City and History:

Nestled in the heart of the province of Québec in Canada, lies a city that blends history, charm, and a touch of European style—Québec City. Often hailed as ‘The Paris of North America', its cobbled streets wind through a storybook landscape, lined with elegant shops and lively market squares. During the winter months this Canadian gem truly shines. Québec City transforms into a three-dimensional fairy tale with ice hotels, festivals, and traditional winter activities. Need ideas for winter adventures to try in Québec City? Read on!

At its center stands the iconic Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, a castle-like hotel that presides over the city's old town. Within its walls, guests can partake in the famous high tea, complete with costumed characters from history. Just steps away lies the frozen beauty of Bassin Louise, a 19th Century update to the Port of Québec and the perfect location for an afternoon of ice fishing. A short drive on is the mountain region of Charlevoix, a bastion for winter adventures to suit all types of visitors.

Adventure:

For those seeking thrills amidst the frosty landscape, Québec City offers a variety of adventures. From the serene quiet of ice fishing to the excitement of ice canoeing, there's no shortage of activities to indulge in.

Ice canoeing, a quintessentially Québec tradition, has evolved from a means of transportation to a competitive sport. The Teams can be found racing across the half-frozen Saint Lawrence River, mastering both the art of synchronized paddling and ice-crossing maneuvers. It's a test of skill and teamwork offers participants a taste of the region's cultural heritage. The Parc National de la Jacques-Cartier is only 30 minutes outside of Québec City.

For more daring souls craving a rush of speed, day-trippers from Québec City can head to the Le Massif in the Charlevoix region to join sledging enthusiasts and challenge themselves on a five-mile sledging track. Chances may even arise to race against local Olympians for an unforgettable experience.

Food and Culture:

No visit to Québec City would be complete without taking time to explore the regions palatable culture; varied cuisine from traditional dishes to modern global inspirations. Indulge in a culinary journey at La Tanière, a gourmet restaurant tucked away in an old warehouse. Here, Chef François-Emmanuel Nicol crafts exquisite dishes using locally sourced ingredients, including freshly caught fish from the nearby river.

And for a taste of traditional Québecois fare, venture into the heart of Old Québec and discover La Bûche. This cozy restaurant offers a warm welcome and hearty portions, inviting guests to feast on classic dishes like tourtière and poutine.

Outside the city and back in the mountains of Charlevoix amongst picturesque villages and artistic communities, visitors can embark on another unique culinary experience, heli-picnicking—offering a perfect blend of adventure and relaxation.

Conclusion:

Québec City, with its old-world feel, elevated cultural experiences, and wintry landscapes, captivates visitors with the tapestry of exploration options on offer. Whether strolling historic streets, embarking on adrenaline-fueled adventures, or indulging in gourmet delights, every moment in this magical city promises to be unforgettable. So pack your bags, embrace the chill in the air, and immerse yourself in the splendor of Québec City's winter enchantment.

Trip Planner

Tourism Links

• Quebec City Tourism
• FACEBOOK: @Quebeccite 
• INSTAGRAM: @QuebecCite
• HASHTAGS: #Quebeccite #quebeccity

Hotels

• Le Capitole Hôtel
• Hôtel de Glace
• Hôtel Baie-Saint-Paul
• Fairmont Le Château Frontenac

Places to Visit, Things to Do

• Au 1884
• Tuque & Bicycle expériences
• Village Nordik (ice fishing)
• Le Massif de Charlevoix (skiing, sledding etc.)
• Mont Sainte-Anne (skiing etc.)
• Le Carnaval de Québec
• Canot à Glace Expérience
• Héli Charlevoix

Restaurants and Bars

• Groupe La Tanière
• Restaurant La Bûche

The post Winter Adventures in Québec City appeared first on Hazeadventure.

Parc Omega

Number one is Parc Omega in the Outaouais region. And Parc Omega is essentially just a tremendous park with countless animal species. Kids typically love to visit zoos and parks to see what different wildlife they can observe and learn about. But at the Parc Omega, things are a little different.

Parc Omega is a very large, open space that covers lots of acres. And you sort of go on a safari by driving through the park in your own vehicle. Doing this safari-type experience was a first for my kids and let me tell you, they were engaged the entire time as animals were coming straight up to the car.

Omega Park has around 400 animals from North America including animals like deer and caribou. You’ll truly be surprised at how large these animals are and how close you get to them. Understandably, the park doesn't allow you to leave your vehicle. But in all honesty, you wouldn’t want to.

Another bonus of Parc Omega that puts it up there as one of our favorite spots in Québec is the park’s food and lodging. On one of the evenings, we stayed in the Wolf and Bear suite. It was basically a chalet-style house with your own private animal viewing area that allows you to see wolves and bears right from your bedroom. 

There was also the chance to stay in a tipi-style, which is another cool interactive experience. You will need to take all your equipment over to the tipi in a wagon. But once you’re there, you’ll get to make fires to keep warm, and you’ll be greeted by deer when you wake up in the morning. 

Family Hiking in Québec

The second of our favorite family activities in Québec is a general one. But it's hiking and exploring parks throughout the area. When in Québec, we visited a few different parks. However, our favorite was definitely Mont-Tremblant National Park in the Laurentians. That’s mainly thanks to the park’s views and the various waterways that are dotted throughout the area.

My family really loves water. So, seeing pristine lakes everywhere we looked was truly a highlight of our trip. The forest at Mont-Tremblant also felt very old and peaceful. And it was a fantastic experience being able to appreciate the old trees and all the foliage. 

While hiking through the park, we did get to see some waterfalls, creeks, and streams. And our kids learned all about different tree species and how to differentiate them from one another. 

For one of the hikes, we even went on a guided tour with a company called D-tour, which is something we’d never actually done before. The guided hike was fantastic. So, that is something I highly recommend as we learned so much about the Canadian Shield, the rock formations in Québec, and what actually caused the formations in the first place.

ChocoMotive, Montebello

Now, this one wasn’t my top activity. But it definitely was for my kids. And that’s the ChocoMotive in Montebello. 

The ChocoMotive made it onto our top five simply because it was really engaging for the kids. We learned a lot about chocolate and the science behind it. And we not only got to understand what to look for when eating chocolate. But my kids also got a hands-on experience by making their own chocolate with the help of chocolate molds. 

Apple Picking in Québec

Number four on my list of favorite family activities in Québec is apple picking, as I’ve always had a deep appreciation of orchards and fruit trees. Before our trip to Québec, I’d never actually gone to an apple orchard before. So it was so fun seeing trees that were loaded with fruit from top to bottom. Note that this activity can only be done at harvest, in the fall.

We spent our day at the orchard picking Macintosh apples. And it was a really unique experience for our kids as they got to inspect the apples and choose which ones they were going to pick. 

The food on our Québec trip overall was tremendous. But the picnic we had in the orchard was by far one of our most memorable meals. The picnic experience includes a picnic basket with foods like salmon, salads, bread, and, of course, different items that the orchard made from the its very own apples.

It was great to show the kids the evolution of the apples, from their rawest form on the trees to all the amazing things that we can make with them. 

Sentier des cimes

Up fifth on our favorite family activities in Québec list is the Sentier des cimes. The Sentier des cimes was once a fish hatchery in the Laurentians region. However, today, it has been completely transformed into a magnificent boardwalk that winds its way through the treetops.

Partway through the boardwalk, you’ll also come across a tower that gives you incredible views of the area and the sunset. During our time at Sentier des cimes, we got to witness the very first fall sunset making its way down past the bright fall foliage—a memory we won’t ever forget. 

Plus, as Sentier des cimes is so accessible, it’s even suitable for wheelchair users, the elderly, and young kids. So definitely check it out if you want some incredible views of the entire Laurentians region.

Bonus Activites

I know I said I was only going to do five. But this area has so many things to offer that it’s hard to narrow it down to just a handful. 

Canoeing and Stand-up Paddle Boarding

Everyone knows that when my family visits a new place, water sports are at the top of our activity list. And while visiting Québec, we got involved with canoeing and stand up paddle boarding. 

Canoeing, in particular, was really nice as we could just rent a canoe and navigate the water as we pleased. So, its ease, convenience, and accessibility just made the canoeing experience even better. 

Stand-up paddle boarding was also fun, as although Nick and I have spent countless hours on stand-up paddle boards, our son, Tucker, had not. We got to watch Tucker push himself and gain his confidence on the board. And by the end of it, he had mastered his technique and was truly enjoying the experience. 

Biking in Québec

Biking is another of our favorite autumn activities in Québec, as the Laurentians is a big biking region. Parker, my daughter, has really got into biking recently. So, our trip to Québec was our first trip where she got to take her own bike and fully join in on the adventure. 

As a parent watching her find her independence and her freedom was something I’ll remember for a lifetime.

Clothing: Cotopaxi Fuego Down Kids jacket, Cotopaxi Teca Calido Reversable Kids Jacket,  Cotopaxi Fuego Hooded Down Jacket, Cotopaxi Trico Hybrid Women's jacket, Cotopaxi Trico Hybrid Women’s Jacket, Cotopaxi Do Good Kid's Trucker Hat
Bikes:  E-Bikes Powered by Bosch – Yuba Spicy Curry e-Bike, Riese & Muller e-Bike
Sunglasses: Wiley X

Follow our Adventures and Subscribe

Don’t forget to check out our YouTube channel, Great Family Adventure, and keep an eye out for more awesome videos we’ll be publishing shortly.

If you enjoyed this article and are hungry for more family adventure tips, tricks, reviews, and adventures, head on over to the Great Family Adventure YouTube channel and feel free to sign up for our Hazeadventure.com newsletter.

The post Top 5 Family Activities in Québec appeared first on Hazeadventure.

If you’ve never been been to Québec, I can tell you confidently that it really does have something for everyone—because it has lots of everything. It has big and energetic cities, beautiful little villages, stunning coastline, awesome food, and cool microbreweries. But one thing that it has more than anything else, is pristine wilderness.

As big as the state of California, but with a population of only a few thousand, Eeyou Istchee Baie-James is one of the most untouched and pristine lands in the world. For the outdoors lover, it's a paradise with countless rivers and lakes to explore, and an endless forest that's teeming with life.

Obviously too big to explore in a single trip, we made our way to the Chibougamau Marina on Lake Chibougamau, a beautiful and full-service lodge that was ideally situated as a base for our trip and a great place to unwind from the long drive. The plan for the first day was to launch directly from the marina and explore the lake by kayak. Joining me for the paddle (and to ensure I didn’t get lost) was Audrey Perreault from the local tourism board. Now Audrey really must have drawn the short straw, because not only was she stuck with me for the day, but she's gotta keep up paddling herself and her little one, who was expected in only a few short months. The fact that she joined me is a testament to how the outdoors is more than just a feature of the region–it’s a way of life.

As we paddled down Lake Chibougamau, the sense of remoteness grew and the depth of the wilderness really came into focus. It’s amazing to think about how many opportunities there are for adventure in this area. There are literally thousands of other equally remote and unique rivers and lakes that we could have chosen to paddle–this one just made sense because we were staying at the marina.

Although there is a lot more water to explore on Lake Chibougamau, I was really interested in learning more about local Cree culture, as they represent the largest group of First Nations in Canada. And so I made the short drive to the community of Oujé-Bougoumou, which translated means “the place where people gather.” The Oujé-Bougoumou Cree have a very long history in the region but the village itself is quite new. After having been displaced and relocated repeatedly in the twentieth century due to mining activities, the village was completely rebuilt in the nineties. One of the key developments within the community is the Cree Cultural Institute. This beautiful building is also a museum, archive center, library and cultural center, and a place for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous to learn about the Cree culture. I am so thankful I had the opportunity to visit it.

Excited to see and learn even more about Cree culture, I headed a few miles out of town into the bush to a place called Nuuhchimi Wiinuu Cree Cultural Tours. Here, Ann and David Bosum welcome guests year-round to share their Cree culture. The couple have built a variety of traditional dwellings that showcase how the Cree people have lived for countless years. And which guests may choose to spend the night in for the full effect.

I found David Bosum carving away down by the water. It was cool to see that what he was making a paddle. For me, the paddle is unlike any other piece of paddling gear. It’s your connection between hand and water, and in some cases, the incredible power of Mother Nature. Although the paddles that David makes are designed to be works of art in rather than for everyday paddling, they are definitely symbolic of the importance that paddling and the outdoors have within the Cree culture.

As my time in the Eeyou-Istchee-Baie-James region came to its end, I had to admit that I really didn't know what to expect from this trip. The truth of the matter is that even though the highway that leads here is in great condition, you're still heading off the beaten path. There isn't a ton of information or imagery out there to help set your expectations. In the end, however, that's exactly what made this trip such a treat. It’s like sitting down to watch a movie that you know absolutely nothing about, only to discover that it's one of the best movies you've ever seen.

I love surprises, and I love learning, and this trip provided both with flying colors. I'm very much looking forward to exploring more of this wild and wonderful region.

Special Thanks To:

Aventure Écotourisme Québec | Tourisme Eeyou Istchee Baie-James

The post Kayaking and Cree Culture in Eeyou-Itschee-Baie-James, Québec appeared first on Hazeadventure.

Next up on my adventures through Québec: Québec Authentique. Here I got to explore one of the least-well-known national parks in the province, as well as check out a really cool urban paddling city that's considered by many to be a distillation of the best that Québec has to offer. Québec Authentique boasts a beautiful and wide-open landscape that offers incredible access to the natural world through its two national parks, 15 regional parks, and three wildlife reserves. And the postcard beauty is anything but static, as the area prides itself on having a vibrant community that shares an intimate connection with the outdoors. Located on the north shore of the St Lawrence River, between Québec's two urban hubs of Québec City and Montréal, Québec Authentique is a blending of the province's beautiful Lanaudière and Mauricie regions.

To kickstart my adventures, I found myself in the province's largest, oldest, and probably most-well-known national park, Mont-Tremblant National Park. Although I've spent a fair amount of time in the park over the years, this particular area is new to me. The Mont-Tremblant Park that I know is very close to Mont-Tremblant resort and it's beautiful, but pretty busy because it's so close to Montréal.

Only an hour further than Mont-Tremblant, you’ll suddenly feel much more remote. While there are not many people here there is very thick wilderness. I met up with Ben Peterson from Au Canot Volant, who helped show me around join me on a trip down the Assomption River.

Although I'd never been to this part of Québec before, I'd heard plenty about the Assomption. It's a well-known paddling route, and at over 120 miles in length it's one of the most important rivers in the Lanaudière region. From the moment you leave the launch you feel as though you've left civilization behind and the only connections that matter are the connections you make with nature and those you're traveling with. It really is a classic wilderness river.

As amazing as it was to dive into the wilderness and escape the real world for a while, paddling is more than a way to escape. Paddling can play a special role in our day-to-day lives–and in urban environments. A perfect example of this is Maikan Aventure, an adventure travel company found in the city of Trois-Rivières.

Although I love wilderness paddling trips there's something really cool about urban paddling, especially in a place like Trois-Rivières that has such an active paddling scene. It's fun to see other people enjoy the river so much, and really neat to be able to pull over at a riverside restaurant. You also get such a unique perspective of things from the water that you simply can't get from the land.

After a quick lunch stop, my paddling partner Alex Legrow of Maikan Aventure and I headed further upstream to a section of the Saint-Maurice River that has some fast flowing water, and which leads to a very special place called the Devil’s Fountain. The Devil’s Fountain is found near the remnants of the ironworks in Trois-Rivières, and it’s interesting due to the fact that you can literally light the water on fire, thanks in large part to methane emissions coming out of the water.

I had a really enjoyable day paddling with Alex through the heart of Trois-Rivières. Before I knew it the sun was quickly dropping towards the horizon, but I had one more place to check out. Word has it that Lac Saint-Pierre is one of the best spots in Québec to watch the sunset…and I'm a sucker for a good sunset. Sunsets are like waterfalls and lighthouses, it doesn't matter how many you see, it's always cool.

Paddling away the last hour of light was a great opportunity for me to reflect on the past few days in Lanaudière and Mauricie. The trip had been amazing and was a real reminder of how many different types of experiences you can have with a paddle in your hand. There's no such thing as the “best experience” – all that matters is having an experience. That just means getting out there, whenever you can, in whatever craft you can, wherever you can.

Special Thanks To:

Aventure Écotourisme Québec | Sépaq | Québec Authentique Lanaudière & Mauricie

The post Sea Kayaking and Canoeing Québec Authentique appeared first on Hazeadventure.

Sandwiched between Canada's capital city of Ottawa and the never-sleepy city of Montréal, the Laurentians (known as les Laurentides by French Canadians) takes it's name from the chain of mountains that run through it. The Laurentians is a wilderness paradise with beautiful rolling hills, countless lakes, and wild rivers. The region features endless opportunities for outdoor adventure along and is one of Canada's top adventure sport destinations.

Although this is arguably the most accessible region of Québec, it's also a land with an amazing amount of ecological diversity and wide open spaces. Smack dab in the center of the region, Mont-Tremblant is a resort town that draws countless visitors. And for good reason! It's a beautiful and lively place. Although it's probably the most popular destination in the Laurentians, there are so many other places worth exploring in the area.

With this in mind and looking to get off the beaten track a bit, my adventures began at Lac Poisson-Blanc—a regional park dotted with a hundred islands offering wild campsites and incredible canoe and kayak camping. To show me around, I'm met up with Fabienne Herve, a local paddler who loves exploring the world by kayak as much as I do.

Although Lac Poisson-Blanc is definitely a beautiful lake, it's beauty isn't what makes it unique, because the Laurentians are packed with gorgeous lakes and rivers. What's so awesome about it is how accessible they've made it by offering canoe, kayak, or paddle board rentals onsite. There is even the option to have your luggage delivered to and from your campsite! 20 years ago I would have scoffed at this option, but now that age has delivered an aching back, it’s a real treat to pull up to camp and have all my gear already onsite.

After an absolutely amazing day on the water, it only got more beautiful as the sun began to set. In my mind, the only thing better than a good day of paddling is finishing a good day of paddling with a big meal and camping on an island.

Although Fabienne and I had a beautiful time on Lac Poisson-Blanc, one of the thing the Laurentians is well known for is having great whitewater. It was only fitting that next on my list was a trip to the Rouge River. The Rouge River is one of the most popular whitewater rivers in eastern Canada and home to New World Rafting, a whitewater rafting company which has been running both high and low adventure trips on the Rouge for 38 years.

New World is really proud of the experience and passion of their guides–and rightly so! Many of these guides are lifers who love nothing more than sharing the river experience with people. Often these guides travel around the world to work on the best rivers, which ultimately brings them back to the Rouge every spring and summer.

I met up with Derek Klapka, a lifelong river guide and kayaker who knows the river as well as anyone. As Derek and I spent the day paddling through the Rouge’s high volume rapids, it became obvious that Derek, like me, loves being on the water. So much so that we spent over 7 hours on a section that usually takes only 1.5 hours to paddle because we kept running back up to run rapids over and over again thanks in large part to great water levels.

After a great day back on the Rouge, it was hard to get in my truck and head off to my next destination. But more adventures await me in Québec!

Special Thanks To:

Aventure Écotourisme Québec | Sépaq | Tourisme Laurentides

The post Sea Kayaking and Whitewater Kayaking in les Laurentides, Québec appeared first on Hazeadventure.

Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean is located in the middle of Québec and it's the third largest region of the province. With three national parks, and a marine park within its boundaries, it's no surprise that adventure tourism and nature are defining features of the area. It's a rugged and inspiring land that features a lake so big that it feels like an ocean, one of the longest and most dramatic fjords in the world and some of the best whitewater rivers that you'll find anywhere. 

To begin my adventure, I headed to fjord en Kayak in l’Anse-Saint-Jean, the premier kayak company in the area, to meet up with one of their guides, Mathieu Boulanger-Messier, who knows the waters of the fjord as well as anyone. At just over 100-kilometers long, the Saugnenay fjord is one of the longest in the world and is world-renowned, making it an ideal spot for sea kayakers.

As we paddled, we passed through both the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park–which was created to protect the beluga whales–and Saguenay National Park, which was created to protect the towering cliffs of the fjord. It's easy to see why the region is often referred to as the land of giants–everything about this landscape is huge and there isn't a better way to get a real sense of the size, than paddling along the base of the cliffs. They’re beautiful and impressive to look at from shore but looking up from below, it's hard not to feel a little overwhelmed and a little insignificant.

While kayaking has always been one of my favorite ways to explore a place, it has one obvious disadvantage: you just can't cover distance quickly. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the time to paddle the whole stretch and so I met up with Sophie Drolet, a captain for Voile Mercator, a company that offers sailing lessons and vacations through the Saguenay fjord. Our mission was to reach the most famous and dramatic bay on the Saguenay River, La Baie-Éternité.

Our trip started slowly as the light winds pushed the boat through the waters slowly and smoothly. It wasn’t long, however, before a weather system approaches. As the wind picked up, the sunny skies were replaced by thick clouds and a fine mist. Right away, the boat jumped to life and then, as if on cue, the wind died down as we reached a narrow bay surrounded by the highest cliffs of the fjord. We reached La Baie-Éternité, otherwise known as Eternity Bay, the crown jewel of Saguenay National Park.

It was amazing how quickly the excitement of the run down the fjord was replaced by the calm of the bay. It really is a magical place and the clouds and mists that hovered around the mountains gave it all a surreal “Lord of the Rings”-like feel. I'll be honest, I wasn't expecting this sailing trip to be one of the highlights of my summer and boy was I wrong.

Following the Saguenay River upstream, we left the fjord behind and made our way towards the Lac-Saint-Jean region. The Lac-Saint-Jean region boasts some of the most beautiful rivers that you'll find anywhere, making it an outdoor and whitewater paradise. I was excited to get my feet wet in some of the rapids, so I met up with Sheril Gravel, co-founder of the Pink Water Community—a nonprofit organization who's main objective is to encourage women to participate in whitewater activities.

If there's one thing I've learned in all my years of whitewater kayaking it's that as amazing as it is to push your own limits, there's nothing more personally satisfying than helping someone else reach their goals or push themselves do to something they never thought they could. I'm sure that's one of the things that made my day with Sheril so special. We both share that passion for pushing and inspiring others to try new things and take advantage of, and take care of, the incredible natural playgrounds that surround us.

My time spent in Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean was further proof that paddling is only partly about the places you go and the things you see–it's also about the wonderful people you meet along the way.

Special Thanks To:

Aventure Écotourisme Québec | Tourisme Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean

The post Sea Kayaking and Sailing in Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, Québec appeared first on Hazeadventure.

The Québec region stole my heart. It really is unlike any other city in North America. Set on the banks of the St Lawrence River, the ‘Old Town’ is in fact a UNESCO World Heritage site whose cobblestone streets and historic buildings sometimes make it feel more like Europe than Canada. What makes the area even cooler is how much there is to do close by. 

Jacques-Cartier National Park

Only 30 minutes outside of Québec City, in Parc National de la Jacques-Cartier in the Laurentian Mountains, you'll find one of the most beautiful glacial valleys in the world. It's one of those special places that's surprisingly close to civilization but feels like you're in the middle of nowhere. Since the middle of nowhere is one of my favorite places to be, I was pretty excited about the adventure ahead.

To show me around the park, I met up with Cath Simard, a local photographer who has spent countless hours hiking and shooting in the park. This, however, was to be her first trip through the park by kayak. As we poured over maps to come up with a plan, I could tell that she was looking forward to this as much as I was.

The weather report was’t looking very good, and our first day in Parc National de la Jacques-Cartier started with some heavy rain. At first I was disappointed, as I thought it would have been awesome to see this place with bluebird skies. In the end, however, I wouldn’t have traded the weather for anything–especially given that we were about to paddle in one of the most gorgeous National Parks in the world, and we had the river to ourselves thanks in large part to the rain.

Québec City

I could easily have spent a week exploring Parc National de la Jacques-Cartier. But I'd also been looking forward to checking out Québec City itself, and what better time to do it than when I had a personal tour guide in Cath. Standing on the cobblestone streets of Old Québec, it was hard to believe we were a mere 30 minutes from where we has just been paddling. The transition is definitely a bit of a shock to the system but it's a welcome one. It is an absolutely beautiful city and the energy was amazing.

I can say unequivocally that Québec City lives up to the hype. The city is so rich with history and full of so much great energy. And then, only a stone's throw away, you have Parc National de la Jacques-Cartier which is, hands down, one of the most beautiful places that I've ever been.

My time in the Québec region was an incredible adventure. I made wonderful new friends and I can't wait to go back to the Jacques Cartier River.

Special Thanks To:

Aventure Écotourisme Québec | Sépaq | Québec City Tourism

The post Sea Kayaking Jacques-Cartier National Park in Québec City appeared first on Hazeadventure.

When planning things out for the Paddle Tales series, there were lots of places in Québec that I was excited to visit. There wasn't anywhere I wanted to check out more, however, than the small group of islands that sit like lone ducks in the middle of the Gulf of the Saint Lawrence: Québec's îles de la Madeleine, also known as the Magdalen Islands.

This is a place with endless sand beaches, spectacular sea caves, and a charming small-town vibe. Sculpted by the wind and sea, the islands really are spectacular. With 200 miles of pristine beaches, green rolling hills, and dramatic cliffs along a lot of the coastline. It's the kind of place where there's an obvious balance between nature and the population, which is only 15,000 for the whole region.

To get oriented, I headed to Aerosport Carrefour, a really cool outdoor shop and outfitter that offers kite boarding, stand up paddling, and sea kayaking trips. I met up with Elie-Anne Arseneau who works in the shop and leads paddling trips. We launched our kayaks and hit the water in one of the sheltered bays only a few minutes from the shop. These bays can accommodate paddlers of any level and offered me a beautiful first taste of the Magdalen coast.

After exploring the bay, Elie-Anne and I made the move to the outer exposed coast of the island to a place called La Belle-Anse. This area is known for having the region's most dramatic coastline, including some incredible sea caves to explore. I'd looked at photos and videos of the area before arriving in Les îles, but as always seems to be the case, it just didn’t do it justice. I've had the great fortune to paddle in stunning places around the world but this coastline was unlike anything I'd ever experienced. Hands down, it was one of the coolest places ever that I've ever explored.

The next day, still buzzing from my time sea kayaking with Elie, I made the trip to the far end of the Magdalen Islands to an Inn called La Salicorne. This part of the Archipelago gets much less traffic than the main island and definitely has a more remote feel to it. Although the Magdalen Islands has around 200 miles of gorgeous beach, the nearby Old-Harry Beach is considered one of the best surf beaches in the region – and one of the 10 most beautiful beaches in the world according to National Geographic. I loaded up my kayak and met up with Annabelle and Michael, two guides from La Salicorne who might actually love playing in the water more than I do.

We caught a couple of small waves, however the break wasn’t truly working as it normally does, so Michael and Annabelle decided they needed to show me something different. With that, they handed over the thickest wetsuit I've ever put on and told me we’d be going for a swim. I'll be honest, the whole idea of leaving my kayak behind in order to go swimming isn't something I would normally do—I like being in my kayak and not out of my kayak—but that's exactly what made it so fun.

Making our way through the rough water was slow work, but surprisingly easy to do with all the flotation that the wetsuit and life jacket provided. Michael and Annabelle made it look easy. They were like a couple of seals on the rocks while I felt like a big sea cow! As we came around the next cliff, some deeper and darker caves appeared before us. Once again, I followed my guides despite my better judgment and ended up having one of the coolest experiences I’d had in a long time.

Les Îles de la Madeleine was a place that I’d been wanting to visit for a long time. And so, my expectations were very high. To say that my expectations were simply met would be a huge understatement. Les Îles de la Madeleine blew my expectations out of the water! Everything about this experience was incredible.

I can't wait to go back and share the experience with my family.

Special Thanks To:

Aventure Écotourisme Québec | Tourisme Îles de la Madeleine | Le Québec maritime

The post Sea Kayaking Îles de la Madeleine, Québec appeared first on Hazeadventure.

A seemingly boundless area that's known for its rugged beauty and the diversity of its wildlife, Québec’s Côte-Nord region boasts 800 miles of coastline, thousands of islands and countless pristine rivers, making it a wild and wonderful paddling destination.

The Côte-Nord Region is located in Eastern Québec. Stretching along the Saint Lawrence from Tadoussac to Blanc-Sablon at the Labrador border, the area has countless natural treasures to discover. It's considered by many, to be the unpolished jewel of the province.

Kicking off my time in the region, I met up with Jean-Francois of Noryak, an accomplished whitewater paddler and sea kayaker, who has spent almost two decades exploring and guiding in the area.

Our adventure began on Quarry Island in Mingan National Park. We got up early, and made the short hike across the island, so that I could get my first look at the icons that attract adventure travelers from around the world: the stunning limestone monoliths. Walking around the monoliths, I felt like I was on another planet! It really is amazing to think that Mother Nature has spent thousands of years sculpting these beautiful shapes with her erosive chisel.

From the monolith gardens, we headed over to Île aux Perroquets—or Parrot Island—a tiny island with a storied history that serves as a gateway to the western arm of the Mingan Archipelago. Perhaps one of the coolest things about this island was the birds that were everywhere. And not just any birds, but birds you don't really find many places in the world…puffins! While we paddled along the coast the puffins would dive from their nests high up on the cliffs and bomb past us in our sea kayaks. It was an unforgettable experience.

When it comes to sea kayaking, I've always loved paddling exposed coastlines with rough water and surf, and there's nothing I enjoy more than picking my way through a rock garden, or a maze of mangroves. Now, however, I can add a new favorite activity to my list: monolith paddling. It's pretty awesome to weave your way through the carved limestone towers, exploring through shallow and narrow channels, and getting into places that would be virtually impossible to reach in any other way.

Of course, as my time with Jane-Anne Cormier of Les Vagues reminded me, there's lots of different ways to experience the magic of paddling. Jane-Anne and I explored one of the many rivers that drops into the Gulf of the Saint Lawrence by stand up paddleboard. As we paddled down the coast, it became obvious why Jane-Anne returned to Côte-Nord after ten years living in Montreal–the rugged coastline and lush forest here provides the perfect backdrop for exploring on a paddleboard.

On our final day, as I struggled with the idea of having to leave, my spirits are lifted as I got to meet up with Jean-Francois again. We decided to take our sea kayaks to the rapids that are found only a few hundred yards from the Noryak base, where the Romaine River drops into the Saint Lawrence. I really can't think of a better way to end my trip to Québec's Côte-Nord than with a good, old fashioned, play session. After all, the area is without a doubt one of the world's most incredible outdoor playgrounds. I like to think of kayaks as being nothing more than toys for big kids to take advantage of the natural world.

As with any great trip, the end always comes too soon. I'm sad to leave, but incredibly thankful for the experience I've had in this wild and wonderful region known as the Côte-Nord.

Special Thanks To:

Aventure Écotourisme Québec | Tourisme Côte-Nord | Le Québec maritime

The post Sea Kayaking and Stand Up Paddling Côte-Nord, Québec appeared first on Hazeadventure.

Québec is a big place. Not only is it the biggest province in Canada, but to put it in perspective, it's almost three times the size of France or the state of Texas. On top of this, Québec is blessed with a whopping 3% of the world's fresh water, has more than half a million lakes, and has one of the world's largest rivers flowing through its interior—the St. Lawrence River.

On the southern shore of the St. Lawrence River, where its fresh water meets the saltwater of the Atlantic, you'll find the Bas-Saint-Laurent region of Québec. It's a place that many people drive through on their way to Gaspésie without even knowing what they're missing. What they're missing, is a gorgeous landscape with beautiful coastal and rural villages, a stunning coastline and spectacular wilderness.

My first stop in the region is probably the most obvious stop for anyone that knows the area–Bic National Park. At only 13 square miles in size, Bic is one of the smaller national parks you'll find, but what it lacks in size, it definitely makes up for with its visual impact. Although hiking is the most popular way to explore the area, sea kayaking is recognized as the best way to see the place. I met up with Bernard Dugas of Aventures Archipel, who's been kayaking and guiding in these waters for as long as anyone.

It's easy to see why Bic National Park is one of the top destinations for visitors to the region. The terrain is dramatic and varied, and even with the strong winds we faced while there, it was easy to find sheltered areas among the islands and cliffs. This would be a pretty great place to get your feet wet for a first kayaking experience.

It was hard to leave Bic National Park behind because this is the type of coastline that can keep you captivated for days, but our adventure in Bas-Saint-Laurent had only just begun. Only a couple of hours away was another national park: Lake Témiscouata National Park. It’s a big change from the coastal nature of Bic National Park, as Lake Témiscouata National Park is found inland of the St. Lawrence and stretches along one of the most beautiful and largest lakes in the region, Lake Témiscouata.

Although the pristine wilderness landscape was spectacular on its own, learning more about the rich cultural history of the area (there is evidence of human occupation dating back more than 9000 years here!) and seeing the bald eagles that the park is known for is what really stood out. The park is the perfect habitat for bald eagles, with high trees and big, fishy lakes. Being able to paddle within a respectable distance of the nests, pull up on shore and watch these birds was pretty special.

Once again, I was blown away by what I discovered on my trip to the Bas-Saint-Laurent region. My only regret is not having more time, because I know the area has so much more to offer.

Special Thanks To:

Aventure Écotourisme Québec | Sépaq | Bas-Saint-Laurent | Le Québec Maritime

The post Canoeing and Kayaking in Bas-Saint-Laurent, Québec appeared first on Hazeadventure.