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Planning a summer time highway journey in Japanese Canada and questioning what to do in Témiscouata-Sur-Le-Lac, Quebec?
This 24-hour itinerary options the highest issues to see, do and eat on this fascinating lakeside vacation spot.
We stopped right here on a current highway journey from Toronto to New Brunswick and fell in love with this welcoming city. We’re certain you’ll too!
Set on the most important lake south of the St. Lawrence River and surrounded by forested hills, it’s a well-liked spot for summer time holidays crammed with biking, boating, kayaking and mountaineering.
However you may nonetheless get a style of its epic outside journey, heat hospitality and Michelin-worthy eating even if in case you have simply at some point.
Location
First, you could be questioning the place is that this superior spot?
It’s positioned within the Bas Saint-Laurent Area, south of the St. Lawrence River bordering Maine and New Brunswick.
For road-trippers, Témiscouata-sur-le-Lac additionally occurs to be straight off Route 185 (a part of the Trans-Canada Freeway) so it’s on the best way to Moncton, Fredericton, Saint John and St. Andrews, NB from Toronto or Ottawa, Ontario through Freeway 20.
It’s a perfect place to cease enroute to holidays in Halifax, Digby and Tatamagouche seashores in Nova Scotia and PEI.
In the event you’re craving recent air, a swim in cool waters, gorgeous views and fabulous meals, right here’s what to suit into your trip at Lake Témiscouata.
1. Step into the Previous at Fort Ingall
There’s no danger of struggling “museum fatigue” at Fort Ingall, a historic attraction within the coronary heart of Témiscouata-sur-le-Lac.
This reconstructed British fortification was initially inbuilt 1839 throughout a border battle between the USA and Canada.
It held a strategic location on the Portage Path from New Brunswick to the St. Lawrence.
So its foremost function was to forestall American troops from reaching Quebec Metropolis, the executive capital and Halifax, the army capital.
At this time, it’s a high attraction for guests. Not solely does it have a breezy setting overlooking Lac Témiscouata, it homes some fascinating displays.
Highlights embrace the reconstructed buildings comparable to barracks, jail (and somewhat grim tortures devised for insubordinate troopers), lookout, officer’s quarters and mess kitchen.
Throughout July and August, guests even have the chance to see the firing of the noon cannon (and even shoot it themselves!)
🌟 Professional Tip: To get essentially the most out of your go to, hire one of many wonderful Audio Guides. They’re free throughout off-season however properly definitely worth the $7 value the remainder of the 12 months.
2. Bask in Michelin-Worthy Delicacies
Probably the most shocking (and rewarding) issues to do in Témascouata-sur-lu-Lac is to take a gastronomic journey via the ocean’s bounty at Auberge de Chemin Faisant.
This boutique-sized inn and restaurant is helmed by the gifted crew of Marine and Baptiste Massol, sommelier and chef.
Their expertise and creativity–garnered although careers within the restaurant trade in Michelin-starred eating places in France, Switzerland and not too long ago Quebec–is clear of their 8-course Tasting Menus.
We had a chance to benefit from the Seafood Tasting.
Every course was thoughtfully crafted, beginning with a creamy Parmentier soup that includes the smoked eel of Kamouraska and Chantilly horseradish.
It was adopted by a tarte tatin with shallots and balsamic mustard ice-cream, paired with Domaine Amouraska rhubarb wine, a tart rose with hints of sweetness.
One other ingenious course encompasses a refreshing sturgeon ceviche topped with Acadie Gold Sturgeon caviar, providing a fragile brininess with a delicate nutty flavour.
Different highlights included programs of Gaspésie lobster, wild turbot, salmon with scrumptious sides of locally-sourced seasonal and artisanal merchandise comparable to fiddleheads.
Ending on a excessive observe, the dinner wrapped up with a deconstructed Basque cake with sorbet to cleanse the palate. It was paired with an area maple sap wine from Domaine Vallier Robert.
Eating here’s a seamless mix of ingenious creativity, skillful cooking and real hospitality.
It’s properly price planning forward so you may time your go to to get pleasure from this culinary expertise. It fairly chance shall be among the best meals you’ll get pleasure from in your journey!
3. Pattern Artisanal Cheese at Fromagerie Le Détour Cheese Manufacturing facility
The area’s fertile pastures and farms make it a haven for meals fans who wish to dive even additional into its scrumptious merchandise.
On the subject of regional artisanal cheeses, don’t miss Fromagerie Le Détour, a cheese store set in a pastoral grove proper off Hwy 185 (Google Map).
Remember to strive the oh-so-buttery Douceur Témiscouata, cow’s milk triple cream in addition to the award-winning Gray Owl Cheese.
Produced proper in Notre Dame du Lac, this wrinkly, slate-coloured, surface-ripened goat’s milk cheese has a silky, clean inside and a deliciously dusky, edible rind.
Be aware: The municipality of Témiscouata-sur-le-Lac was created from two cities, now known because the Quartier Cabano and the Quartier Notre Dame du Lac.
As a result of neither are too removed from one another, I’ve referenced them as one on this submit.
4. Fill up on Contemporary Artisanal Croissants and Baguettes
To spherical out your meal-on-the-go, choose up some croissants, éclairs and baguettes at Tentations Gourmandes bakery (Google Map) operated in Temiscouata-sur-le Lac.
🌟 Insider Tip: In the event you’re planning on doing any fishing in Lake Temiscouata, bakery proprietor Dany Tardif is a wealth of insider tips about the place to catch a giant one. In the event you’re doubtful, take a look at his trophy wall of fish (and moose) pictures for proof.
5. Picnic at Celestial Gardens
In the event you’re on the lookout for a spot to get pleasure from an al fresco meal (Take a look at our recipes for boating and picnics), you may’t go mistaken with the Jardines Celestes du Temiscouata.
Positioned within the coronary heart of city (Google) it’s simple to mix with a visit to Fort Ingall.
Nerdy of us like me will love how the theme of this park’s 20 gardens relies on the planets.
So that you’ll see planets, the solar, moon, stars and different celestial wonders from the world of astronomy.
How cool is that?
As a family-friendly highway cease, it’s acquired tons to supply past the solar, moon and stars.
There are picnic tables, public washrooms (with potable water), a splash pad, playground and climbing constructions for youths, aromatic roses and loads of inspiring public artwork.
All this provides as much as making Témiscouata-Sur-Le-Lac one the perfect locations to cease on a Toronto – New Brunswick highway journey in case you’re travelling with children.
6. Get a Photograph-op on the Lighthouse
Proceed your stroll via the Celestial Backyard Park in direction of the waterfront and also you’ll quickly attain a lookout throughout Lac Témiscouata.
Gawk on the yachts, launch your personal stand-up paddle board or take pictures of the lighthouse.
From this vantage level, you actually get a way of the huge measurement of this lake.
Spanning practically 66 sq. kms and a size of about 40 kms, it’s simple to see how this mighty waterway performed an essential function as a portage route utilized by Indigenous peoples and early European explorers.
7. Bask on a Seaside at Lac Témiscouata
It’s not typically you’ll discover a highway journey cease that features the chance to splash round at a swimmable seaside.
However the city’s serene setting alongside Lake Témiscouata additionally supplies a peaceable backdrop for a leisurely day of solar, sand and swimming at its foremost seaside.
Carry your personal chairs, cooler and provisions as there aren’t many amenities.
8. Sip Some Suds at Madawaska Beer
Hôtel 1212 within the tiny city of Déglis, a ten minute drive from Témiscouata-sur-le Lac, is the house of the Madawaska Microbrewery brewpub and brasserie.
Their beer is crafted with a deep respect for conventional brewing strategies, whereas additionally embracing revolutionary strategies that spotlight the wealthy pure sources of the realm.
The brewpub was closed for renovations throughout our go to however we had been in a position to pattern a number of of their signature craft beers from pale Blonde to a sturdy IPA Mosaic on the Pub du Lac Resto-Bar (see beneath).
9. Lunch at Pub du Lac Resto Bar
This well-liked eatery (Google Map)is ideally positioned close to the Cabano waterfront and campground.
Its outside terrace is the perfect place to take in the recent lake breezes and pattern a beer type its intensive menu of native and worldwide craft beers.
The menu options pub favourites (strive the frites). The wonderful service by the pleasant employees makes up for its somewhat elevated costs.
10. Cycle the Interprovincial Linear Park
In the event you’re feeling bold and have greater than at some point within the Témiscouata area, then it is best to contemplate biking the Interprovincial Linear Park.
Referred to as the Parc Linéaire Interprovincial Petit Témis, this 134 km path stretches from Riviere-du-Loup all the best way to Edmundston, New Brunswick.
We actually wished we had introduced our bikes so we might have cycled a number of stretches of the linear park and wore off a number of of the energy from the connoisseur cheese, pastries and fine-dining!
However it’s attainable to slot in some biking even if in case you have solely at some point on the town.
Whereas out and about we might see entry factors to the biking path at varied picturesque factors in Témiscouata-sur-le Lac.
Insider Tip: entry level is beside the Auberge de la Gare (Google Map), the place you may park your automotive ( or bike) and revel in a pleasant meal as a reward in your exertions.
11. Expertise the Wilderness of Lake Témiscouata Nationwide Park
Though it’s simple to give attention to Lake Témiscouata –it’s, in spite of everything, the second-largest lake south of the St. Lawrence River–it’s unattainable to overlook the huge forested expanse of Lake Témiscouata Nationwide Park.
This protected space options intensive trails, many with breathtaking views of the lake and surrounding forests. Wildlife fans can observe varied species of animals, together with white-tailed deer and moose, of their pure habitat.
The park additionally options historic and cultural websites, comparable to historic Indigenous portage routes and archaeological websites.
Entry is proscribed so it’s clever to ebook your day move on-line prematurely to keep away from disappointment.
In the summertime (Might to October), an hourly ferry connects the mainland to the park.
12. Keep at Distinctive and Charming Lodging
As you’ve possible found out by now, there’s a lot to do on this area, you’ll wish to keep longer than at some point.
Luckily, along with the campgrounds, RV parks and motels, there are a number of charming locations to remain for an evening or two.
We stayed on the Auberge du Chemin Faisant, a small inn designed in 1950 by architect Robert Blatter.
Born in Switzerland, Blatter performed a significant function within the design of a number of notable buildings round Quebec Metropolis together with the Basilica at Ste. Anne de Beaupre and is thought for his affect within the modernist motion in Japanese Canada.
As soon as the house of the mayor of Cabano, then the Sisters of the Holy Rosary, right this moment it’s owned by innkeepers Marine and Baptiste Massol and operates as a mattress and breakfast and gastronomic vacation spot.
Initially from France, they bring about their appreciable expertise as sommelier and chef to the inn and host gastronomic occasions inside the onsite restaurant.
We extremely suggest timing your in a single day go to so you may get pleasure from one in all their Gastronomic Packages that includes an 8-course Tasting Menu with wine pairings.
In a single day visitors can look ahead to a scrumptious breakfast showcasing native artisanal merchandise from the Bas Saint-Laurent area.
One other place to remain within the Cabano district is Motel Cabano, recognized for its prime location close to the lake.
13. Pattern Premium Maple Merchandise at Domaine Acer
Whereas we didn’t have time to personally go to the maple ecomuseum or tasting room at Domaine Vallier Robert, however we want we had primarily based on the pattern we loved of their high-quality maple wines!
This native producer was awarded the very first allow for the artisanal manufacturing of maple-based alcoholic drinks. Since then they’ve gone on to supply an distinctive array of maple merchandise together with syrup, jelly, butters and sweets in addition to high-quality wines.
They’re positioned a 20-minute drive from Fromagerie Le Detour cheese store (Google Map) however it’s price including a go to to your itinerary.
Remaining Ideas
In conclusion, Témiscouata-sur-le-Lac is a perfect highway journey cease en path to the Maritimes.
It additionally makes an amazing dwelling base for visiting Grosse Île and the Irish Memorial Nationwide Historic Website because it’s lower than a 2-hour drive to Berthier-sur-Mer, the launching level for cruises to the island.
Whether or not you go to for simply one-day or longer, it gives travellers the right mix of leisure, outside actions and distinctive native delicacies.
Our personal keep was a spotlight of our Quebec and New Brunswick journey.
Journey Planning Sources
Quebec Metropolis: Témiscouata-sur-le-Lac is positioned 2.5 hours from Quebec Metropolis. So in case you’re taking a Canada-New England Cruise it’s simple to hire a automotive in Quebec Metropolis and go exploring the Bas Saint-Laurent space.
We hire our vehicles on Discovercars.com. It’s a web based automotive rental reserving website that compares charges from a number of firms to search out the perfect deal.
Examine for the perfect automotive rental charges at Discovercars.com
Quebec Maritime: For info on journey and holidays inside Quebec Maritime, Bas Saint-Laurent and Gaspésie, take a look at the official Quebec Maritime Web site.
Whale Watching Cruise: A high factor to do within the area is to take a ruise to identify whales, seals, and belugas. Examine charges and availability of a whale-watching tour from Quebec Metropolis.
Different Favorite Locations in Quebec
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Dividing her time between Canada, Guatemala and Mexico (or the closest tropical seaside), Michele Peterson is the founding father of A Style for Journey. Her award-winning journey and meals writing has appeared in Lonely Planet’s cookbook Mexico: From the Supply, Nationwide Geographic Traveler, Fodor’s and 100+ different publications.
Learn extra about Michele Peterson.