Summer goes by too fast. That's what my daughter keeps telling me. And I tell her: "Summer isn't over! We still have time to do activities."
Now that the holidays are behind us, we're planning short day or weekend getaways, less than an hour or two from Quebec City. Here are three that we've tried recently:
Get away from it all on the Côte-du-Sud
Do you have sea legs? Head to L'Islet-sur-Mer where you will find the Maritime Museum of Quebec . The place offers different exhibitions, visits, activities and a magnificent river park that will please children who are restless.
The visit of the Bras d'or hydrofoil and the Ernest Lapointe icebreaker will impress the whole family. Not to mention the virtual reality visit of the Scotsman wreck. A must-see!
The guided tour of the Bras d'or, a unique hydrofoil, is included in the admission price of the Musée maritime du Québec.
For a weekend getaway, continue on to Kamouraska. In Notre-Dame-du-Portage, the public saltwater pool will delight children. Right next door, be sure to stop at the Pizzeria des Battures to enjoy a wood-fired pizza or an ice cream with a view of the river.
The next day, we stop at Saint-André-de-Kamouraska to take a short hike between the river and the mountains.
A jewel on the Côte-de-Beaupré
Have you ever visited Canyon Sainte-Anne ? With its 74-meter drop and its canyon dug 1.2 billion years ago, it is a true jewel on the Côte-de-Beaupré.
Celebrating 50 years of access to its site this summer, the site has attracted more than 5 million visitors since its opening,
Located in Saint-Joachim, the site benefits from access to an impressive torrent and enjoys a breathtaking rocky escarpment, causing turbulence in the waters, the sound and visual spectacle of which is exceptional.
For the older (and more daring) ones, the AirCanyon experience is a must (the author of these lines tested it and loved it). This unique ride flies back and forth over the river and the waterfall at a speed of up to 50 km/h.
Two gourmet stops on the road:
- We stock up on nuts in bulk and local products at the friendly Gramme grocery store in Beaupré.
- We enjoy soft ice cream with real berries at Sammy's in Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré.
Travel along the Chemin du Roy
Is the day gray? All in the car to rediscover the attractions of the Quebec-Portneuf section of the timeless Chemin du Roy. Bordering the Saint-Laurent River, this road (which is the first land route connecting Quebec and Montreal) invites you to take your time.
Have you heard of the Vieux Chemin? Lined with old houses, this picturesque section of Chemin du Roy in Cap-Santé was called “the most beautiful village street in Canada” by The Globe and Mail newspaper.
On our route, several gourmet shops tickle the taste buds. For lunch, we stretch our legs in the Marais-Léon-Provancher nature reserve , which offers trails and picnic tables on its site.
Another stop is at the Grondines banal mill . Built in 1674, it is the oldest windmill in Quebec. On site, you will discover its dual purpose, as it was both a flour mill and a maritime signal station.
Some finds for the road:
Is the weather chilly? Let's bring our knits! The Petit Bateau collection offers beautiful new items for little ones (perfect for visiting the maritime museum!)
Long trip? Grab an Ooly travel craft set or a magnetic book from the Janod collection (one of the most popular).
Another tip to keep little gourmands entertained is to prepare snacks in bulk: nuts, crackers, dried fruit, cheese, etc. Mix them ina snack bag and that's it!
Have a nice getaway!
Cover photo credits, Maritime Museum and Canyon: Annie Lafrance
