Winter Wellness on a Dime
December 14, 2023 | Montréal, Québec
Photo credit: Abbigail Whitcher, Made with Canva
December is upon us, and so comes the colder months of the year.
Though hibernating may seem tempting, to get cozy with a blanket, comfort food and binge our favourite series. I will admit, I’m currently finishing Game of Thrones, which is such a long show - 8 seasons long! It has taken complete days of my life that I will never get back (Still, well worth it). But rather than letting the days pass us by in front of our TV screens, our bodies will thank us for getting outside and keeping active (Even if it’s so cold that we need three layers of clothes).
I will also admit, the winter doesn’t compare to spring’s liveliness and warmth. Though, there is still fun to be had in the cold - or at least that’s what I tell myself. Winter break is coming up, and as a first-year university student at McGill University, this will be my first winter in Montréal. The activities I have listed below aren’t ones that I have tried yet, but the options I’ve found will fill in some of the dead days of my two weeks away from classes. I hope they can help with your search for winter activities to stay healthy, happy, and thriving throughout the oh-so-real Canadian winter.
1. Visit a museum for free and get your steps in!
Musée des beaux-arts de Montréal (The permanent collection is free on the first Sunday of every month, or for people aged 0-20 at all times.)
McCord Stewart Museum (Free every Wednesday evening (some exhibitions excluded), and the first Sunday of every month for Québec residents; it’s also always free for members of Indigenous communities)
Montréal Holocaust Museum (Free on the first Sunday of every month)
La Guilde (Always free)
List inspired by: 10 best free museums in Montreal you need to check out
2. Go outdoor ice skating!
Esplanade Tranquille ice skating rink (Always free)
Beaver lake ice rink (Always free)
Jeanne-Mance Park (Always free)
Sir-Wilfrid-Laurier Park (Always free)
Jean-Drapeau (Always free)
List inspired by: Best Montreal Outdoor Skating Rinks
3. Go tubing!
Mont-Royal (Cost of tube rentals)
Parc Jean-Drapeau (Cost of tube rentals)
4. Go for a stroll on winter-friendly walking trails!
Sainte-Anne-De-Bellevue Canal (Paid parking)
Parc-Nature-du-Bois-de-l'île-Bizard (Paid parking)
Parc Maisonneuve (Always free)
Old Port (Always free)
Mont-Royal (Always free)
This is just a starting point for what affordable winter activities exist in Montréal. There’s so much more available. I’m going to do my best to try out as many of the above activities as possible because – why not?
Let me know if you have an activity that you consider a must-try during the winter months in Montreal. You can reach me on my Instagram: @abbigail.whitcher
Your Wellness Liaison,
Abby
Author
Abbigail Whitcher
Physical Wellness Liaison (Montréal, Québec)
for Y4Y Québec
Instagram: abbigail.whitcher
