Take your pick: adrenaline packed or slow and contemplative?
THINGS TO DO
Your Townships adventure starts here.
Sports, Nature & Outdoor Activities
Take your pick: adrenaline packed or slow and contemplative?
Arts, Culture & Heritage
Let your imagination run free at galleries, theatres, museums and workshops.
Spa & Wellness
Treat yourself to massages, body treatments, Nordic baths and other sensory delights.
Shopping
Scour our markets, boutiques and other hidden gems to score incredible finds.
Events
Discover our cultural vitality with a wide range of special events.
The Colour evolution
The tree-covered leaves change hues presenting different warmer and warmer and more luminous colours
Cycling
The Townships is a great cycling destination, because it’s designed for pedal power - slow, contemplative, challenging or sporty.
Hiking Trails
Fill your pack with local flavours before setting off to explore the natural beauties that make our region so stunning.
Restaurants
All are sure to please even the most discerning of palates. Bon appétit!
Orchards
Our orchards are overflowing with fruit, all ripe for the picking! Won’t you join us?
Where to stay
Lodging options to suit any taste and budget.
Hotels & Country Inns
Stunning locations and outstanding service come together for a bliss-inducing stay.
Bed & Breakfasts
Get up close and personal with life in the Townships.
Off the Beaten Path
Think outside the box with out of the ordinary accommodations.
Cottages & Condos
Custom comfort near the city or in nature.
Campgrounds / RV Rentals
Abundant amenities in the heart of nature.
Vacation Centres
Kick back and relax as a family with all-inclusive vacation options.
Other Types of Lodging
Experience something different by choosing unique lodging.
Lodgings with Spa Options
Plan a stay in an accommodation with a private spa or a treatment center. Relaxation guaranteed!
Hikers Welcome
If you, like thousands of visitors annually, plan on hiking in the region, know that your efforts will be rewarded by our world-class hospitality.
Bienvenue Cyclistes
Explore the region on two wheels and stay in one of the many accommodation options bearing the Bienvenue cyclistes icon.
Pet Friendly
Don’t want to leave your four-legged friend behind? Book a stay in some of the region’s many dog-friendly digs and you won’t have to.
The Townships
The Townships possess a rich heritage that you will discover everywhere on its nine territories, in its towns and villages, its Coeurs villageois, etc.
Not to be missed
What is it that draws visitors to the region, year after year? Find out here :
Cœurs villageois
Visit our Cœurs villageois – charming communities that truly characterize the spirit of our region.
Towns and villages
Explore our lively, welcoming towns and villages with their heritage architecture and fascinating histories.
Nine territories to discover
Each territory has a distinct personality and a wealth of hidden treasures just waiting to be discovered!
The Townships at a glance
Here’s a glimpse of the region, a few historical notions, and numbers.
Tourist routes
Hit the road! The region has several tourist routes designed around different themes – heritage, scenic landscapes, wine….
National and regional parks
Four national and two regional parks – an outdoor paradise in the fresh air, each and every one!
Taste the townships
Here, in so many ways, you’ll enjoy all kinds of gastronomical experiences! When you discover our unique products and our highly renowned tables, you’ll love us forever!
Restaurants
Every time you sit down at one of our tables, you’ll experience a truly special moment. Savour it!
Cafés de village
Visit our Cafés de Village and discover each one’s specialties while meeting the most welcoming and friendly people.
Créateurs de Saveurs Products
You can rely on our food producers who put as much love as delicious flavours into everything they plant and produce.
Vineyards
The Route des vins de Brome-Missisquoi, the Route des vins de l’Estrie, and about twenty other vineyards… The Townships region proudly honours its title of being the first wine region of Quebec.
Microbreweries
The region counts more than twenty microbreweries! Just like the people who run them, each one has established their own strong, unique personality and … extremely inviting character!
Cheese Factories & Dairy Producers
goat’s milk… Here you’ll savour rich artisanal cheeses. Some you already know, many others you’ll enjoy discovering.
Public Markets
Purple peppers, fir honey, pineapple tomatoes … besides all the products you love, sometimes you also discover new, amazingly surprising ones!
Orchards
Our orchards are overflowing with fruit, all ripe for the picking! Won’t you join us?
Restaurants Saveurs Cantons-de-l’Est
These restaurants prioritize local producers and offer dishes made with regional ingredients, providing an authentic experience of the Eastern Township terroir.
Foodie’s Maps
Brasseurs des Cantons and Têtes fromagères are two gastronomical circuits highlighting our microbreweries and cheese factories.
Gourmet Itineraries
Plan your stay by offering yourself a wealth of flavours. Consult our getaway ideas.
Weekend and Trip Ideas
Discover our activities suggestions, getaway ideas and itineraries in the Townships.
Family Outings
Find loads of ideas for memorable family outings!
Romantic Getaways
Outings, restaurants, spas, weekend ideas… Suggestions for spending some precious moments together.
Outdoor Activities
Hiking, kayaking, beaches, cycling… Without a doubt, all outdoor enthusiasts are sure to find something to do here!
Slow Travel
Take the time to take your time in the Townships
Tourist Routes
Vineyards, mountain peaks, heritage sites… Our designated routes make for the most beautiful road trips!
Itineraries
Whether for two, with your family or with friends, here you will find a ton of suggestions for planning perfect getaways!
Experiences to Try
Our collaborators have tested several different adventures … and have approved!
Coeur villageois
Visit our Cœurs villageois – charming communities that truly characterize the spirit of our region.
Towns and Villages
Explore our lively, welcoming towns and villages with their heritage architecture and fascinating histories.
Guide and Maps
View our guide and maps online or order your free copies.
Updated on Sept 20, 2022
Come together in the heart of these huge playgrounds you’ll discover as you visit our region’s four national parks, and choose among a panoply of summer activities. Guaranteed great outdoor spaces and an amazing time!
NB: Before you leave home, check the schedules and activities offered for the present moment. Purchase your daily access rights online, before you head out for a visit.
The perfect destination for hiking enthusiasts, the Parc National du Mont-Orford offers you more than 89 kilometres of trails for all levels: the Trois-Étangs loop for an outing with your children, the Sentier des Crêtes for very long hikes, Mont-Chauve with Fido, the Escalier-du-Nord for some spectacular points of view… There’s something for everyone!
Nautical Activities are also highlighted here. Whether you prefer paddleboards, canoes, kayaks pedal boats or rowboats, lakes Stukely and Fraser as well as l’Étang aux Cerises welcome you for a pleasant ballad on the water.
Looking for an adrenaline rush? The 22 km mountain bike trails promise to offer you a memorable riding experience through both deciduous and conifer forests. You can also cycle on the bike path by taking the Cavalière trail, in the middle of the forest linking the two entrances of the park.
Did you know you can practise climbing at the Parc National du Mont-Orford? Well, yes! This activity isn’t very well known here yet, and climbing up the wall of the Pic aux Corbeaux is designed for the more intermediate and expert climbers.
At the Parc National de la Yamaska, climb onboard one of the watercraft options (canoes, kayaks, pedal boats, rowboats, paddleboards are all available to rent), then head out to explore the nooks and crannies of the Choinière Reservoir. As you move ahead along the shoreline, you’ll discover a very diversified aquatic flora and wildlife. You can even do a bit of fishing. Perch, bass and carp are among the most commonly found fish species in this area.
Even though it's too cold for a swim, you can still enjoy the reservoir beach section. The place is perfect for a family picnic and the children will appreciate the big game module.
Feel like a nice bike ride? Take the 19 km long reservoir loop trail. You’ll note that bicycle rentals are also available onsite.
Here, whether it’s on the top of Mont-Mégantic or Mont-Saint-Joseph, you’ll have access to exceptional points of view. But be warned! To reach them you’ll have to make an effort because both summits are at an altitude of more than 1000 m. For a less demanding but just as satisfying hike, you can opt for the Escarpements trail, or the Cimes trail in the Franceville sector.
Because the Parc national du Mont-Mégantic is located in the first International Dark Sky Reserve, it’s also the perfect place for star gazing. Thanks to the ASTROLab and the Observatory, many activities are offered; among these, guided visits and astronomy evenings. These are even more magical, when you discover them during the not-to-be-missed Perseid season!
What is it that makes the Parc national de Frontenac stand out from its congeners in the region? First, here you’ll find a vast bog, which you can discover peacefully on foot with your family. A 5 km loop set on wooden walkways allows you to explore this exceptional area. Pay close attention because many different wildlife species thrive inside these wetlands.
For those looking for a quiet space, seven canoe-camping sites in a forest setting or on the shores of the lake are available. Isolated sites in the middle of nature and accessible only by water … Perfect for escaping from the daily grind! Psst! Our content coordinator tested the experience last summer and tells you all about it in right here.
And finally, it’s here, at the Parc national de Frontenac that fishing amateurs will be totally satisfied. Grand lac Saint-François, Lac des Îles, Lac à la barbue, and Lac des Ours, all overflow with pike, walleye, perch, bass, and landlocked salmon. Who’ll catch the biggest fish? Place your bets!
Overall, whether you wish to challenge yourself physically, or enjoy memorable family experiences, admire grandiose decors or quietly escape inside nature, definitely, this autumn our Eastern Townships’ national parks are your perfect destination.
Do you wish to make the fun last longer and extend your stay over several days, check our article Perfect Cabins for a Nature Getaway. You’ll find many lodging options inside our national parks.
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