The B&B Crystal Inn is a sparkling jewel of a place tucked into the woods near Mont Tremblant.

"We'll soon have some distinctive landmarks to find our place," said Mario Jodoin, who opened the Crystal Inn around Christmas with his wife, Andrea Paravey. McDonald's and Tim Horton will open at the corner of Montee Ryan and Highway 117. "But we're a few kilometers into the woods so, thankfully, it won't affect our peace and quiet."

It's true that the outstanding characteristic of the Crystal Inn is its tranquility. It's set in the woods on a cul-de-sac and there's not a hint of the thousands of cars rushing along Montee Ryan to Mont Tremblant. The chirping of birds is all that breaks the sound of silence.

From the outside, the pale yellow clapboard and a wrap-around porch give the Crystal Inn the look of a New England-style cottage. Indoors, the inn is anything but traditional. The lobby soars to a two-storey cathedral ceiling and the public spaces are enclosed in glass. The Crystal Inn is dazzling white and very modern - a cool, clean design space doubling as a cozy country cottage.

"We wanted a simple background for the art that we've collected on our travels," Jodoin said. "So the pure white and the vaulted ceilings give a sense of space - if you spend the whole day here you don't feel trapped.

"And then to contrast, we've done each guest room in a color scheme of a semi-precious stone - collecting them is our hobby."

The couple also has collected tribal masks and furniture from Mexico, paintings from France and a few design accoutrements like lamps from Italy, all displayed beautifully against the white walls.

The inn has lots of upscale touches like terry robes in every room, king-size beds, private bathrooms, down comforters and pillows, and "memory foam" mattress pillow tops. "They mold right to your body," Jodoin said. "And you sleep so well." The three guest rooms are named after semi-precious stones and decorated in matching color scheme - the Jade, the Agate and the Amethyst.

Most guests spend their time outdoors, but Crystal has a reading nook with books, television, VCR and CDs, and there's a hot tub that can be reserved by one room at a time.

Jodoin has worked as a waiter at the Four Seasons Hotel in Ottawa, so he serves breakfast and Paravey cooks. House specialties include smoked salmon salad and crepes with fruit and whipped cream.

Among restaurants that the couple recommends for dinner are Trattoria Di Lago, a charming Italian place, and SEb, which serves fancy Quebec Cuisine, both in St. Jovite.

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Getting There

Directions: Mont Tremblant is a 90-minute drive from downtown. Take Highway 15 north past St. Jovite; continue on Highway 117 north to Montee Ryan. On Montee Ryan, take the second left onto Chemin Joseph Thibault.

Address: B & B Crystal Inn, 100 Chemin Joseph Thibault, Mont Tremblant J8E 2G4.

Call (819) 681-7775.

Price: Rates range from $78 to $119 for two, including breakfast and Hot-Tub

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