A Trek through Charlevoix Quebec

Canada has some of the most beautiful scenery in the world and the Charlevoix area of Quebec backs that up. This mountainous area provides scenic views of the St. Lawrence River and the small towns offer quaint little shopping districts and art studios.

Years ago my husband and I took a trip to this lovely place. We were visiting family in my home Province of Quebec and decided to take a trip to the area. With my husband being an artist the many galleries and small art stores were definitely of interest. Pictures don’t do this area justice at all, you have to experience it. I will warn you that this is not a one hour drive. The many hills, beautiful towns, and fabulous vistas all will require time to consume and appreciate. Here is how we did the trip.

We took two or three days to do the trip just from Quebec City. Summer is the busiest time of year for many reasons from weather issues to whale watching to tourist season. Yes this time of year you can see the whales on their migration and the stunning landscapes make you want to just sit and take it all in and you will want time to stop and stroll through the beautiful towns and visit the galleries. One thing my husband appreciated was that the small gallery owners would take the time to explain their art and offer information on their studio.

We decided to book a hotel near the Baie-Saint-Paul area which was about halfway to where we wanted to reach. It isn’t that the mileage is that far but you want to stop like mentioned above. Our goal was to go as far as Tadoussac, Quebec. We made the drive from Quebec City to Tadoussac and then came back to Baie-Saint-Paul for the night. We then made our way back towards Quebec City the next day. We only stopped in the smaller towns or places that looked of interest. We were too early for whale watching unfortunately so we didn’t get to see them, but August is the best time of year for that.

Our favourite places were Montmagny, Baie-Saint-Paul, La Malbaie, and St.Simeon. If you are planning a trip to the area make sure you book early and realize rates are higher in the summer months. A well maintained vehicle is a must in this area as the region is mountainous and hilly. We only had a couple days to explore, but a week in this area would be wonderful. I hope you enjoy your trip to this area of Quebec.

To learn more about this area here is a link that can offer more information on the region. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlevoix

About the Author

Carmen Outridge owns Outridge Translation Services a Division of Outridge Enterprises Inc. offering English to French translation services for those operating in the Province of Quebec. She has been in the translation industry for over 30 years and is originally from Quebec. Services include document translation, presentation translation, web translation, and voice-over work. If you have documents you need translated then visit www.outridgetranslation.com and have your translation completed the way Quebec expects it!