Published on May 11, 2018
When you start exploring the region, you’re sure to come across some little known Townships’ treasures and even some that are entirely new to you! Meanwhile, here are 12, to point you in the right direction...
This 560-metre (1,739 foot) high peak is situated in one of the most charming villages in the region, namely Piopolis. It’s a mountain few people are familiar with and it takes 45 minutes to reach the summit, but it’s well worth the effort. From the top, you get a great view over the Appalachians and a number of lakes. If the climb makes you work up an appetite, just drop by the Café de Pio and order a gelato or a homemade pastry!
Alexandra Bachand, a well-known perfumer, is the owner of La Grange du Parfumeur (The Perfumer’s Barn) in Magog, where Bachand formulates and creates her unique scents. Her products can be bought on site. La Grange du Parfumeur is the first enterprise of its kind in Quebec.
Situated in Saint-Anne-de-la-Rochelle, the Cinézoo is a zoological park where animals are trained for the movie industry. It’s also open to the public. Visitors can see all kinds of exotic creatures – monkeys, lions, tigers and reptiles among others. Occasionally there are conferences and workshops as well as guided tours that let you get up close and personal with these magnificent creatures. It’s a great place for adults and kids to spend an afternoon and, by the way, one of the resident grizzly bears appeared in the movie De Père en flic 2 – a hilarious thriller about a dysfunctional relationship between father and son, both of whom are cops.
A must in the summer: British-style afternoon tea in the gardens of the Uplands Cultural and Heritage Centre. (If the weather is bad, the tea is served inside.) Visitors are treated to all the things one associates with a traditional afternoon tea – waitstaff dressed in period costume, delicate porcelain cups, scones with cream and strawberry jam, pastries…. Incidentally, the Uplands Cultural and Heritage Centre is part of a network of five establishments that serve British-style afternoon teas – a gracious meal break that we are very happy to perpetuate!
A place to observe the animals (see if you can find Agathe, a heifer who has a bad habit of wandering off!), buy excellent products (guinea fowl, goose, chicken, pork, ready-to-eat dishes etc.) and stay the night. There are five rooms. (A maximum of 20 people.) A charming place, run by equally charming hosts!
Vermouth is a common base for cocktails and two wineries make this aromatic drink, namely Domaine Lafrance (Saint-Joseph-du-Lac) which is known for its cider vermouth and the Val Caudalies winery in Dunham. The latter has been lauded for the high quality of its dry, white vermouth and its sweet, amber vermouth.
You can get these delightful drinks at the SAQ (Quebec Liquor Store). Better still - buy them directly from the producers at their own distilleries to discover the wide variety of wines and ciders that they produce.
This charming Frelighsburg spot sources ingredients from its own backyard garden and neighbouring farms to serve up locavore-inspired meals. It also doubles as a venue, hosting musical acts including Québec Redneck Bluesgrass Project, Élisapie, Damien Robitaille and more. Tip: Try the falafel.
Located near the town of Mansonville and the Réserve naturelle des Montagnes-Vertes, Ruiter Valley offers nearly 30 kilometres of marked and groomed trails for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. An amazing venue in the heart of nature, well worth the detour!
Did you know that you can enjoy a kick sleigh activity in Magog? Vie de Plein Air, offers you the possibility to rent this fun little contraption and head out on the trail along lake Memphremagog. If the conditions allow, you can even push your way out onto the lake! And, after your outing, if you’d like to enjoy a good cup of coffee or hot chocolate, you can satisfy your thirst at the Café de village La Shop or at the Bar à Chocolat—Vanden Eynden.
Ski touring enthusiasts (uphill skiing) will be especially delighted as they discover the Circuits Frontières trails. To ski up Mount Hereford and then head down on its two skiable slopes over and over again is truly a not-to-be-missed experience! And, to extend your stay, why not spend the night in the heart of the forest at the Relais-refuge du Vieux Panache?
A true historical monument, the Old Mill has been part of the Stanbridge East landscape since the middle of the 19th century. Both an inn and a bistro, the venue was established by the Pike River, facing an old mill, which today holds the Missisquoi County Museum. With its simple, refined cuisine, and its five second-floor rooms, the Old Mill 1849 is the ideal place for a quiet getaway in the Townships.
Aromas of wild flowers and salty butterscotch caramel, hints of maple and a delightful in mouth sparkling sensation, this is what your taste buds will savour as you taste the Vignoble du Ruisseau’s Bulles d’érable. To pair with Italian dishes, or of course, with a sugar shack meal!
