This summer was a bit different for our family. Since our eldest secured his first summer job, it made it difficult to get away for a vacation. Luckily, we were able to save the best for last and cram lots of family fun into a few days visiting the Eastern Townships in Quebec.
We were hosted by Tourism Eastern Townships * and able to see a different part of Quebec, away from the hustle and bustle (and crazy traffic) of Montreal. Our three day visit was action packed, full of fun and a perfect end to a busy summer.
Our first stop was Granby Quebec. The second-largest city in the Townships has an active and bustling Main Street with coffee shops, restaurants, stores and public art, creating a charming and welcoming setting for visitors. Dinner at the Casa du Spaghetti in Granby offered lots of Italian choices for everyone. We walked along the Main Street, delighted to see pianos around town, just begging to be played.
Our first night was spent at Le Saint Christophe Hôtel Boutique & Spa, a charming hotel designed to look old, but with all the modern conveniences. Located on the water and close to biking trails, the hotel is a great spot for people looking to indulge in spa treatments during their stay, and a very convenient and short 8-minute drive from the Zoo.
After a filling breakfast at the hotel, we left Le Saint Christophe to spend the day at the Granby Zoo. The Zoo literally offers something for everyone. The site includes an amazing zoo with close to 1500 animals, water park, petting zoo, amusement area, aquarium and dinosaur park.
Our visit took place the last week in August and unfortunately, the water park was closed for the season. The parks lifeguards are primarily university students who had already headed back to school. However, there was still plenty to see and do.
We were all super impressed with the Zoo. Arranged by continent, each grouping and each area was clearly designated by changes in landscape, background noise, structures, foliage, structures and, of course, species. Our family favourite was Africa, which featured giraffes, elephants, zebras, hippos and gorillas. Another favourite was visiting and petting the sting rays in the Oceana exhibit. We spent the entire day on-site, checking out kangaroos, lions, tigers, snakes, jellyfish and marvelling at how close we were able to get to these magnificent creatures. We all appreciated how the habitats were spacious and featured indoor and outdoor places for them to roam. No boring, small cages here.
Another thing we appreciated was the abundance of shade, seating and bathrooms. The only downside was there were not a lot of vegetarian options to eat at the main food court. Since the zoo was transitioning to fall season, several of the vendors were closed and options were a bit limited. This was also the case waiting in line for tickets.
The Dinozoo area is small, but features animatronic dinosaurs that growl, roar and move. The amusement park is small, but features a roller coaster that amused and entertained both my kids. This is definitely an all day activity so plan on spending the majority of your day on site.
After an entire day outside, we were all exhausted and in need of a bit of downtime. Our next destination, the Hôtel Château Bromont, was the perfect spot to relax and unwind. From the moment we stepped onsite, we were treated well. The front desk staff was super helpful and very welcoming. At the foot of a ski hill and steps from the Townships Trail this hotel is a perfect place to end your day and relax. With and indoor and outdoor pool and four outdoor hot tubs, the Château gave us a chance to swim, chill out and spend time talking about our day, our trip and our summer. We had some great family time sitting in a hot tub, at the foot of the mountains, admiring the beauty of the area. Dinner at the hotel dining room, was a treat and allowed our adventurous kids to try new things (edible flowers, tomato carpaccio, antiboise sauce). The meal was delicious and all ingredients are locally sourced.
For our final day, we headed to North Hatley to visit Capelton Mine. Officially closed in 1907, this old copper mine is now a family business that introduces visitors to the oldest industrial mining complex in Canada. Visitors travel in and underground, seeing the mine up close. Our tour guide Olivier, provided a captivating and information-filled experience. Note: the temperature in the mine is around 7 degrees Celcius, so dress accordingly.
A common theme amongst all the places we visited was how lovely the small towns were. All are beautifully landscaped, all have busy and bustling main streets, great restaurants and good customer service. North Hatley, on the water, was my favourite lunch stop. It was great to show the kids a thriving small town and what that has to offer a visitor.
Next up was Jouvence in Orford, Quebec. This all inclusive site, located within Parc national du Mont-Orford had my kids running around wanting to do everything first. This included riding "fat bikes" through the woods, trying out a ropes course, jumping on a trampoline and taking advantage of all the waterfront activities including swimming, canoeing, kayaking, paddleboarding, sailing and paddleboating. We stayed in small, rustic, two bedroom cabin and headed to the main lodge for all our meals. Food was plentiful and served buffet-style. The main draw is the gorgeous location, access to the waterfront and the tranquil setting. Canoeing on the glass-like water was a highlight of the trip and you could physically watch people start to relax and enjoy the surroundings. The Club package format includes supervised group activities for kids and for families. Our canoe trip was led by one of their experienced animators who has spent many years working for the non-profit organization that runs the facility.
Our final activity was Foresta Lumina at Parc de la Gorge de Coaticook. Foresta Lumina is a multimedia night time experience along Coaticook’s Canyon. Seven beautiful manuscripts introduce the cast of fictional characters presented through sophisticated lighting, mapped media and original sound tracks. Foresta Lumina showcases a variety of theatrical light and sound effects that create a moody but magical setting. This was unique and beautiful and at times challenging. I'm terrified of heights so crossing a suspension bridge had me in a cold sweat. The gorge is also incredibly steep and hilly, so I found parts of it a bit challenging. My younger son was also a bit trepidations about the "scary" character, but it really is an all-ages activity and in the end, we were all glad we went as it was truly magical. Be sure to stop by the famous local dairy for some ice cream on your way out of town.
Our final morning in the townships we visited the small Bromont Chocolate Museum and lunched at one the Main Street bistros.
Overall, the trip was relaxing, offering beautiful views, charming locations, relaxing destinations, great food and a perfect way for everyone to relax and enjoy their surroundings. While deep in Quebec, everyone spoke English, but it was a great way for the kids to also practice their French. The Townships are easy to get to and by bypassing Montreal (Autoroute 30), you can easily arrive in under 3 hours. The region has many options for families, cyclists, wine lovers, hikers and you are sure to enjoy your stay, no matter what you do.
*Tourism Eastern Townships served as our host, but all reviews and opinions are our own.
