Quebec Archives - Page 4 of 5

A First Timer’s Guide to Montreal’s Igloofest

Who would ever think you could throw a successful party/dance/rave/festival over four 3 day weekends in the depths of a Montreal winter? OUTSIDE! Apparently four friends and founders of Montreal's Igloofest did. These guys, who were behind Picnic Electronik, started the Igloofest tradition in 2007. The event has grown from 4,000 fans in the first year to a whopping 70,000 fans by 2012. Don't forget - this is outdoors and the wind-chill can be a frosty -30…

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10 Fun Things to do in Montreal in Winter

Looking for fun things to do in Montreal in winter? I think I can safely say that I've got you covered. Below I've suggested 10 things to do - from dogsledding to outdoor music festivals to a romantic skate at the top of Mont Royal. So if you're looking for a good time - and you dress for the outdoors, you'll find Montreal delivers in spades. It's one of Canada's great winter cities! Check out…

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Hiking to the Summit of Le Mont Albert in Quebec

What an unexpected treat it turned out to be hiking to the summit of Le Mont Albert in the Chic Choc Mountains of Quebec. The Chic Chocs, a narrow mountain range that forms the northern extension of the Appalachians are located inland on Quebec’s Gaspé Peninsula in Gaspé National Park. There are 25 peaks in the range over 1000 metres high, but only two are of interest to me –Le Mont-Jacques-Cartier and Le Mont Albert. Le…

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Photo Essay: Driving Quebec’s Gaspe Peninsula

I've wanted to take the time and drive Quebec's Gaspé Peninsula for years. But it's not an easy place to get to. From Quebec City it's at least a 4.5 hour drive and that's just to Matane on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River. Fortunately this summer I had places I wanted to explore that were either in or adjacent to the Gaspé Peninsula - a hike in the Chic Chocs and one…

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Kayaking with Whales in the St. Lawrence River

I have dreamed of kayaking with beluga whales in the St. Lawrence River for years. The St. Lawrence River is an incredible place to see a huge diversity of whales - with the beluga whale being just one of 10 whale species that inhabit these waters. In the toothed whales category the ones you might see include: killer whales, sperm whales, the northern bottlenose whale, long-finned pilot whales, beluga whales, the white-beaked dolphin or…

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A Coastal Hike in Forillon National Park, Quebec

Forillon National Park sits at the eastern tip of the Gaspé Peninsula, sandwiched between the Gulf of St. Lawrence and Gaspé Bay. The park’s diverse landscape is made up of forest, small lakes, and rugged cliffs on two of the park’s three sides as well as cobble beaches and tiny coves. If it’s a clear day, the coastal views are impressive and you stand a good chance of seeing marine wildlife including seals, whales and…

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Cycling the Blueberry Route Around Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec

Cycling the Blueberry Route - called the Véloroute des Bleuets in French - over two to four days gives you a great sense of the countryside and the culture around the Lac-Saint-Jean region in Quebec. The Green Route in Quebec The province of Quebec has done a brilliant job of putting together a series of biking trails (many are multi-use trails) around the province. All of them bundled together are part of what is called…

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A Boat Trip to Bonaventure Island and Percé Rock

If you are a bird lover, then put the boat trip to Bonaventure Island on your wish list. The island is home to an astounding 200,000 seabirds, of which 116,000 are gannets. The gannet colony on Bonaventure Island is one of the largest and most accessible in the world. On the boat ride out to the island you'll also get a chance to get some photos of Percé Rock - likened to a "ship under…

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A Two Day Kayaking Trip on the Saguenay Fjord in Quebec

A two day kayaking trip in the Saguenay Fjord is enough time to give you a sense of the place. But if I'd had one extra day then a three day kayaking trip from L'Anse-Saint-Jean to the mouth of the fjord at the St. Lawrence River in Tadoussac would have been even better. Here's what my trip on the Saguenay Fjord with the kayaking company Fjord en Kayak looked like - but first I thought a…

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36 Fun, Weird and Interesting Facts About Montreal, Quebec

Montreal, Quebec is a dynamic city with a great vibe. It's a city I've visited on numerous occasions but I've never had enough time to just lose myself in it for days at a time. It's brimming with culture and festivals, amazing food and lots of outdoor activities. Plus it has an enviable location - at the confluence of the St. Lawrence River and Ottawa Rivers - and it's within easy driving distance of both…