Travel to the Quebec Maritime – Episode 790

Baie des Chaleurs – Photo Credit: © Mathieu Dupuis/Tourisme Gaspésie

Hear about travel to Quebec Maritime as the Amateur Traveler talks to Margarita Ibbott from DownShiftingPro.com about her recent trips to Quebec’s maritime “thumb”.

Margarita says, ” I want to bring you to a region that I have fallen deeply, deeply in love with. Quebec Maritime is an area that has four regions. It is the North Shore, the lower St. Lawrence, the Magdalen Islands, and the Gaspésie, which is on the peninsula. So we’re going to be spending most of our time on the Gaspé Peninsula.”

“Canada has has a province that is primarily French speaking. So although you would find spectacular things in the Atlantic provinces in the Atlantic maritime region, the Quebec maritime region, the adage goes “je ne sais quoi “. It is very distinctly French. So if we were, for example, in Montreal, or in Quebec City, you could very easily be speaking English, she wouldn’t have any problem. But once you start going into rural Quebec, as you are going into the maritime regions,  you are immersed in the French culture, it is French food, it is French culture, is everything that you want, and more.”

“It is absolutely a huge area, these four regions within the Quebec Maritime covers 1000s and 1000s of kilometers going all the way up the North Shore as you get towards Labrador, or within the peninsula. You’re going to see some cities, they’re not big cities, though, this is really very much rural nature focus, it is all about working to live. So being able to do all those outdoor things that you want to do. And there is a lot to do in this region.”

Margarita recommends an itinerary which can take 10-14 days. She starts us in Quebec City and then we follow the Saint Laurence northeast, cut over to beautiful Chaleur Bay, and then circle along the  Gaspé Peninsula counterclockwise. We then come back down the south side of the Saint Laurence, and then cross over to Tadoussac before returning to Quebec City. The Tourism Board for Quebec Maritime has a number of recommended road trips and this trip combines parts of their Lighthouse Trail and their Whale Route.

Along the way Margarita recommends visiting a few of the national parks and a few of the provincial parks (also called national parks in Quebec, just to make things more confusing). These include Gaspésie National Park and Forillon National Park. She also recommends a boat trip out to the iconic Percé Rock and the seabird colonies on Bonaventure Island.

We are going to try the local seafood, watch for whales, visit lighthouses, taste the poutine, drink the local beers and enjoy the beautiful scenery. The more adventurous can try ice climbing in Parc des chutes or a via ferrata near Tadoussac. If you come in winter there will be opportunities for snowshoeing and snowmobiling.

We learn about historic hotels, boutique hotels and quirky places to stay that include yurts, ready-to-camp tents, and géodômes.

Along the way we will learn about the expulsion of the Acadians, the wreck of the Empress of Ireland, and whales. We can explore gardens, take hikes and ride a ferry or too. Learn why Margarite has fallen in love with this French-infused maritime region of Canada.

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Show Notes

DownShiftingPro.com
Québec Maritime
Quebec City
Tete d’Allumette Microbrasserie
Trois-Pistoles
Poutine
Fromagerie des Basques inc.
Rivière-du-Loup
The Lighthouse Trail
The Whale Route
Parc des chutes
Domaine Valga
10+ Quirky and Unique Accommodations in Quebec Maritime
Pointe-au-Père Lighthouse National Historic Site
Empress of Ireland Museum
Matapedia Valley
Chaleur Bay
Carleton-sur-Mer
Musée acadien du Québec à Bonaventure
Expulsion of the Acadians
Evangeline
Percé
Percé Rock
Percé UNESCO Global Geopark
Bonaventure Island
Gaspé
Forillon National Park
Cape Gaspé lighthouse
Sainte-Anne-des-Monts
Gaspésie National Park
Pointe-à-la-Renommée
Matane
Matane Lighthouse
Riotel Matane
Reford Gardens
International Garden Festival
Baie-Comeau
Saint Simeon
Tadoussac
Hotel Tadoussac
Ferme 5 Étoiles Family Farm
Via ferrata du Québec
Marine Mammal Interpretation Centre
Quebec by the Sea – The Lighthouse Trail in Quebec Maritime – Detailed Itinerary
Epic 12 Day Quebec Maritime Itinerary

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Baie des Chaleurs – Photo Credit: © Mathieu Dupuis/Tourisme Gaspésie

Forillon National Park – Photo Credit: © Parks Canada_ Roger St. Laurent