Parc Omega: Family glamping among the fauna in Montebello

Let’s set the record straight, before anyone gets their tail in a tizzy… Parc Omega is NOT A ZOO! It’s a natural museum, where wild animals live in their natural habitat and get to interact with humans in an ethical and civilized way… a magical experience for both humans and animals. This weekend, my family and I received a private tour of the park with Park Director and spokesperson, Uncle Serge. After the tour and exploring the park for the entire day, we stayed overnight in one of their brand new log cabins, a new addition to their suite of rustic accommodations. Thank you to Park Omega for the lovely hospitality.

“You don’t come to Parc Omega to see animals, you come for the experience” said Uncle Serge, during the tour. At first, I was like… ya, great tag line… but after having spent the entire weekend with Michael and Victor, I totally get it. We made some pretty incredible memories as a family, and I only have these pictures (and this post!) to help me remember them. Victor enjoyed it so much, that he was crying hysterically when it was time to leave. Part of it was that he loved interacting with the animals, and part of it was that we rarely have family time together. Needless to say, we all felt a little sentimental leaving on Sunday afternoon.

More than just animals at Parc Omega

When you first start your journey, you get your bag of carrots ready (break them in half of course!) and you’re super excited to feed the elk and deer from the window of your car. What I didn’t realize is that there is a whole lot more to do and see; station 11 is where all the action is! Victor and Michael played in the arial park, we fed animals on the grounds, we watched a few live demonstrations about the animals and watched them feed the wolves in the new two-level observatory designed by Serge! There was a wagon ride that also brought you to the farm, where you can walk around and pet the animals there too. We sadly did not have time to do that.

Do not be alarmed by the bleeding antlers. In the fall, they shed the velvet skin and the antlers start to turn into wood. The antlers will fall off after mating season and will grow back the following year. Crazy!

Please do not eat my baby’s thumb. Thank you.

I asked Victor what his favourite thing was, and to my surprise, he said he loved the bison.. “the big one with the beard, because he is the king!”hahaha

The First Nations trail

This trail and scenic pic nic area was quite a beautiful spot, where 11 First Nations of the Quebec region have come together for the first time in history. The majestic lake is surrounded by totems, each representing a different tribe. All the monuments and structures were authentically designed in consultation with First Nations people, no gimmicks here.

Glamping accommodations at Parc Omega:  “L’ecureuil” Log Cabin

To get to our site, we took advantage of the complimentary butler service, who brought us directly to our cabin with all our stuff by golf cart. The round log cabins are a bit further from the other tipis and yurts, but offer a lot of privacy. The cabin had a double bed and single bed (with additional pull-out) and we were given fresh linens and towels for our stay (typically at extra cost). The cabin comes with a dining table and chairs (inside and outside), as well as a wood stove. There was light in the cabin, but my phone charger did not work in the plugs. Upon check-in, we were given a bag of firewood and kindling (typically additional cost), which we used later that night.

We checked-in to the cabin at 4:00 p.m. and headed over to Montebello to have dinner at Le Bistro.  Although we packed a cooler with snacks and drinks, we could have also packed dinner and prepared it at the common cabin, where they have a fully functioning kitchen and dining area. Part of it was laziness, and part of it was the opportunity to explore Montebello. After supper, we got back to the common area to feed to wolves and bears at 7:00 p.m. At the feeding, we learned a lot about wolves and the dynamic of the pack. The alpha male and female (me!) are the largest and best looking of the pack, they eat first and stand in front of the others. The omega stays behind everyone, and eats last. He is the best hunter and also the most underrated member of the group, if you ask me. Michael is an omega 😉

The bears on the other hand are quite dopey. They do tricks for carrots and are otherwise quite tame…unless you are bothering their cubs, of course!

The bears and wolves live in an enclosed section of the park, situated right in the middle of the accommodations. It’s completely safe, you have my word. We heard the wolves howling in the evening at about 10:00 p.m. It was more fascinating than terrifying… I promise! Needless to say, we were all so exhausted after this jam packed day that we all slept like babies in our cozy beds.

Each cabin also comes fully equipped with a dry toilet. This was my first time using one, and to be honest it’s way cleaner than an outhouse, there was no smell and it was well lit. The concept is quite simple. You do your business in a bucket that is lined with a biodegradable bag, covered by a toilet seat. You scoop saw dust into the bag before each use. When the bag is near full after multiple uses, you remove the bucket and change the bag. The soiled bag goes into a composting bin. The novelty starts to wear off after you change the bag though! hahaha

This is me, after my coffee…totally zen and a little sad that our adventurous family weekend was coming to an end. All in all, I was super impressed with the calibre of Parc Omega and was pretty happy to have successfully completed my first glamping experience. Now,  please excuse me while I get rid of our tent. Parc Omega, you may have created a monster!

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