Experience Québec
Getaway
Are you a wanderer?
When you’re travelling a broad territory, the road stretching before you is often filled with wonders. Québec is not only immense, it offers infinite possibilities. With increasingly accessible rental opportunities, RVing has become the ideal choice for enjoying a long summer vacation with your family. Ready to hit the road?
If Rome wasn’t built in a day, then Québec can’t be seen in 24 hours. Immense and inexhaustible its surface area is three times the size of France "la Belle Province" beckons you to discover its many wonders... at your own pace! Actually, to really get to know Québec, what could be better than travelling by motor home? Some call it a recreational vehicle or RV, others a fifth wheel, and still others a Winnebago, after a particular brand. Whatever term you prefer, one fact remains: Québec’s roads hold no secrets from those who drive them... and the entire family gets to enjoy the view!"Discovering new playgrounds, meeting new families, being able to travel around with your little home... these are some of the benefits of RVing," explains Irman Bolduc, General Manager of the Fédération québécoise de camping et de caravaning (FQCC). "No more going to the cottage and having to cut the grass. You just climb aboard and go where you want. It’s complete freedom!"
An affordable activity
"Of course, it could be risky to purchase a motor home right away, so try one out for a weekend," says Irman Bolduc. "That’s why the FQCC developed Turn-key camping, where campground operators offer all-inclusive packages that include the rental of fully equipped motor homes already set up." It’s a great way to enjoy a worry-free family vacation!So where should you go... and when?
Summertime in Québec is a flood of festivals! The hot-air balloons of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, the fireworks in Québec City and Montréal, Warwick’s cheeses or the La Nouvelle Fabuleuse (the fabulous story of a kingdom) in the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean... The list of fascinating attractions is virtually endless! "Many festivals count on the fact that that there will be lots of RVers in the region for several days," adds Irman Bolduc. "Activities and performances are scheduled to start on Monday instead of Friday." We advise that travellers choose one of the 800 recognized campgrounds located throughout Québec.
Get the full picture
The motor home is proving to be the ideal vehicle for appreciating the richness of our farmlands, the majesty of the St. Lawrence River or the serenity of the vast forests of the Canadian Shield. Don’t miss the chance to discover certain aspects of Québec’s heritage that are far from home or even each other (covered bridges, gardens) and that testify to its profound diversity (the prettiest villages).Certain Québec destinations-those that are the farthest-used to be taboo when it came time to plan your trip. No more excuses now! Why not travel as far as the road will take you? Whether it’s Abitibi or the North Shore, getting there is half the fun. So how about adding snapshots of James Bay and its imposing hydroelectric dams, like the Robert-Bourassa and La Grande-1, to your photo album? In Québec, when you reach the end of the road it’s a bit like reaching the ends of the earth!
Don’t be blue...
... just follow the blue... sign that is! Throughout the province blue tourism signs point the way to great attractions and activities you’re sure to enjoy. Some of these signs indicate tourist routes that follow a common theme. For instance, you might want to explore the Whale Route, a 900-km (560-mi.) itinerary that stretches along the north portion of the St. Lawrence estuary, or the Navigator’s Route, which focuses on the opposite side of the river and offers magnificent views of its islands.Other regional routes are strewn with little treasures. For instance, the Wine Route is a rural itinerary that connects 11 vineyards in the Eastern Townships. A classic, Highway 132, hugs the Chic-Chocs mountain range in the Gaspésie and will take you straight to paradise: Forillon National Park and the famous Percé rock. You’ll be inspired!
"The Îles-de-la-Madeleine and Lac-Saint-Jean also offer spectacular routes," says Irman Bolduc, who adds that every year more and more travellers are drawn to the beauty of the countryside. "We currently have 35,000 member families, and with the wave of young retirees that’s coming, it’s going to explode!"What are you waiting for? It’s time for you to explore Québec’s length and breadth, admiring the sheer splendour of its landscapes and shorelines.
Guillaume Rivard
Photos: Fédération québécoise de camping et de caravaning
2008-04-15
