We might earn revenue from hyperlinks on this publish. Please learn this Disclosure for particulars.
Planning a summer time street journey in Jap Canada and questioning what to do in Témiscouata-Sur-Le-Lac, Quebec?
This 24-hour itinerary options the highest issues to see, do and eat on this fascinating lakeside vacation spot.
We stopped right here on a latest street journey from Toronto to New Brunswick and fell in love with this welcoming city.
We’re positive you’ll too!
Set on the most important lake south of the St. Lawrence River and surrounded by forested hills, Témiscouata-Sur-Le-Lac is a well-liked spot for summer time holidays crammed with biking, boating, kayaking and mountaineering.
However you possibly can nonetheless get a style of its epic outside journey, heat hospitality and Michelin-worthy eating even when you’ve got simply someday.
Location
First, you could be questioning the place is that this superior city?
It’s situated within the Bas Saint-Laurent Area, south of the St. Lawrence River bordering Maine and New Brunswick.
For road-trippers, Témiscouata-sur-le-Lac additionally occurs to be instantly off Route 185 (a part of the Trans-Canada Freeway) so it’s on the best way to Moncton, Fredericton, Saint John and St. Andrews, NB from Toronto or Ottawa, Ontario by way of Freeway 20.
It’s a great place to cease enroute to holidays in Halifax, Digby and Tatamagouche seashores in Nova Scotia and PEI.
For those who’re craving contemporary air, a swim in cool waters, gorgeous views and fabulous meals, right here’s what to suit into your trip at Lake Témiscouata.
1. Step into the Previous at Fort Ingall
There’s no threat of struggling “museum fatigue” at Fort Ingall, a historic attraction within the coronary heart of Témiscouata-sur-le-Lac.
This reconstructed British fortification was initially inbuilt 1839 throughout a border battle between the USA and Canada.
It held a strategic location on the Portage Path from New Brunswick to the St. Lawrence River.
So its predominant goal was to stop American troops from reaching Quebec Metropolis, the executive capital and Halifax, the army capital.
Immediately, it’s a high attraction for guests. Not solely does it have a breezy setting overlooking Lac Témiscouata, it homes some fascinating displays.
Highlights embody reconstructed buildings corresponding to barracks, jail (and somewhat grim tortures devised for insubordinate troopers), lookout, officer’s quarters and mess kitchen.
Throughout July and August, guests even have the chance to see the firing of the noon cannon (and even shoot it themselves!)
🌟 Professional Tip: To get essentially the most out of your go to, lease one of many wonderful Audio Guides. They’re free throughout off-season however nicely definitely worth the $7 price the remainder of the yr.
2. Bask in Michelin-Worthy Delicacies
Probably the most shocking (and rewarding) issues to do in Témascouata-sur-lu-Lac is to take a gastronomic journey by means of the area’s bounty at Auberge du Chemin Faisant.
This boutique-sized inn and restaurant is helmed by the proficient crew of Marine and Baptiste Massol, sommelier and chef.
Their expertise and creativity–garnered although careers within the restaurant business at Michelin-starred eating places in France, Switzerland and lately Quebec–is clear of their 8-course Tasting Menus.
We had a possibility to benefit from the Seafood Tasting.
Every course was thoughtfully crafted, beginning with a creamy Parmentier soup that includes smoked eel from Kamouraska topped with Chantilly horseradish.
It was adopted by a tarte tatin with shallots and balsamic mustard ice-cream, paired with Domaine Amouraska rhubarb wine, a tart rose with hints of sweetness.
One other ingenious course encompasses a refreshing sturgeon ceviche topped with Acadie Gold Sturgeon caviar, providing a fragile brininess with a refined nutty flavour.
Different highlights included programs of Gaspésie lobster, wild turbot, salmon with scrumptious sides of locally-sourced seasonal and artisanal merchandise corresponding to fiddleheads.
Ending on a excessive be aware, the dinner wrapped up with a deconstructed Basque cake with sorbet to cleanse the palate. It was paired with a neighborhood maple sap wine from Domaine Vallier Robert.
Eating here’s a seamless mix of ingenious creativity, skillful cooking and real hospitality.
It’s nicely value planning forward so you possibly can time your go to to take pleasure in this culinary expertise. It fairly risk can be among the best meals you’ll take pleasure in in your journey!
3. Pattern Artisanal Cheese at Fromagerie Le Détour Cheese Manufacturing unit
The area’s fertile pastures and farms make it a haven for meals lovers who need to dive even additional into its scrumptious merchandise.
Relating to regional artisanal cheeses, don’t miss Fromagerie Le Détour, a cheese store set in a pastoral grove proper off Hwy 185 (Google Map).
Make sure you attempt the oh-so-buttery Douceur Témiscouata, cow’s milk triple cream in addition to the award-winning Gray Owl Cheese.
Produced proper in Notre Dame du Lac, this wrinkly, slate-coloured, surface-ripened goat’s milk cheese has a silky, clean inside and a deliciously dusky, edible rind.
Word: The municipality of Témiscouata-sur-le-Lac was created from two cities, now known because the Quartier Cabano and the Quartier Notre Dame du Lac.
As a result of neither are too removed from one another, I’ve referenced them as one on this publish.
4. Top off on Recent Artisanal Croissants and Baguettes
To spherical out your meal-on-the-go, choose up some croissants, éclairs and baguettes at Tentations Gourmandes bakery (Google Map) operated in Temiscouata-sur-le Lac.
🌟 Insider Tip: For those who’re planning on doing any fishing in Lake Temiscouata, bakery proprietor Dany Tardif is a wealth of insider recommendations on the place to catch an enormous one. For those who’re doubtful, try his trophy wall of fish (and moose) images for proof.
5. Picnic at Celestial Gardens
For those who’re in search of a spot to take pleasure in an al fresco meal (Take a look at our recipes for boating and picnics), you possibly can’t go mistaken with the Jardines Celestes du Temiscouata.
Situated within the coronary heart of city (Google) it’s straightforward to mix with a visit to Fort Ingall.
Nerdy people like me will love how the theme of this park’s 20 gardens is predicated on the planets.
So that you’ll see planets, the solar, moon, stars and different celestial wonders from the world of astronomy.
How cool is that?
As a family-friendly street cease, it’s bought heaps to supply past the solar, moon and stars.
There are picnic tables, public washrooms (with potable water), a splash pad, playground and climbing constructions for teenagers, aromatic roses and loads of inspiring public artwork.
All this provides as much as making Témiscouata-Sur-Le-Lac one the very best locations to cease on a Toronto – New Brunswick street journey in the event you’re travelling with children.
6. Get a Picture-op on the Lighthouse
Proceed your stroll by means of the Celestial Backyard Park in the direction of the waterfront and also you’ll quickly attain a lookout throughout Lac Témiscouata.
Gawk on the yachts, launch your individual stand-up paddle board or take images of the lighthouse.
From this vantage level, you actually get a way of the huge measurement of this lake.
Spanning almost 66 sq. kms and a size of about 40 kms, it’s straightforward to see how this mighty waterway performed an vital function as a portage route utilized by Indigenous peoples and early European explorers.
7. Bask on a Seashore at Lac Témiscouata
It’s not typically you’ll discover a street journey cease that features the chance to splash round at a swimmable seashore.
However the city’s serene setting alongside Lake Témiscouata additionally supplies a peaceable backdrop for a leisurely day of solar, sand and swimming at its predominant seashore.
Deliver your individual chairs, cooler and provisions as there aren’t many services.
8. Sip Some Suds at Madawaska Beer
Hôtel 1212 within the tiny city of Déglis, a ten minute drive from Témiscouata-sur-le Lac, is the house of the Madawaska Microbrewery brewpub and brasserie.
Their beer is crafted with a deep respect for conventional brewing strategies, whereas additionally embracing modern strategies that spotlight the wealthy pure assets of the realm.
The brewpub was closed for renovations throughout our go to however we had been in a position to pattern just a few of their signature craft beers from pale Blonde to a sturdy IPA Mosaic on the Pub du Lac Resto-Bar (see beneath).
9. Lunch at Pub du Lac Resto Bar
This standard eatery (Google Map)is ideally situated close to the Cabano waterfront and campground.
Its outside terrace is the perfect place to take in the contemporary lake breezes and pattern a beer kind its in depth menu of native and worldwide craft beers.
The menu options pub favourites (attempt the frites). The superb service by the pleasant workers makes up for its somewhat elevated costs.
10. Cycle the Interprovincial Linear Park
For those who’re feeling bold and have greater than someday within the Témiscouata area, then you must take into account biking the Interprovincial Linear Park.
Generally known as the Parc Linéaire Interprovincial Petit Témis, this 134 km path stretches from Riviere-du-Loup all the best way to Edmundston, New Brunswick.
We might have cherished to have cycled just a few stretches of the linear park and burned off just a few energy from the gourmand cheese, pastries and fine-dining!
However it’s doable to slot in some biking even when you’ve got solely someday on the town.
Whereas out and about we may see entry factors to the biking path at numerous picturesque factors in Témiscouata-sur-le Lac.
🌟 Insider Tip: A superb entry level is beside the Auberge de la Gare (Google Map), the place you possibly can park your automobile ( or bike) and luxuriate in a pleasant meal as a reward to your exertions.
11. Expertise the Wilderness of Lake Témiscouata Nationwide Park
Though it’s straightforward to give attention to Lake Témiscouata –it’s, in any case, the second-largest lake south of the St. Lawrence River–it’s not possible to overlook the huge forested expanse of Lake Témiscouata Nationwide Park.
This protected space options in depth trails, many with breathtaking views of the lake and surrounding forests. Wildlife lovers can observe numerous species of animals, together with white-tailed deer and moose, of their pure habitat.
The park additionally options historic and cultural websites, corresponding to historic Indigenous portage routes and archaeological websites.
Entry is restricted so it’s clever to e book your day cross on-line prematurely to keep away from disappointment.
In the summertime (Could to October), an hourly ferry connects the mainland to the park.
12. Keep at Distinctive and Charming Lodging
As you’ve seemingly found out by now, there’s a lot to do on this area, you’ll need to keep longer than someday.
Fortuitously, along with the campgrounds, RV parks and motels, there are a number of charming locations to remain for an evening or two.
We stayed on the Auberge du Chemin Faisant, a small inn designed in 1950 by architect Robert Blatter.
Born in Switzerland, Blatter performed a serious function within the design of a number of notable buildings round Quebec Metropolis together with the Basilica at Ste. Anne de Beaupre and is understood for his affect within the modernist motion in Jap Canada.
As soon as the house of the mayor of Cabano, then the Sisters of the Holy Rosary, at this time it’s owned by innkeepers Marine and Baptiste Massol and operates as a mattress and breakfast and gastronomic vacation spot.
Initially from France, they create their appreciable expertise as sommelier and chef to the inn and host gastronomic occasions throughout the onsite restaurant.
We extremely advocate timing your in a single day go to so you possibly can take pleasure in one in all their Gastronomic Packages that includes an 8-course Tasting Menu with wine pairings.
In a single day friends can look ahead to a scrumptious breakfast showcasing native artisanal merchandise from the Bas Saint-Laurent area.
One other place to remain within the Cabano district is Motel Cabano, identified for its prime location close to the lake.
13. Pattern Premium Maple Merchandise at Domaine Acer
Whereas we didn’t have time to personally go to the maple ecomuseum or tasting room at Domaine Vallier Robert, we want we had primarily based on the pattern we loved of their advantageous maple wines!
This native producer was awarded the very first allow for the artisanal manufacturing of maple-based alcoholic drinks in Quebec.
Since then they’ve gone on to craft an distinctive array of maple merchandise together with syrup, jelly, butters and sweets in addition to advantageous wines.
The vineyard is situated a 20-minute drive from Fromagerie Le Detour cheese store (Google Map). It’s undoubtedly value together with in a multi-day itinerary.
Ultimate Ideas
In conclusion, Témiscouata-sur-le-Lac is a perfect street journey cease en path to the Maritimes.
It additionally makes an incredible dwelling base for visiting Grosse Île and the Irish Memorial Nationwide Historic Web site. It’s lower than a 2-hour drive to Berthier-sur-Mer, the launching level for cruises to the island.
Whether or not you go to for simply one-day or longer, it gives travellers the proper mix of rest, outside actions and distinctive native delicacies.
Our personal keep was a spotlight of our Quebec and New Brunswick journey.
Journey Planning Sources
Quebec Metropolis: Témiscouata-sur-le-Lac is situated 2.5 hours from Quebec Metropolis. So in the event you’re taking a Canada-New England Cruise it’s straightforward to lease a automobile in Quebec Metropolis and go exploring the Bas Saint-Laurent space.
We lease our vehicles on Discovercars.com. It’s an internet automobile rental reserving website that compares charges from a number of corporations to search out the very best deal.
Test for the very best automobile rental charges at Discovercars.com
Quebec Maritime: For data on journey and holidays inside Quebec Maritime, Bas Saint-Laurent and Gaspésie, try the official Quebec Maritime Web site.
Whale Watching Cruise: A high factor to do within the area is to take a ruise to identify whales, seals, and belugas. Test charges and availability of a whale-watching tour from Quebec Metropolis.
Different Favorite Locations in Quebec
Save to Pinterest!
Dividing her time between Canada, Guatemala and Mexico (or the closest tropical seashore), Michele Peterson is the founding father of A Style for Journey. Her award-winning journey and meals writing has appeared in Lonely Planet’s cookbook Mexico: From the Supply, Nationwide Geographic Traveler, Fodor’s and 100+ different publications.
Learn extra about Michele Peterson.