Swimming and biking - Baie St. Paul?
 

We are going to spend a few nights in Baie-St. Paul area next week, and have a few questions. Some of the hotel websites mention beaches on the St. Laurent. Can you actually swim there? Also, how good an area is this for road biking? Are there rental shops in the area?

There is a small municipal beach in Baie St-Paul. However, the water is very cold. The best you can do is walk about 1/4 mile off shore at low tide.

Road biking: Charlevoix is extremely hilly. (18% grades sometimes). The best is to go to Ile-aux-coudres (take the free ferry at St-Joseph-de-la-Rive). Lots of bike rental places there. Beautiful views.