This is my first full week back in the office after returning from my first trip on behalf of the company last week, to Montréal and the surrounding regions, as I endeavored to experience Québec like a local. It turns out, folks from Québec spend winters a little differently than we do in Philadelphia.

The trip was full of firsts for me. It was my first trip to Canada, my first trip for the magazine, my first hockey game not held at Wells Fargo Center and much more. Each day was packed with activities, fine dining and culture. I could not be happier with the result.

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It is tough to distill the entire trip into highlights. So many things were excellent, breathtaking and inspiring. Getting the opportunity to attend a Montréal Canadiens hockey game at the Bell Centre was something exceptional to experience. The fans make the arena come to life in ways I haven’t experienced at a Flyers game in some time. The city tour, local coffee shops and visit to the virtual reality exhibit at Centre Phi let me get a feeling for Montréal.

After Montréal, I went to Laval, a suburb of Montréal. This visit was quick but included an in-progress conservation center and ice fishing on the river. I ate at an excellent, authentic crêperie and café during the stay.

Finally, I journeyed about an hour and a half to Mont-Tremblant. On Saturday I snowshoed down the mountain, stopping for a delicious fondue dinner at a remote cabin restaurant called The Refuge. The staff was extremely accommodating and created a vegan poke bowl for me. After dinner and a bunch of wine, it was time for a dark adventure down the mountain. I also went skiing and dined in a number of incredible restaurants while in town, and it was an excellent experience.

I am already planning another trip to Montréal and Québec and can’t wait!

— Erich Martin, assistant editor