| Équi-qualité | | The Fédération équestre du Québec, in association with Québec à cheval, grants “Équi-Qualité” certification to riding stables that meet specific, compulsory standards, notably with regard to riding rings, customer service and safety. Once certified, the establishments are regularly inspected. The Équi Qualité seal lets you choose the establishment that best suits you! |
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Day tripping in the Outaouais Dining al fresco What region offers wide open spaces for summer and winter fun within such close proximity to the city, combined with some truly outstanding cuisine? The Outaouais of course ! Join us as we make a break for Gatineau, Chelsea, Gatineau Park and the Vallée de la Petite Nation!
 Throughout our trip, you’ll have ample opportunity to fill your lungs with fresh air as you snowshoe, ski, bike or even travel by horseback. Various choice locales will present the opportunity for a tasty snack, whether at the Château Montebello or in any of the region’s many restaurants. Open your mouth, take a deep breath, and... off we go! !
Where there’s smoke... Ready to make a memorable discovery? Grab your basket: we’re dining al fresco at one of the 19 designated picnic spots in Gatineau Park! Stock up at the park entrance and at Boucanerie Chelsea, a smokehouse where an impressive variety of fish are smoked right on the premises, as well as other goodies like olives, cheese, tofu and... chocolate?! The owners like to experiment, so feel free to make suggestions!On active duty Follow your delicious meal with the perfect digestive aid—movement! Right before you is the largest outdoor playground in Québec, Gatineau Park. Enjoy 165 km (103 mi.) of hiking trails and 90 km (56 mi.) of mountain bike trails, all of which feature splendid lookouts. You can also go canoeing, kayaking, pedal-boating or swimming in the park’s many lakes. Equipment rentals are available on site. The enchanted forest Come winter, take advantage of Gatineau Park’s 200 km (125 mi.) of cross-country ski trails and 30 km (18.5 mi.) of snowshoe paths. During the cold season, you can head off Animal Tracking on Snowshoes, accompanied by one of the park’s nature interpreters, who will be happy to share his or her knowledge on the teeming life beneath the snow. Other nature walks are offered throughout the year: Spring Flowers Have Sprung at the end of winter, The Sights and Sounds of Birds in early summer, and Follies of the Fall Forest later in the year. Eat like a horse...  As the day draws to a close, you’ll find no shortage of sustenance. For health conscious diners, Café Soup’Herbe offers up tasty vegetarian fare that’s worth the detour, with live jazz on Wednesday evenings and artworks on exhibit at all times. If you’re seeking something a little more upscale, two names in particular are worth noting: L’Orée du Bois, which serves up its famous duck in a charming country setting, and Les Fougères, renowned for its desserts. Got a yen to dine “in”? Les Fougères has a gourmet take-out shop full of delicious, local and affordable products that are ready to follow you back to your cottage or hotel....or ride one! To cap your Outaouais escapade in fine style, a trip to the Petite Nation is in order. This bucolic paradise is best seen on horseback. Riders of any age and ability can saddle up their mounts at Ranch El Pequeno. Owned by Mr. Lajeunesse, who has 32 years’ experience, the riding stable offers up full- and half-day packages, along with a range of competitively priced courses given by instructors certified by the Fédération équestre du Québec. Ranch El Pequeno has activities for every season.While you’re there, indulge your sweet tooth at the sugar shack (which reopens in 2010), where sap is collected the old-fashioned way, using horses.
 Want to prolong your stay? Treat yourself to a meal at the Château Montebello’s magnificent restaurant, then visit Oméga Park. From the comfort and safety of your vehicle, admire different wild species as they roam free in their natural habitat: bison, wapiti, deer, bears, wolves, wild boars and plenty more. You can also walk through a section of the park—an area that’s home to the white-tailed deer, where you are the wild animal! Feed them, and you’re guaranteed to make a few furry friends before you leave the region.
Hightail it to the Outaouais!  A bit of culture to top off your stay? Visit Gatineau’s greatest storehouse of knowledge, the Canadian Museum of Civilization. In addition to its permanent exhibitions (Canada Hall, First Peoples Hall and Face to Face), Postal Museum and marvellous Children’s Museum, broaden your horizons with major travelling exhibitions like the recent show on Egyptian mummies. And, should you feel the need for a pick-me-up, take a revitalizing stroll around the museum’s exterior, where a splendid view of Parliament Hill awaits! |
| Hull-Chelsea-Wakefield steam train | |
 For a real journey back in time, hop aboard the 100-year-old Swedish steam train that links Gatineau and Wakefield (64 km/40 mi.). Once at your destination, don’t miss the spectacular pivoting of the steam engine on the last operating manual turntable in Canada. The picturesque village of Wakefield is a charming haven abounding in art galleries—the perfect place for an enjoyable break. While you’re there, be sure to sample something delicious at the famous Wakefield Bakery! |
Sylvain Lacoursière
Photos: Tourisme Outaouais, Tourisme Québec, Musée canadien des civilisations, Restaurant Les Fougères, Sylvain Lacoursière
2009-05-18 |
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Experience Québec
Throughout our trip, you’ll have ample opportunity to fill your lungs with fresh air as you snowshoe, ski, bike or even travel by horseback. Various choice locales will present the opportunity for a tasty snack, whether at the Château Montebello or in any of the region’s many restaurants. Open your mouth, take a deep breath, and... off we go! ! 
Ready to make a memorable discovery? Grab your basket: we’re dining al fresco at one of the 19 designated picnic spots in Gatineau Park! Stock up at the park entrance and at Boucanerie Chelsea, a smokehouse where an impressive variety of fish are smoked right on the premises, as well as other goodies like olives, cheese, tofu and... chocolate?! The owners like to experiment, so feel free to make suggestions!
Follow your delicious meal with the perfect digestive aid—movement! Right before you is the largest outdoor playground in Québec, Gatineau Park. Enjoy 165 km (103 mi.) of hiking trails and 90 km (56 mi.) of mountain bike trails, all of which feature splendid lookouts. You can also go canoeing, kayaking, pedal-boating or swimming in the park’s many lakes. Equipment rentals are available on site. 
Come winter, take advantage of Gatineau Park’s 200 km (125 mi.) of cross-country ski trails and 30 km (18.5 mi.) of snowshoe paths. During the cold season, you can head off Animal Tracking on Snowshoes, accompanied by one of the park’s nature interpreters, who will be happy to share his or her knowledge on the teeming life beneath the snow. Other nature walks are offered throughout the year: Spring Flowers Have Sprung at the end of winter, The Sights and Sounds of Birds in early summer, and Follies of the Fall Forest later in the year. 
As the day draws to a close, you’ll find no shortage of sustenance. For health conscious diners, Café Soup’Herbe offers up tasty vegetarian fare that’s worth the detour, with live jazz on Wednesday evenings and artworks on exhibit at all times. If you’re seeking something a little more upscale, two names in particular are worth noting: L’Orée du Bois, which serves up its famous duck in a charming country setting, and Les Fougères, renowned for its desserts. Got a yen to dine “in”? Les Fougères has a gourmet take-out shop full of delicious, local and affordable products that are ready to follow you back to your cottage or hotel.
To cap your Outaouais escapade in fine style, a trip to the Petite Nation is in order. This bucolic paradise is best seen on horseback. Riders of any age and ability can saddle up their mounts at Ranch El Pequeno. Owned by Mr. Lajeunesse, who has 32 years’ experience, the riding stable offers up full- and half-day packages, along with a range of competitively priced courses given by instructors certified by the Fédération équestre du Québec. Ranch El Pequeno has activities for every season.While you’re there, indulge your sweet tooth at the sugar shack (which reopens in 2010), where sap is collected the old-fashioned way, using horses.
Want to prolong your stay? Treat yourself to a meal at the Château Montebello’s magnificent restaurant, then visit Oméga Park. From the comfort and safety of your vehicle, admire different wild species as they roam free in their natural habitat: bison, wapiti, deer, bears, wolves, wild boars and plenty more. You can also walk through a section of the park—an area that’s home to the white-tailed deer, where you are the wild animal! Feed them, and you’re guaranteed to make a few furry friends before you leave the region.
A bit of culture to top off your stay? Visit Gatineau’s greatest storehouse of knowledge, the Canadian Museum of Civilization. In addition to its permanent exhibitions (Canada Hall, First Peoples Hall and Face to Face), Postal Museum and marvellous Children’s Museum, broaden your horizons with major travelling exhibitions like the recent show on Egyptian mummies. And, should you feel the need for a pick-me-up, take a revitalizing stroll around the museum’s exterior, where a splendid view of Parliament Hill awaits! 
For a real journey back in time, hop aboard the 100-year-old Swedish steam train that links Gatineau and Wakefield (64 km/40 mi.). Once at your destination, don’t miss the spectacular pivoting of the steam engine on the last operating manual turntable in Canada. The picturesque village of Wakefield is a charming haven abounding in art galleries—the perfect place for an enjoyable break. While you’re there, be sure to sample something delicious at the famous Wakefield Bakery! 
