Saguenay-Lac St. Jean
(About 350 km from Montreal or 223 km from Quebec City)
Go back to the '20s in the town of Chambord, which boasts an old-time village with original stone structures, villagers in period costumes and historical reenactments. It's a unique peek at life in a simpler time. For more information, including campsites and hotels in the area, go to www.sepaq.com.
Close by, in pretty St. Felicien, visit a zoo like no other, the Zoo Sauvage de St. Felicien. Hundreds of species roam free while visitors, enclosed in a train with barred windows, are driven, slowly, through the animals' natural habitats. Now, that's role reversal!
From St. Felicien it's just a short hop to the town of Normandin, home to some of the loveliest public gardens in the province. Get an eyeful at www.lesgrandsjardinsdenormandin.com.
Montreal
The province's largest metropolis is an exciting place no matter the season. Choose from a wide range of accommodations for every budget, and make it your home base. Day trips are limitless. Here are a few suggestions.
A day in Old Montreal
On a muggy summer day, prepare to get very wet and have a boisterous good time jet-boating in the Lachine Rapids: www.jetboatingmontreal.com.
Take a few minutes to dry off (helpful hint: bring a change of clothes) and walk a few blocks to the Montreal Science Centre and IMAX Movie Theatre. Check it all out at www.centredessciencesdemontreal.com.
An evening cobblestone stroll in "Le Vieux" and dinner on one of Place Jacques Cartier's many outdoor terrasses is so Montreal. Get a good night's sleep -- there's plenty more to do tomorrow.
Summertime fun:
• Super Aqua Club water park
• St. Lawrence Cruise Lines
• La Ronde amusement park
At any time of year
Take a day trip, including a sumptuous brunch, or stay overnight at the world's largest freestanding log structure, Chateau Montebello.
We have barely scratched the surface of how much there is to do on vacation in Quebec. For loads of other ideas, visit the Tourism Quebec website at www.bonjourquebec.com.
Photography by J.F. Bergeron
Image courtesy of Tourisme Québec
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