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Our Canada: Gatineau, Que.

Our Canada: Gatineau, Que.

Image courtesy of Nordik Spa Image by: Image courtesy of Nordik Spa Author: Canadian Living

Travel

Our Canada: Gatineau, Que.

After living in Quebec and in Montreal, I moved to the Outaouais region in 1997. I am very proud to be a Gatinoise, mainly because of how easy and pleasant it is to work, live and be active in this urban setting that's surrounded by rivers to paddle through, beautiful green areas to explore, and an exciting cultural milieu to see, hear and savour.

Out and about in Gatineau
Each day of the year, I can walk or bike to work and truly enjoy the proximity to Gatineau Park (one of our national park treasures) and the network of paths that connect it to the heart of the city. During my lunch break, I can go out for a picnic along the shores of the Ottawa River and admire the exceptional views overlooking Parliament Hill and downtown Ottawa. My favourite lunch includes some fantastic local cheeses such as Tête à Papineau or Rebellion 1837, two fabulous artisanal cheeses from the Fromagerie Montebello. On my way back to work, I walk by the Café la Tierra on Eddy Street for the best latte (made with locally-roasted beans) and homemade marshmallows from Beatrice et Chocolats.

To mark special occasions, I end my day with girlfriends at Soif, a wine and tapas bar managed by Veronique Rivest. In 2013, Veronique (from Gatineau) became the first woman to make it onto the podium at the World's Best Sommelier competition, where she placed second at the event held by the International Sommelier Association in Tokyo.
 
Our treasure of parks, forests, trees and lakes
When the weekend chores are all done, I go for a hike in Gatineau Park around Pink Lake (which is bright green, by the way!) or at Belvedere Champlain. On warm sunny days, I take the family to La Cigale where I treat myself to the best Gingersnap and Chai home-made ice-cream (the kids have Dulce de Leche or Apple Pie, while their dad has Chocolate Guinness!). On special occasions, we go to l’Orée du Bois for a traditional meal featuring local products, or we indulge in a thermal experience at Nordik Spa-Nature. These three fantastic places are strategically located in Old Chelsea, adjacent to Gatineau Park and only a short 10-minute drive from downtown Gatineau or Ottawa.
 
Road trip – by car or on bike
If I'm looking for a full day outing, I drive east to la Petite-Nation, where a charming, pastoral agritourism route awaits with cheeses, fresh fruit and vegetables in season, organic meats including bison, wild boar, lamb, chicken, beef… and even a chocolate economuseum! Or, we drive west to the Pontiac region, where we love to cycle along Cycloparc PPJ, a former railroad that stretches over 90 km along the Ottawa River, where the most awe-inspiring sunsets await you!

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Our Canada: Gatineau, Que.

Nordik Spa

Indulge in a thermal therapy experience at the Nordik Spa in Gatineau, Que. For more information, visit lenordik.com.

Image by: Canadian Living By: Isabelle Duguay Source: Nordik Spa

Our Canada: Gatineau, Que.

Cycle along Cycloparc PPJ

Visit the Pontiac region and cycle along Cycloparc PPJ, a former railroad that stretches over 90 km along the Ottawa river, where the most awe-inspiring sunsets await you. For more information, visit cycloparcppj.org.

Image by: Canadian Living By: Isabelle Duguay Source: Tourism Quebec

Our Canada: Gatineau, Que.

Fromagerie Montebello

Sample delicious cheeses from Fromagerie Montebello. Two artisanal favourites are the Tête à Papineau or Rebellion 1837. For more information, visit fromagerie-montebello.ca.

Image by: Canadian Living By: Isabelle Duguay Source: Fromagerie Montebello

Our Canada: Gatineau, Que.

Beatrice et Chocolats

Swing by this local hot spot for delicious homemade marshmallows.  For more information, visit facebook.com/BeatriceEtChocolats.

Image by: Canadian Living By: Isabelle Duguay Source: Beatrice et Chocolats

Our Canada: Gatineau, Que.

Gatineau Park

Walk or bike through the network of paths in Gatineau Park, which connect to the heart of the city. Click here for more information.

Image by: Canadian Living By: Isabelle Duguay Source: Parks Canada


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Our Canada: Gatineau, Que.

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