepes and maple syrup the bacon sausage omelette fresh fruit and fresh squeezed orange juice that we had for breakfast. We walked across the front yard to where the land rovers were Park. Yes over fifty thousand dollars a piece. And guess what. They are actually going to let me drive a Bunsen and not just down a nice little country lane. No no you see Catherine here. My Land Rover experience off road driving school instructor is going to teach me how we can go just about anywhere even with just a little instruction. So I don't know if you've noticed we left directly from the school dumped into the vehicle and there was actually no ins in the room in class the horse itself. It's all done inside of the vehicle I like but I'm kind. So if

you don't mind we're going to switch switched over to the left and we're going to start talking about the mechanics of the vehicle and also the driving techniques. All right now here you'll be using your right foot on the gas left foot on the brake. Really really bad I'll explain to you why in a little bit. OK so just make sure you're comfortable with air to my mom drives that way all over town there are some advantages to having more than you know look at them in a couple minutes OK. They are comfortable. Yes the steering was good. Yes that's her that's all right but I want you so today we're going to learn are the basics of Expedition style of driving. Our motto here at the driving school is as slow as possible so that doesn't necessarily go do you love me earlier than I thought. Believe it or not by driving at you know reasonable slow speed you can go through much.

Bigger obstacles this way so I feel like you're being chased by a rhinoceros. My Fast would be good. Yes I'd like point yes but if you're going through a very something slow would be better. Yes right right. So I have to have a valid driver's license. Right now I have to have a couple of bucks. Yeah and I have to have the desire to learn because you're just not going to take me out here and say OK Derek have a good time I'll see you in 40 minutes. Yeah well I don't I think Notice there's miracles about a year or 10 to look at it. It's pretty clean I thought it was really you know it's a year old. There's not a dent in it. So the goal is still you know to teach people how to drive off road without it costing them every time they go. That's good that's good. We have three driving schools we have one here at the shops along the meadow. We also have one in Asheville North Carolina at the Biltmore Estate I don't know if your lawyer will just hire an add quill lot in Carmel California which is just

by Monterey Peninsula so each school have a very unique terrain. Here we have the winter driving also the Maya and the mountain and the rocks the Biltmore state is more about a red clay road and Quel it's more about Sandy and so rocky road right white so he was there. So here in the wintertime what we teach at is the basics like we were talking about earlier the basics off road driving in the wintertime we have you here that you're actually going to legislate then. Yeah it was pure it was awesome. Yeah I just took my foot off the gas a bit. Yeah so we do 1 and 2 hour less than next winter we're hoping to have a much bigger program and do full day adventure for the winter driving

with a picnic lunch. Yes that's right. That it were their job who drives this and oh ok what was the verdict. Very good driving. We weren't driving Yes we made it up that whole real problem. Thank you very much. When I ask you a question that mountain over there that big you know we talk about native trees. Yeah let's go berserk. Let's go talk after a long day tearing up the Land Rover of course or just start your day on a relaxing note check out the shadows fully equipped spa here. Everything from pedicures to heat massages are offered to anyone. There's even a special spot package for two adults that includes lodging breakfast dinner and

a visit to the spa. Now this is living production of roadside adventures. It's made possible in part by. Northern car crushers a division of Georgia more truck and Equipment Corporation keys bill New York Santas workshop North Pole New York America's first theme park beautifully restored to its former glory located on Whiteface Mountain in the heart of New York State's Adirondack Mountains and by the members of mountain lake PBS who know how important each membership is in making possible the production of programs like roadside adventures. Thank you for your support. Well that's it that's all the time we have for this edition of Road side of benchers.

From Fairmont Lake shot though month to bellow in the province of Quebec. And on behalf of videographer Chris Mandel I'm very near saying Thanks for watching and I hope that you can tune in again next time when we head out down the road in search of another great rose. I did bet you're OK. Chris you'll join reason need to go inside and put our feet up by that roaring fire. The program you just watched is available on DVD for 14 95 plus shipping and handling to order your copy. Call 1 800 E3 650 700 or order online

at the mountain lake dot org. New York state residents at a political sales tax.