Jay Peak in Vermont is already known for epic powder but thanks to the all-new Pump House Waterpark, it’s also about to be famed for its sweet surf.

The adrenaline junkies who rode black diamond glades all day long will want to keep the rush going by beelining for La Chute, a slide that drops 60 feet per second. (May we suggest a well-secured one-piece?)

More mellowed out intermediates, the blue squares of the bunch, will love to hang ten and do their very best Kassia Meador impression on The Double Barrel Surf Wave.

Green circle gal? It’s all about the Activity (read: lazy) river.

Finally, something with a retractable roof that we can love!  —Christine Laroche

Pump House Waterpark, 830 Jay Peak Rd., Jay, Vermont, 802-988-2611, www.jaypeakresort.com

We’re speed-dialing Mom this morning with a special request: We need to borrow her lavender one-piece ski suit for the weekend.

Igloofest is back from today until January 28 and we’re donning the quétaine winterwear to not only win top prize in the One Piece Snowsuit Contest but also to stay warm while we soak in the sounds of the world’s top electronic music artists.

And for extra incentive to brave the cold, we’re picking up a $33 Happening Gourmand meets Igloofest ticket that includes dinner at Méchant Boeuf, Modavie, Vieux-Port Steakhouse or Taverne Gaspar, as well as admission to the event.

Buh-bye, winter blahs! —Christine Laroche

Quays of the Old Port, Montreal, 514-496-7678, www.igloofest.ca

Photo: Miguel Legault

With boutique espresso joints sprouting up all over the city, this just may be the year we become coffee snobs.

The latest java purveyor is located in an unlikely spot: Tucked under a staircase (that leads to a tanning salon, no less) at the corner of St-Denis and Mont-Royal.

Just don’t bring your laptop and expect to groove to an indie playlist: La Distributrice is a pick-up only counter. For maximum efficiency, the menu is simple: latte, espresso, regular coffee (brewed from Detour beans) and homemade donuts.

Awesome design, delicious coffee and great service. That’s nothing to turn our noses at.  —Christine Laroche

La Distributrice, 408 Mont-Royal Ave. E., Montreal, www.fr-fr.facebook.com/pages/La-Distributrice

We’ve long been in awe of Québec City’s ice hotel and this year, we’ll happily skip the drive up the 20 and hop on the metro instead. We’ll bundle up in our puffiest parka and step off at Parc Jean Drapeau station to be transported to the winter wonderland, a.k.a. The Snow Village.

Some of us will spend hours exploring the beautiful snow and ice complex (it’s actually a replica of Montreal), while the more adventurous of us will check into the Ice Hotel (from $195 per person) for a once in a lifetime experience.

Also on-site are the Pommery Ice Restaurant, spearheaded by Chef Éric Gonzalez ($16 for a 2-course lunch menu), and the Amarula Ice Bar.

Time to put those Arctic Exploration puffers to good use. —Christine Laroche

Until March 31st. 130 ch. Tour-de-l’Isle, Parc Jean Drapeau, Montreal, 1-855-788-2181, www.snowvillagecanada.com

We knew we were in for a romantic weekend when we saw the website for the Windham Hill Inn in West Townsend Vermont, but when we arrived we fell head over heels in love. Here’s why:

The Rooms: Our lovely loft featured a king-sized four poster bed covered with luxurious linens, a gigantic Jacuzzi tub, and a warm fireplace. What it didn’t have? A television. So nobody got distracted by Sunday afternoon football.

The Grounds: Perched hillside with 10 miles of wooded trails, we roamed through lush greenery to find the stunningly secluded waterfall and pool.

The Food: We began the day with a 3-course breakfast complete with fresh muffins, hearty eggs, and healthy oatmeal and ended it with a 6-course tasting menu created by executive chef Graham Gill. Don’t leave without tasting the pumpkin bread pudding…divine!

The Spa: Book a 60- or 90-minute massage or request a butler-drawn bath complete with candles and fragrant essential oils. Or just use the luxurious Molton Brown bath and body products in your room to create a private spa experience.

The Common Areas: Read and relax amid walls of books and games lining cozy fireplace rooms, offering afternoon tea featuring fresh scones, whipped cream, cookies and hot cider. Stop in at the bar before dinner to chat with fellow travellers over a glass of spicy red wine and an array of delicious Vermont cheeses.

The Personalized Service: Innkeeper, Katja, welcomes every guest personally and ensures that every need is met, including booking activities (we went horseback riding at nearby Mountain View Ranch) and surprising guests with special treats, like the bottle of champagne that welcomed the couple celebrating their first anniversary.

—Jennifer Nachshen

Rooms from $255 per night, Windham Hill Inn, 311 Lawrence Drive, West Townshend, VT, 1-800-944-4080, www.windhamhillinn.com

See more photos of Windham Hill Inn on our Editors' Diary.

We’re slightly reluctant to spill some of these secrets, especially if it means longer waits or bigger crowds, but these hidden gems are too good to keep to ourselves.

On a good day we think of our brows as naturally Brooke Shields-esque. On a bad day they remind us of Maggie Simpson’s nemesis, the One-Eyebrowed Baby. We wouldn’t go to anyone other than arch-expert Zeina Ghattas at O Coiffure and Spa to keep our “windows to the soul” well-framed. O Coiffure and Spa, 4th floor, 1307 Ste. Catherine St. W., Montreal, 514-287-8996, www.ocoiffurespa.com

It’s not open evenings or weekends, so if you don’t work in Old Montreal you may not have had a chance to try the bright and airy Cluny Artbar in the Darling Foundry. There’s a lunch special that changes daily (lucky you if you’re there for chilli day!), but the customers keep coming back for the scrumptious sandwiches, excellent antipasti platter and decadent desserts. Cluny Artbar, 257 Prince St., Montreal, 514-866-1213, www.cluny.info

We’ve heard about secret menu items at McDonalds (google the McGangBang) and Starbucks (order a Crunch Berry Frappuccino), but some Montreal restaurants also keep their best dishes under wraps, including the not-on-the-menu meatballs at the Westmount Square Taverne and a hush-hush wine list at l’Express.

It’s rare for Montrealers to hit hotel bars in their own town, but if you want to sip and snack at the same time, head to Les Voyageurs in the Queen Elizabeth Hotel to get a tower of treats to nibble on while you sip your martini and pretend to be a spy. Fairmont Queen Elizabeth Hotel, 900 Rene Levesque Blvd. W., Montreal, 514-861-3511, www.fairmont.com/queenelizabeth

We walked by Razberry Boutique and its sister-store, Boutique 1861 for years without going in. When we finally did, we fell in love with the adorable dresses, but it was the piles and piles of memorable statement accessories at very reasonable prices that stole our hearts. We always go there first when looking for blingy baubles. Razberry Boutique, 1841 & 1861 St. Catherine St. W., Montreal, 514-908-1861, www.razberry.ca —Jennifer Nachshen

Not a whole lot has changed about Ogunquit since we last visited when we were just a kid. But if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it! We spent the last week of summer on the coastal town in Maine, visiting old favourites and finding new ones.

stay
Most hotels in Ogunquit offer simple, beachy motel-esque accommodations, but if it’s a view you want, head to the Beachmere Inn. The oceanfront property offers rolling lawns adjacent to the Marginal Way, as well as a wide array of room types and amenities (including yoga on the lawn!) to fit your every need. Beachmere Inn, 62 Beachmere Place Ogunquit, ME, 1-800-336-3983, www.beachmereinn.com

do
The Ogunquit Playhouse will be celebrating its 80th birthday next season, but the party has started already with this year’s lineup of shows including Avenue Q and Legally Blonde: The Musical, with guest star Sally Struthers, playing until September 17 (Miss Saigon starts soon after!). Ogunquit Playhouse, 10 Main Street, Ogunquit, ME, 207-646-5511, www.ogunquitplayhouse.org

dine
Roadside lobster rolls and clam shacks abound, but for the ultimate lobster experience head north to Wells to visit the Maine Diner to gorge on the rich seafood chowder and decadent lobster pie featured on the Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. Maine Diner, 2265 Post Rd., Route One, Wells, ME, 207-646-4441, www.mainediner.com

drink
The cosmopolitan is strong enough to knock you off your feet, which is a good thing because you’ll need to get rid of your inhibitions to thoroughly enjoy the ‘round the piano show tune sing-along that goes down nightly at The Front Porch. The Front Porch, 9 Shore Rd., Ogunquit, ME, 207-646-4005, www.thefrontporch.net

—Jennifer Nachshen

Sometimes you don’t need to go very far to get the feeling of getting away. Although many Montrealers turn their nose up at the idea of going West (Island, that is), we think a day in the ‘burbs can be delightful. Why not spend a day in Pointe Claire Village to find out?

dine
Hidden away in a heritage home, find Le Gourmand. Executive Chef Michael Oliphant offers delicious French fare with a twist, including a divine salmon tartare with cucumber and curried yoghurt sauce and a four cheese penne topped with truffles and fried brie. Get a spot on the busy terrace to truly enjoy the ambiance. Le Gourmand Restaurant, 42 Ste. Anne St., Pointe-Claire, 514-695-907, www.restaurantlegourmand.ca

shop
Flirt Boutique is a gem of a fashion hideaway, jam-packed with European and U.S. imports like Marc Cain,  Malene Birger, Tara Jarmon and accessories by Alexis Bittar. Hit the overstuffed sales rack at the back to find some fantastic bargains.  Flirt Boutique, 338 Lakeshore Blvd., Pointe-Claire, 514-428-8768, www.flirtboutique.ca

For all natural bath and body products, head to Izzi Natural Body Essentials to pick up some of their deliciously-scented soaps and lotions (we loved cura pura, with olive oil and lemon to moisturize and smooth skin) or call ahead to book a soap making workshop. Izzi Natural Body Essentials, 50 Ste-Anne Rd., Pointe-Claire, Quebec, 514-630-4333, www.izzi.ca

indulge
The line-up may be long, but it’s well worth your while to stop for a homemade ice cream at Wild Willy’s, a West Island favourite for years. We’ve sampled their beer flavoured frozen treats, but stick to tried and true soft serve. Wild Willy’s, 539 Lakeshore Blvd., Pointe Claire, 514-631-9669. —Jennifer Nachshen

The warm weather is fading fast, so we’re getting our summer fun in while we can. Here are our top ten to-dos before the deep freeze hits.

1. Have a gelato-off pitting le glacier Bilboquet against Havre au Glace and newcomer Kem Coba.

2. Learn to surf or stand-up paddleboard on the lake with KSF.

3. Head down to the Old Port to find the Monsiour Felix and Mr. Norton mobile bakery and stuff yourself with cookies.

4. Take a day trip to Balnea, just to jump in the lake.

5. Book a wine route road trip with Kava Tours, get sauced, and get a lift home.

6. Drive just across the border to Ontario and book a VIP cabana at Calypso Water Park.

7. Ride The Cobra at La Ronde.

8. Host a local-ingredients-only potluck and hit one of Montreal’s markets for fresh fruits and veggies.

9. Hit the end of season sales and pick up items you know will still be in next summer.

10. Run through a sprinkler (on a stranger’s lawn).

—Jennifer Nachshen

When relaxation requires leaving the real world behind, a trip to beautiful Kamouraska may be just the ticket to total de-stressing. With just one main road, a few quaint shops and restaurants, and a stunning view of the St.Lawrence River, you’ll finally be able to focus on finding some inner peace.

stay
There are a number of Bed & Breakfasts dotting the main road, but why bother with eggs and toast when you can wake up to the scent of melting chocolate? We stayed at the new Bed & Chocolate at La Fée Gourmade (from $120) and luxuriated in our suite’s fluffy bed, steamed ourselves into submission in the lovely hammam shower (complete with organic chocolate-scented soaps from nearby Le Quai des Bulles), and gorged ourselves silly on the chocolaterie’s delicious treats. Indulge in the one of the B&C’s sweet package deals to include a tasting workshop and box of 16 chocolates starting at $150. La Fée Gourmande, 167 Morel Ave., Kamouraska, 418-492-3030, www.lafeegourmande.ca

eat
If you can’t stomach truffles first thing in the morning, you can easily jaunt over to the Auberge des Iles to sip coffee in the solarium, or start the day in true Québecois style at the Casse-Croute Co-sette. Definitely pick up a loaf of deliciously dense German bread at the Boulangerie Niemand and stock upon freshly smoked salmon at the Poissonerie Lauzier. Finally, relax with a bottle of wine and a seafood plate at the Café du Clocher (run by the most eligible bachelor in town, Jean-Pierre).
Auberge des Iles, 198 Morel Ave., Kamouraska, 418 492-7561, www.aubergedesiles.ca
Restaurant La Co-Sette, 53 Morel Ave., Kamouraska, 418-492-2675.
Boulangerie Niemand, 82 Morel Ave., Kamouraska,  418-492-1236.
Poissonnerie Lauzier, 57 Morel Ave.,Kamouraska,  418 492-7988.
Café Du Clocher, 90 Morel Ave., Kamouraska, 418-492-7365.

spa
Not content to end our chocolate bender, we enjoyed a rejuvenating chocolate and coffee scrub ($70) at La Grand Voile Centre du Santé et Auberge. But don’t worry if you’ve maxed out on sweets, there are plenty of cleansing and refreshing massages and treatments to be had at this gorgeous mansion.
La Grand Voile, 168 Morel Ave, Kamouraska, 418-492-2539, www.lagrandvoile.ca

see
Keep an eye out for penguins, seals and a miracle pod of Beluga whales as you speed across the waves during this 1.5 hour Zodiak tour ($35) of the Kamouraska islands. Just be sure to wear your wellies and a windbreaker, as this wild ride can get chilly and wet!
Embark at the Kamouraska pier, 418-863-3132, www.zodiacaventure.com

See more from our trip to Kamouraska on today's Editors' Diary. —JN