This text is part of the special book Plaisirs
Fancy a change for the holidays? A little trip abroad to make the most of the holidays, does that tell you? Here are some ideas of places to recharge the batteries with the family…
Sink your teeth into Chicago!
Chicago is the mecca of foodies, with its good restaurants, culinary inventions and renowned chefs. Safe when you travel cautiously, it offers wonderful gourmet, historical, architectural and cultural discoveries for the whole family.
Few people know it, but it is a destination where international flights are the cheapest for the holidays. Thus, for less than $2,000, you can find four round-trip tickets, with Air Canada in particular, for the Windy City. Direct flights of less than three hours, which is advantageous when you only want to stay there for a few days.
Set off to explore the deep dish pizza, which was invented in Chicago. To experience this type of pan pizza with a thick filling and crust, topped with a generous portion of tomato sauce, then gratinated with a melting mozzarella, you have to go to Lou Malnati’s or at Uno Pizzeriawho have been pioneers of the genre since 1940.
The city is also famous for its unique hot dogs, the “Vienna Beef Chicago Style”. What sets them apart from our hot dogs? They are topped with five ingredients: mustard, onions, tomatoes, relish and pickled peppers. Watch out if you ask for ketchup! You can find these hot dogs served in a poppy seed bun at Portillo’s, in The Loop district. A culinary tradition that dates back to the first Austrian immigrants in 1890.
Do you like corn? Take a tour at Garrett to taste his famous “Garrett Mix”, made up of pop corn with cheddar and caramel, a popular blend since the creation of this company in 1949. The city prides itself on having been one of the first in 1893 to market the pop corn in America.
Good restaurants are also legion in Chicago. The Publicanthe Little Goat Diner, the Purple Pig and the Beatrice are good friendly tables where you can eat dishes inspired by local producers at reasonable prices. Save room for a scrumptious donut! Stan’s Donuts is a local chain that offers great varieties. Other brands as well as guided gourmet tours are offered on the site of Choose Chicago.
See the volcanoes of Costa Rica
One of the popular destinations for lovers of nature hiking and family ecotourism is Costa Rica. With one of the two direct flights per week from Montreal to Liberia or San José offered by Air Transat, you can arrive in the country in less than five hours. There are 26 national parks, 8 biological reserves and many protected areas, where you can discover unique fauna and flora in the world. The country is safe and it is easy to rent a car to cross it.
A good plan may be to choose Liberia for your hotel, all-inclusive or eco-accommodation, from where you can leave to explore the volcanoes. Less than three hours from this city is one of the most spectacular still active, the Arenal. Although it is forbidden to climb it, hikes in this national park allow you to walk around it, along ancient lava fields and through the rainforest, from where you have a view of the volcano. . Next door, another trail around the dormant volcano Chato offers walkers a view of a majestic waterfall.
For thrill-seekers, activities such as white-water rafting, zip-lining, canyoning, surfing or scuba diving are offered at various locations. To plan your trip well, visit the website Visit Costa Rica.
Sun destinations for family relaxation
When the holidays come, some prefer to stretch out on a beach rather than go on a hike. There are many destinations that offer this option, and to avoid the headache, choosing an all-inclusive package is still the best. deal.
About deal, the time to find a family trip at a good price for the Holidays is during the Black Friday weekend. Several Canadian carriers will thus release their favorite destinations, sometimes reduced by up to 30% of their initial price. It’s hard to predict which locations will be the subject of these limited-time deals, but among them will be the most popular ones, such as Cuba, Mexico and the Dominican Republic. Three favorite places to bask in the sun or to enjoy swimming.
Good to know: the airlines group their best hotels for the family on their site. On that of Sunwing Vacations, we learn that some do not require any supplement for a single parent traveling with their child and that, for two children between 2 and 12 years old, some hotels do not charge any fees. Some accommodations are also listed for their water park, daycare center or inflatable games. Great alternatives to keep the kids busy while the parents sip a cocktail while sunbathing!
This special content was produced by the Special Publications team of the To have to, pertaining to marketing. The drafting of To have to did not take part.