Travel Guides to Canada

2016 Travel Guide to Canada

Issue link: http://read.canadatravelguides.ca/i/651528

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 106 of 163

TRAVEL GUIDE TO CANADA ‰NATURALŠ WONDERS NEVER CEASE Québec is a landscape of superlatives easily explored throughout the entire year. Summertime is glorious in both the cities and the countryside. It's the perfect time to visit pick-your-own farms, follow the province's food trails, or become immersed in the unspoiled wilderness by hiking, climbing and paddling. There is something for everyone who is drawn to the outdoors. Two-wheelers take to la Route verte, a 5,300-km (3,293-mi.) web of cycling and multi-use paths that criss-cross the province, creating the largest cycling network in the Americas. As the seasons peak, autumn brings a dramatic splash of colour to the hardwood forests and springtime follows with the sweetness of maple syrup. A large percent of the world's maple syrup is produced in Québec, making its many sugar shacks a popular springtime destination for samples of just-boiled syrup and treats like traditional maple syrup taffy. When the snowfl akes fall, the people of Québec embrace the natural wonder of wintertime. Snowmobiling, cross-country and downhill skiing, snowshoeing, ice skating and dogsledding are just the tip of the iceberg. Québecers celebrate hockey like no other spot on earth—the Montréal Canadiens are the oldest hockey team in the world that has played without interruption. And, after muscles have had a work- out—at any time of the year—it's time to relax and recharge at one of the province's many wellness centres and spas. FROM THE FAMILY FARM TO THE TABLE There's a deep connection between land and people—from the soil that produces a breadbasket of crops and the dedicated farmers who create this magic. Visitors can connect along one of Québec's gastro- nomic trails that link the harvest of the countryside with the markets of the cities. The trails are known for craft cheese producers, small production vintners, local growers and specialty producers. Exploring the trails is a way to meet the people who create the province's signature products, from foie gras to sweet maple syrup. The Farmlands Route (Chemin du Terroir) loops through the countryside, with stops at producers of wines and ciders, maple goods, fresh-picked apples and Québec's famous fromageries. The Gourmet Route (Le Parcours gourmand) connects restaurants and artisan producers in the greater Québec City area, including those on historic Île d'Orléans, famous for pick-your-own berries in the height of summer. The Charlevoix Flavour Trail (La Route des Saveurs) links local growers, producers and restaurateurs who produce and serve re- gional products such as ciders, artisan beers, pâtés, cheeses, spices and fi ne chocolates. Grape growers and vintners—and many bistros and restaurants—are a part Rivière aux Feuilles POPULATION: ,, CAPITAL CITY: Québec City PROVINCIAL WEBSITE: www.quebecoriginal.com/en INTERNATIONAL GATEWAYS: Montréal-Pierre elliott trudeau international airport, 20 km (13 mi.) from downtown Québec City Jean Lesage international airport, 16 km (10 mi.) from downtown MontrÉaL • CtC

Articles in this issue

Links on this page

Archives of this issue

view archives of Travel Guides to Canada - 2016 Travel Guide to Canada