constantcruiser

We're planning a 7-day trip in early September and will fly into Montreal and then drive to Quebec City, where we'll stay 2 nights. We would also like to visit the eastern part of the province, along the St. Lawrence. Particularly interested in seeing lighthouses, wildlife & quaint rural villages. When we leave Quebec City, where should we head to experience these things and still make it back to Montreal within a week?

ventdest

Do you intend on spending any time in Montreal, or is Montreal just your arrival and departure point? From Quebec you could do a loop: north shore (Charlevoix), visit Tadoussac, then back to Saint-Simeon, cross over by ferry to Riviere-du-Loup, then back to Quebec on the south shore. You would want to allow 3-4 days, depending on your pace and interests. Or you can start from the south shore of Quebec city and drive as far as you can until you run out of time September is not too busy so you could probably find places to stay without booking in advance, unless you go on Labour Day weekend (first weekend of September) - then it would be a different story. Here is a Web site listing Quebec's most beautiful villages, you will see there are quite a few on the way to Gaspe:
http://www.beauxvillages.qc.ca/angla...a/index_a.html

constantcruiser

Thank you for the link to this website -- it's exactly the information I was looking for! Besides lighthouses, I'm also a fan of covered bridges -- any chance we'll see any along this route?

JQReports

The only covered bridge I can think of is in L'Anse St-Jean. You will find details in the beauxvillages website provided by ventdest. I really wish I had a few pictures of this covered bridge in my wallet (for a long time in was on the $1000 - yes, thousand dollar bill).

I really don't see you getting to the Gaspé and doing the other things you want to do. The Charlevoix is a good choice (my favourite area of Quebec), and there are plenty of pretty villages on the south side of the St-Lawrence to discover if your lighthouse stay takes you to that side.

JQ

Ottawa_Gal

If you rented a car in Quebec City, you could drive eastward towards the Gaspe Penninsula. Having done this trip a dozen times in my life, I know it's about 800 km or an 8 hour drive from Quebec City to Gaspe. Highway 132 loops around the penninsula. The 'north' side is different from the 'south' side, so it makes sense to return to Quebec city the opposite way. Here are my favourite villages..Perce (a must see) and Barachois (where my mom is from) and Gaspetown (at the tip) and visit Forillon, too, a fabulous national park. If you don't want to drive, consider taking Via Rail. The view is stunning -- I've spotted whales while looking out the window. You can buy a berth and sleep behind woolen curtains, like the old days. check out http://www.viarail.ca/cgi-bin/viared...dpop_perc.html

I'll send you more info....

cheers.

ventdest

You like covered bridges too? This reminds me of our family trips... covered bridges, lighthouses, waterfalls and watermills are all "must-sees", no matter the schedule or the distance on dirt roads to get there

Covered bridges are part of Quebec's architectural heritage, so their location is usually indicated on road signs (white symbol on brown background) There is also a list on
http://www.mtq.gouv.qc.ca/fr/reseau/...rts/visite.asp (in English only, but the map is self-explanatory)

It doesn't matter if you choose the north shore (Charlevoix) or the south shore, they are both beautiful. But if you want a more "maritime" feel, you definitely should try to drive past Riviere-du-Loup.

bob_brown

My chief advice is to allow time. The roads were slower than had imagined. We needed all day to drive from Ste. Ann des Monts ti New Carlisle on the south shore.

We were well after dark in arriving.

We allowed too little time for Percé.

We left Quebec City about 9 am and used the whole day to reach Ste. Anne des Monts Then we had to drive late for New Carlisle.

Had we allowed an extra day, there would have been no problem.

The roads are mostly 2 lanes and there are some very steep drops, like 18%. Fortunately the lengths of the declines were not long, perhaps half a mile to three fourths of a mile.

I suggest you go in very early September, like Sept 1 and 2. We wer there a few days after that and many of the tourist attractions around New Richmond and New Carlisle were closed,

You will find some English spoken around New Richmond and New Carlisle, but around the other parts, I could not communicate without considerable gesturing and pointing.

I remember we wanted a bag of ice for our ice chest (a little styrofoam one)
I was not making any progress until I recalled that we had bought a bag of ice when we crossed the border and it was still swimming in the ice chest. I ran out, fished it out, looked for the magic word which was Glacé.

Cube de glace or glaçon might have been better. We got a 5 kilo block which I had to subdivide rather clumsily.

When I stopped for gas, the man knew two words of English: fill and Visa.

Serves me right for not learning more French in school! Cripes, as it was, I struggled with German for too many hours to learn so little.

Erick_L

IMO, the best part of Gaspésie is beyond Ste-Anne-des-Monts. You can't go to Gaspésie and miss Forillon. The tallest lighthouse in Canada is there, as is the most diverse wildlife I've seen in a canadian park. Take the boat to Bonaventure island if possible. The Baie-des-Chaleurs is not as interesting IMO. Worth driving but if you want a day off the car seat, I'd spend it in Forillon (or Gaspésie park if you like hiking).

Personnally, I would drive to at least Rimouski (Le Bic park) on the first day to enjoy the second best sunset in the world (According to National Geographic). Do it via the north shore (highway 138 and 362) and cross at St-Siméon or Forestville but be prepared for a long day on the road. Leave just before sunrise, the light will be magical. Have breakfast in Baie-St-Paul.

MTL - Gaspé is a 10 hour drive non-stop.

constantcruiser

This is great information -- I love hearing different recommendations from different posters. Yes, I will gladly explore dirt roads and steep trails to find lighthouses, train depots or covered bridges! Traditional red barns are a treat, too. It sounds like we going enjoy Gaspe Peninsula as much as we do PEI.

And yes, we arrive in Montreal on Sept. 1 and will drive immediately to Quebec City. Is 2 nights enough there? It sounds like we need to allow plenty of time for the adventures of getting lost on the Peninsula!

bob_brown

We were in Quebec City for 3 nights, but the first night was after we had driven from Vermont.

Then we spent a day at the Plains of Abraham battlefield and Chutes Montmorency. The next day we drove to Ste. Anne du Beaupré cathedral, Sanguanay Fjords Park, and back through Chicoutimi to Quebec.

I am glad to have made the trip around the whole peninsula. I just wish I had allowed an extra day between Ste. Anne du Mont and New Richmond.

Also, going earlier before all the closings would have added to the interest.

The south shore of the peninsula was settled by many loyalists who fled the colonies during the American Revolution.

That is one aspect of the war we don't often think about because the winners usually write the history. Not all residents of Virginia, New York and Massachusets were in favor of the rebels side. It was a question of get out or be persecuted, even killed.

lily32498

A definite thumbs up for a stay at the Pot a l'eau-de-Vie Lighthouse. The ferry leaves from Riviere du Loup. You might also consider a stay at the Gite du Mont Albert. It's located in the heart of Parc National de la Gaspesie on Rt 299 in the Chic Choc Mountains (near Sainte-Anne-des-Monts.) The scenery and food our spectacular. Check it out on www.sepaq.com. The drive along Route 132 is beautiful and if time permits, Forillon National Park and Perce are must sees as well.