Updated July 2026 · by John, owner
For March break, Chalet Beach House is a 4-bedroom lakefront chalet on Lac-Simon (Outaouais) with a games room, snow tubing 25 minutes away and ice fishing nearby — 1 h 30 from Ottawa, from about $525/night, and Quebec's relâche and Ontario's March Break usually fall on different weeks.
March break is the week of winter when everyone wants the same thing at the same time: somewhere the kids move all day and the adults decompress at night. Around Lac-Simon the week fills itself without long drives — and the chalet works as the wood-heated base camp. Here's how to put it together.
Two March breaks, one lake
Quebec's relâche usually lands the first week of March (it varies by school service centre), and Ontario's March Break generally comes mid-March. For a chalet 1 h 30 from Ottawa, that offset means two high-demand weeks instead of one — and two possible windows for you if your dates are flexible. Check your school's calendar, then book: March break weeks go early, ideally before January.
What fills the week
Snow tubing: Montagnes Noires Park in Ripon (~25 min) — tubing, snowshoeing, fat biking and skating at family rates. Skating: Lac-Simon's lit forest skating trail (~10 min) is free, with a heated cabin. Ice fishing: the fishing village on Lac de la Ferme in Duhamel (~15 min), turnkey packages around $50. Alpine skiing: Mont-Blanc (~55 min) for a relaxed day, Mont-Tremblant (~1 h) for the big resort. Parc Oméga (~35 min): drive-through Canadian wildlife safari — wolves and elk in the snow. Sugar shack: maple season starts in late February — Chez Ti-Mousse in Papineauville (~35 min) does the traditional meal, taffy on snow and a sleigh ride.
And at the chalet itself
The downstairs games room (air hockey, foosball, ping-pong) absorbs end-of-day energy, the wood fireplace (firewood included) carries the evenings, and the full kitchen means you're not restauranting every night. Four bedrooms and three bathrooms for 10 people: two families settle in without tripping over each other. The 1 Gbps fibre Wi-Fi covers the parent who has to work a day or two — and the heat pump holds the main floor at 20–22 °C whatever the weather does.
Rates and booking
Winter rates start around $525/night midweek (see the live table on the Rates page). 2-night minimum off-peak; full March-break weeks often qualify for the automatic weekly discount (7+ nights). The driveway is plowed after every snowfall, and Quebec requires winter tires through March 15. Book before January for the best choice of dates.
Frequently asked questions
When is March break?
In Quebec, relâche usually falls the first week of March, but it varies by school service centre — check your school's calendar. Ontario's March Break generally comes mid-March. Both weeks are in high demand at the chalet.
When should we book for March break?
Ideally before January. 'March break cottage' searches start as soon as school resumes in January, and full weeks go first. Booking in the fall gives you the pick of dates — and the calendar on this site shows real-time availability.
Does the chalet work for two families?
Yes — 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms and room for 10 (max 8 adults). The downstairs family room with the games area gives you a second living room, so the whole week doesn't happen in one shared space.
What if it's −20 °C or raining?
Cold days are the good winter days — dressed for it, the tubing hill and skating trail stay busy. For the rough days: games room, movies, board games, and Parc Oméga is visited from the car with the heat on.