Seeking Personal Wellness at Club Med Quebec Charlevoix
By Darren Bleau
Two years ago, I went into business with my older brother. Previously, we enjoyed spending time together at our family cottage in the Kawarthas, sitting around the fire and catching up, watching our daughters enjoy the lake. We had leisure time together and the opportunity to relax. But our new dynamic includes more serious things – meetings, strategy, finances and some challenges. Spending quality time together seems harder to arrange – so the opportunity to reconnect with a focus on our personal wellness at the Club Med Quebec Charlevoix summer Elevation Festival was not only valuable to our work but also to our relationship as brothers.
After a short 1.5-hour flight from our homes in Toronto, we landed in Quebec City on a Wednesday in late June. From there, we took a 1.5-hour transfer to the hotel by car and checked in at Club Med Quebec Charlevoix for our three-night stay, where we were immediately ‘wowed’ by the hotel and surroundings.
As Canada’s first four-season, all-inclusive mountain resort on the St. Lawrence River, Club Med Quebec Charlevoix is a unique Canadian vacation experience. Everywhere you look the views are incredible. The property was built with this in mind and every activity and space maximized the beautiful river views. Of particular note were our rooms: spacious, well-appointed and designed specifically for families to enjoy, with separate sleeping quarters for kids – an attractive feature on a family vacation.
Chilling out with a cold plunge
I’ve never been one to wake up at the crack of dawn on vacation, but we signed up to try our first ever cold plunge at 7am on our first day. On the deck overlooking the majestic St. Lawrence, and supported by an encouraging guide, my brother and I entered the 9-degree C. water. We were advised to try our best to submerge in the water up to our chins, and the first 30 seconds of the plunge were the hardest part. I could feel the cold in my bones, but the benefits of cold-water immersion seemed worth the extreme discomfort. Cold plunging is known to stimulate the release of endorphins (a natural mood booster) and have positive effects on sleep, mental resilience and ability to cope with stress – all things we were keen to improve!
We ended those daily sessions feeling energized and ready to tackle the day. Following our cold plunge experience, we moved directly into a one-hour guided meditation. This was another first for us, and not exactly an activity that had been high on our list. But feeling invigorated from our cold plunges made us suddenly open-minded to anything.
Fueled for fitness
Activity options are endless at Club Med Quebec Charlevoix. The Avione Cuisine Workshop had us in the kitchen making delicious no-bake energy balls – perfect fuel for our adventures – and despite being a marathon runner and an avid fitness enthusiast, I could barely keep up in the Abs and Glutes workout class. Each day we took advantage of the fitness center and enjoyed a relaxing massage at the Club Med Spa by Sothys.
Perhaps the most thrilling highlight of our stay was mountain biking. Having never tried this before, we opted for a Level 1 session, which in hindsight was more introductory than we needed. Our instructor, Pierre, sensed this and modified our route to encourage us to take some risks and try more challenging trails. We biked 10km in the forest up on the mountain, going over bumps and jumps. The adrenaline rush was real and we felt like kids again. It was truly fun to try something new together.
Sip, savour, relax
The food at Club Med Quebec Charlevoix was a standout feature of our stay. There is something for everyone. As a caffeine guy, I was thrilled with the great coffee options everywhere. I even tried my first ever matcha! All three meals a day were served in Le Marché – a beautiful buffet-style restaurant overlooking the water. Live cooking stations changed each night and we were impressed by the fresh seafood options, a Neapolitan-style pizza oven and the great tacos on offer. Most importantly, the menu changed each day, always including menu staples but providing excellent quality and variety which is so important when staying at an all-inclusive property. The relaxing atmosphere in the lounge, Le Chalet, was perfect for aperitifs before dinner and cocktails, and we loved the Canadian Old Fashioned and ice-cold martinis.
All-inclusive magic
This was peak time for families at the resort, since we were there during the first official week of summer vacation in Quebec. The property is ideal for families with expansive programming for kids available. It was not hard to imagine our daughters trying new activities in the Mini Club Med+ program. In addition to the formal kids’ activities, there were so many opportunities geared for families – like bocce ball, ping pong and an outdoor soccer facility. The evening entertainment program, run by the energetic G.O. team was perfect for the family-vibe of the hotel. The best part – it is truly all-inclusive; meals, drinks, activities and programs (with the exception of spa treatments) are covered with your stay.
Club Med Quebec Charlevoix was the perfect kick-off to summer. With a strong emphasis on connecting with nature and local experience, we highly enjoyed our visit. We left feeling that the property – and the whole experience – was family-friendly, wellness-focused and provided great memories to fuel our business and personal relationship for years to come. We also agreed that next time we return, we’ll bring our wives and daughters to share in the magic of Club Med Quebec Charlevoix!
