Enjoy nature
Visit beautiful gardens
Do you like horticulture? In that case, let’s discover the most beautiful gardens in eastern Quebec. Every year, Groupe Voyages Québec offers this three-day tour, accompanied by horticultural journalist Larry Hodgson. This excellent communicator and popularizer helps us appreciate the beauties of the Jardin de la petite école, the Reford Gardens and the Edmundston Botanical Garden, among others. We also stop in a few private gardens, whose owners share their passions and tips with us. Larry Hodgson also accompanies five other similar circuits: Gardens of the Maritimes, of Toronto and Niagara, of Chicago, of New England, as well as the Longwood gardens, in Pennsylvania.
Info: Starting at $549/ pers. (double occupancy), including bus transportation, 2 nights and 7 meals; 1-800-463-1598 , gvq.ca.
The beauties of Mingan
One of the most beautiful landscapes in Quebec, Parc national de l’Archipel-de-Mingan is located along the north shore of the St. Lawrence, between Anticosti and the Middle North Shore. This insular territory includes some twenty islands and a thousand islets, renowned for their geological formations, their unusual fauna and flora. It can be reached from Havre-Saint-Pierre or Longue-Pointe-de-Mingan, aboard zodiacs or larger boats. The enchantment begins as soon as you embark, as many seabirds, minke whales and seals often adorn the crossing. On each island, Parks Canada guides help us appreciate the uniqueness of this ecosystem, such as its stunning, oddly shaped limestone monoliths. You can spend one or a few nights there, camping is authorized on several of them. This summer, we’re taking the opportunity to try out the new Otentik tents on Île Quarry (between tent and rustic cabin; $120/night).
Info: Transportation: between $50 and $80, depending on the island and the route chosen. Parks Canada entrance fees: $5.80/pers; 418-538-3285, pc.gc.ca , tourismeduplessis.com .
Fishing story
If, for us, holidays rhyme with days spent on the water, we will be happy to take advantage of the new fishing packages offered at the Parc national des Grands-Jardins. Since these combine lodging, access rights and the boat, it is even easier to fish during the day, while staying in one of the cabins or rustic camps. The fish does not bite to our liking? We start walking on the trails: we will see typical tundra vegetation, perhaps also originals, very numerous in this park.
Info: Family package (starting July 15): starting at $409 for 3 days for 2 adults and 2 children under 18; 1-800-665-6527, sepaq.com .
We dream big: Memories of Africa
Who hasn’t dreamed of living their own version of the famous film against the backdrop of the magnificent landscapes of Kenya, known for its great animal diversity, especially in the Masaai Mara reserve, where you can see elephants? , buffaloes, lions, leopards and rhinos. After being woken up by the cries of baboons, here we are in the savannah where, thanks to the flair of the guides, we can surprise magical scenes: a family of elephants protecting their young, bickering lion cubs, hyenas the lookout or parades of giraffes and zebras. You can also visit villages inhabited by the Masais.
Info: For such a trip, it is best to do business with specialized companies, which include various safaris and dream lodges in the heart of the savannah (e.g.: In the land of the lion king, from Unik Tours, from $4,116/pers., flight not included; uniktour.com .) Info: magicalkenya.com
Move outdoors
Abitibi by canoe
Abitibi means “where the waters part”. You can paddle at this exact spot thanks to the new course Le Partage, offered at Parc d’Aiguebelle. Indeed, this park, renowned for its cliffs and geological formations, encompasses two large fault lakes, Lac Lahaie and Lac Sault. The park team thought of us and spared us the portage between the two lakes. After paddling on Lac Sault, which is 3 km long, all you have to do is walk 1 km to get to Lac Lahaie, where other canoes are waiting for us. At Lac Lahaie, the Traverse trail (3.2 km) is worth the detour: you can cross a suspended footbridge and admire the volcanic rock cliffs sculpted by the passage of glaciers. To take full advantage of the park, the ideal is to spend one or two nights there, in the rustic camps.
Info: $62/night, plus access to the park; Canoe rental: $37.75; sepaq.com or tourisme-abitibi-temiscamingue.org .
Unleash your crazy all over the place
Disc golf is a kind of hybrid between frisbee and golf, where you have to throw a disc at targets, according to a course of 9 or 18 holes. One of the best courses is at Camp Fortune in the Gatineau Hills, 15 minutes from Ottawa. As the 18-hole course offers major challenges, to play as a family, it is better to fall back on the 9-hole course, whose targets are closer together and within reach of the little ones. If we have any energy left, we complete our day by letting off steam on the mountain bike trails (especially for experienced cyclists) or on the three aerial courses, one of which is specially designed for children.
Info: Disc-golf: $5.95/pers., including discs; aerial park: $17 (children course) to $35 (adult course); campfortune.com .
Gaspésie by bike
Want to take up a sporting challenge? Why not go pedaling the Tour de la Gaspésie, which begins its second edition on July 6? This year, the route takes in the Matapédia Valley and the south side of the Gaspé Peninsula, along Chaleur Bay. Along the route, cliffs, shores and beaches, bucolic villages, coasts and mountains, waves and spray follow one another… Of course, everyone pedals at their own pace and accompanying vehicles make it possible to cut short any glitch. Every evening, we meet at the camp to share hearty dinners with regional flavors, followed by joyful and lively evenings. Like all-inclusive vacations, the packages include seven nights, meals, snacks, entertainment, and technical and medical support.
Info: From July 6 to 13; $1,000/pers. (camping) up to $2,500/pers. (gîte, single room); registration: tdlg.qc.ca .
Long live the flying bike
If you really want to get out of the ordinary, you will be served with the flying bike, a unique activity in Canada offered at Diable Vert, in Glen Sutton. As our bikes are attached to a 1 km cable that follows the slope of the mountain, it often happens that we find ourselves pedaling in the air, several meters above the ground, flying over a pond, cliffs or the treetops. Superb and unusual views! We can also kayak or walk the many trails, with our dog, if we wish. On full moon evenings, we also organize beautiful kayaking trips, the ideal prelude to a night camping or in a refuge among the trees (from $30 to $180/night, depending on the option chosen).
Info: Flying Bike: $49/ad., weekends; 450-538 5639