25 Best Sights in Side Trips from Montreal, Quebec

Built by the Benedictines in 1912 on a wooded peninsula on Lac Memphrémagog, the abbey is home to over 50 monks. They sell apples and sparkling apple wine from their orchards, as well as cheeses: Ermite (which means "hermit"), St-Benoît, and ricotta. Gregorian prayers are sung daily, and some masses are open to the public; call for the schedule. Dress modestly if you plan to attend vespers or other rituals, and avoid shorts. If you wish to experience a few days of retreat, there are guesthouses for both men and women. Reserve well in advance. Overnight visits cost C$60 per night, which includes three meals. Guided tours of the abbey cost C$14.

Here's a wonderful opportunity to learn about the Loyalists who settled the area after fleeing the American Revolution. Several buildings, including the former county courthouse dating back to 1859, the old firehall (fire station), and a former school, house an eclectic collection that include 19th-century farm tools, Native Canadian arrowheads, and a military collection that includes uniforms and a World War I Fokker aircraft. The museum also maintains the Tibbits Hill Pioneer School, a stone schoolhouse built in 1834 to serve rural families—kids can find out what education was like in the mid-19th century.

This vast wildlife sanctuary has more than 400 lakes and rivers and is home to nearly 200 species of birds and animals, so it’s great for wildlife-watching. Cross-country skiers, snowshoers, and snowmobilers enjoy the park's trails in winter, and camping, fishing, canoeing, and hiking are the popular summer activities. The park was once the home of the Algonquins, who called this area Manitonga Soutana, meaning "mountain of the spirits." 

Make sure you bring along a designated driver for this Wine Route, which includes 22 wineries. Map out your chosen stops, and then travel from one to the next to learn about their history and local products and, best of all, sample the wine. Most wineries have an area outdoors where you can enjoy a picnic.  Call for hours as they may change seasonally.

Both amateur stargazers and serious astronomers head to this observatory, located in a beautifully wild and mountainous area that in 2007 became the first-ever International Dark Sky Reserve. The observatory is at the summit of the Townships' second-highest mountain (3,601 feet above sea level and 1,890 feet above the surrounding landscape), whose northern face records annual snowfalls rivaling any in North America. A joint venture of the University of Montréal and Laval University, the observatory has a powerful telescope, the largest on the East Coast. In the Astrolab's welcome center at the mountain's base, there is an exhibition and multimedia display to provide visitors with information about the night sky. Hours vary depending on the season, so check the website for updated information.

Fairy-tale characters such as Snow White, Little Red Riding Hood, and Alice in Wonderland wander the grounds, playing games with children. Small fry may also enjoy the petting zoo, amusement rides, wading pool, and puppet show. A ride called Le Petit Train des Merveilles (the Little Train of Wonders) is a nod to the historic train that launched the tourism industry in the Laurentians. There are 45 activities, enough to occupy those aged two to eight for about half a day. Check the website for discount coupons. The theme park is completely accessible to strollers and wheelchairs.

Formerly known as the Canadian Museum of Civilization, this superb institution officially changed its name in 2013 when it received C$25 million in funding from the Canadian government in order to renovate and expand. More than 50,000 square feet of the existing museum has been renovated, and a Canadian History Hall showcasing the people and events that have shaped Canada over the last 15,000 years. Other highlights include the First Peoples Hall, which has some 2,000 objects on display, and the Children's Museum.

Located in nearby Lac-Brome, Domaine ValBrome is a boutique vineyard producing a variety of wines and ciders, including rosé, Chardonnay, Pinot noir, and sparkling rosé, plus apple and pear ciders. Tastings are available at the boutique Friday to Sunday, 11 am–5 pm, with group tours (8+ people) offered by reservation. Visitors can enjoy tastings on the terrace or picnic in the gardens (bring your own food).

This massive park—nearly 364 square km (140 square miles)—brings nature lovers from all over throughout the year. You can hike up King Mountain on a challenging trail that takes you 300 meters (980 feet) above the Ottawa Valley, explore Lusk Cave, go camping, view the Luskville Falls, or swim at one of the six beaches here (there are also 50 lakes). In winter, the cross-country skiing trails cover approximately 200 km (125 miles) of the park. From June to mid-October, you can use the park's south entrance on Taché Boulevard; stop at the reception center for visitor information.

A quick detour on the ferry (C$14 one-way) across Lac des Deux-Montagnes brings you to this small town with old houses now used for art galleries, boutiques, and Christmas shops. In winter there's an "ice bridge": basically a plowed path across a well-frozen lake. Taking a walk across the bridge is a singular experience.

For C$18 you can tour the vineyard and taste three award-winning wines. Upon reservation, groups can dine in the adjacent four-star restaurant serving the best in regional cuisine. Across the road, overlooking some of the grapevines, is an appealing five-room bed-and-breakfast with a spa. It's worth the trip, even if it's only to take in the splendor of the exceptionally lovely grounds.

The park entrance closest to Mont-Tremblant is at La Diable Vistors' Centre, just beyond the village of Lac Supérieur and about a half-hour drive from the resort.

The Scieur brothers, Jean-Paul and François, are sixth-generation winemakers originally from France, who have created their own "Champagne universe" in Québec. Their Selection range of wines includes sparkling, white, and rosé. Red, fortified, flavored, and ice wines are also available. From mid-June to the end of October, they offer the Bubbles, Wines, and Champagne guided tour (but only in French due to the extensive vocabulary of the subject) as well as à la carte tastings for the price of a C$6 souvenir glass. Visitors may also tour the Traditional Method Interpretation Centre to learn about the history of the Scieur brothers or just wander the vineyard and experience a little bit of France in Québec.

Slides, a giant wave pool, a wading pool, and snack bars will all keep the kids occupied here. The river rafting attracts an older, braver crowd; the nine-minute ride follows the natural contours of steep hills. On the tandem slides, plumes of water flow through figure-eight tubes and make for a great time. But if you'd rather stay dry, take an adventure through the trees on the zip line or enjoy a fast ride with the Viking Alpine Coaster.

Fun and educational for the whole family, this natural history museum utilizes imaginative multisensory displays with state-of-the-art light and sound effects—the buzzing of mosquitoes may be too lifelike—and hands-on displays to enhance the experience. Long-running exhibits include Terra Mutantes, a geological experience portraying the birth of the Appalachian Mountains, and AlterAnima, a mythical forest featuring hundreds of animals and providing viewers a unique perspective on the world as these animals see and experience it, showing us that it's not always what you see, but what you don't.

This fine-arts museum has a permanent exhibit on the history of art in the region from 1800 to the present. More than 10 exhibits per year are staged in its three galleries, with an emphasis on artists from the Eastern Townships.

The Laurentians are one of the oldest ski regions in North America, and ski buffs will enjoy this little museum tracing the long history of this area with great photos, artifacts, and some interesting models of early ski lifts. It also houses the Temple de la Renomée du Ski (the Ski Hall of Fame).

Beautifully surrounded by low hills, this park has a lake fringed by a sandy beach and plenty of opportunities for outdoor sports, including hiking and biking trails, kayaking, canoeing, fishing, and, in winter, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. Locals also consider it to be one of the top camping destinations. Administered by the province along environmentally conscious lines—they implemented the Ecological Integrity Monitoring Program (EIMO) in 2004—it has nearly 900 campsites, and you can rent bicycles, cross-country skis, snowshoes, canoes, and kayaks from the office. Note that the strip at the far eastern end of the beach is "clothing optional," or, in effect, "clothing nonexistent."

If you're short on time or don't feel like a hike you can take a shuttle bus to the top of Mont-Mégantic for spectacular views of Québec, Maine, New Hampshire, and on really clear days, Vermont. But if you want the full experience, make the trek by foot. The park has 50 km (31 miles) of hiking trails that are also open in winter to snowshoers and cross-country skiers. For a real adventure, you can stay overnight in one of the park's rustic shelters.

The amount of activities seems almost endless at this 58-square-km (22-square-mile) park. Summertime sees hikers, campers, beach lovers, and canoers enjoying the grounds, and in winter, showshoers and cross-country skiers take over. White-tailed deer and blue herons share the park with tourists. The scenery in the fall is spectacular, with vibrant orange, yellow, and red hues spreading across the landscape.

If you love horses and competitions, the Bromont Equestrian Center is the place to visit. Once an Olympic site, it hosts show jumping, dressage, and pony club events, and, in late July, the annual International Bromont Equestrian competition.

In the 1,800 acres of hills, valleys, rivers, and streams that make up the park, visitors drive along designated trails to view wild animals roaming free in their beautiful natural environment. These include bear, Alpine ibexes, buffalo, wolves, elk, and more. There are also walking trails among nonaggressive species like white-tailed deer, with caged golf-cart rental available in summer to save the legwork. Also in summer, you can visit farm animals in the restored 19th-century Léopold's Farm and see a birds of prey show.

Established in 1982, this vineyard produces 14 wines, including its Double Gold medal–winning ice wine at the Finger Lakes International competition. Guided tours (in French) cost C$22 and are given once a day during the summer. You can also stop by the boutique for tastings and visit their museum, where you'll learn about the history and production of wine, from the cultivation of the vines to the bottling process. Guided tours given in English need to be reserved well in advance (minimum 12 people). The patio restaurant is a nice place to take a break and open from 11:30 to 3 every day from early-June until mid-October.

This winery, opened in 1980, was one of the first to set up shop in the area, and is considered to be the oldest vineyard still in operation in Québec. On nearly 30 acres of land, 50,000 vines go to produce some award-winning reds, whites, rosés, and ice wines. Visit for a tasting and enjoy a picnic on the grounds. From July through October, a sculpture garden showcases the works of more than 80 artists, primarily from the area.

Santa is not just for Christmas here. In his summer residence kids can sit on his knee and speak to him in French or English, then have fun in the grounds, which contain bumper boats; a petting zoo with goats, sheep, horses, and colorful birds; games; and a large outdoor pool in the summer. There is a snack bar, but visitors are encouraged to bring their own food (there are numerous picnic tables). During the cold winter months, the park transforms into a winter wonderland with skating rinks and tubing fun for the kids.