Melissa Biggs Bradley, Indagare

As a Francophile, I have heard often that I would love Québec because it offers a taste of France without crossing the Atlantic. The beautiful Canadian city (a less-than-two-hour flight from Newark) delivers just that and more: a taste of French culture and cuisine and a gorgeous historic city center. Most compelling to me as a New York mother, though, is that it does so without jet lag--and at a discount, thanks to the current exchange rate. In fact, the Chateau Frontenac, the iconic castle-like hotel perched on the cliff overlooking the St. Lawrence, is currently offering room rates this spring that are less than $200 a night. (Par for the course, bargain rooms don't have river views, but, when you think about it, kids are far less consumed with vistas than they are with hallway races, splashing around in a massive indoor pool, and being greeted by the hotel's canine ambassador.

Right across the way from the Chateau Frontenac is the Musée du Fort, which has a fantastic sound and light show on the history of Québec City. The model ships plying the St. Lawrence and red-coated soldiers charging up the cliffs just outside the museum, make the past feel, well, present. And once the show's done, everyone can clamber down the ramparts (yep, still standing), and kids can climb on the massive cannons.

It's hard to be excited about the winter when you're chipping a layer of ice off your car in the morning, so sometimes we have to be reminded that snow and ice can actually be a thing of beauty. If your family loves all things frosty, head up to the sixth annual Ice on Whyte Ice Carving Festival in Edmonton, Alberta in Canada, where international ice carving teams will take to the cold stuff when the event kicks off today.

In addition to the carving competition, families can check out the six-sided castle, ice slides, and children's play area. There are also L'il Chippers workshops taught by a local sculptor and cost $3 per child. The festival runs from 2 pm-10 pm on weekdays and 10 am-10 pm on weekends. The festival ends on January 25.

Kristy Hall | Two and a Half Travelers

If you prefer a nip in the air with your holiday hot toddy, grab your French dictionary and your woolies and head north to Quebec City. While it's not exactly Paris, Quebec City's walkable downtown is easy to navigate and heavy on European charm. (It's also heavy on the cobblestones, so bring a decent stroller.)

Quebec is a good family destination because it's still one of the few places the U.S. dollar can still turn a few heads. It's relatively quick and easy to access in North America and the city receives enough of the white stuff to ensure holiday cheer and to make a horse-drawn sleigh ride picture-perfect.

The heart of Quebec, Fairmont's five-star Chateau Frontenac, sits high on a bluff overlooking the St. Lawrence River and makes for a super easy and romantic holiday stay where parents can attend a sumptuous New Year's Eve dinner while the kids (ages 5-12) kick it at the Bonne Année Grand Nez children's party.

All this week we're posting last-minute getaway ideas (like Washington, D.C.; Mauritius; and Brussels) from some of our favorite travel experts, so keep checking back!

We might be in the thick of leaf-gazing, pumpkin-carving, apple-picking season, but it's not too early to start dreaming about fresh powder and snowy slopes, especially since Outside magazine in its November issue ranked the top 15 ski-and-snowboard spots in North America. Drumroll please...

1. Alta and Snowbird; Utah
2. Whistler Blackcomb; British Columbia, Canada
3. Vail; Colorado
4. Jackson Hole; Wyoming
5. Snowbasin; Utah
6. Fernie Alpine Resort; British Columbia
7. Silverton Mountain; Colorado
8. Aspen Highlands and Snomass; Colorado
9. Squaw Valley; California
10. Steamboat; Colorado
11. Mammoth; California
12. Telluride; Colorado
13. Solitude; Utah
14. Alyeska Resort; Alaska
15. Taos; New Mexico

Click here for more of our favorite food-and-ski destinations around the world.

Get some R&R with three more R's (reduce, reuse, recycle) at Westin's new Element hotel chain, the first of which just opened in Lexington, Massachusetts. Some of Element's green features include carpets made from 100% recycled content, bath products in dispensers (no more mini bottles), and Energy Star-rated appliances. Style hasn't been overlooked, either. The soothing colors and clean lines in the rooms and public spaces create a modern, serene atmosphere. And there's free Wi-Fi access. Twenty-two more locations are slated to open in the U.S. and Canada through 2010--including hotels in Las Vegas and Irving, Texas, later this year.