Abitibi-Témiscamingue
Outaouais
Urban escapades, countryside escapes
The Outaouais has two sides as markedly different as they are attractive. There’s the urban sophistication of Gatineau, located on the Ottawa River across from the Canadian capital: a city peppered with green spaces, cycle paths, major exhibitions and other exciting events. In contrast, there’s the thrill of the great outdoors, a mere stone’s throw from town: the hills, valleys and forests that become a different adventure playground each season, with a panoply of activities from canoe-camping, cave tours, hunting and fishing, skiing and—for hardy souls—rafting, dogsledding, or snowmobile excursions!
Riverside attractions
Gatineau’s star attraction, the remarkable Canadian Museum of Civilization, highlights the rich ethnological heritage of people from around the world, as well as Aboriginal arts and traditions. Don’t miss the justly popular Canadian Children’s Museum while you’re there. Families can also get their fill of fun at the Mont Cascades waterpark, in Cantley. At Montebello’s Parc Oméga, get a close-up view of the deer, wapiti, bison, boar, moose, wolves and other creatures that freely roam the park… right from the comfort of your own car. Or stop by the seigneurial manor of a great political figure at Manoir Papineau, a national historic site. Lastly, to really get into the vacation spirit, treat yourself to the Casino du Lac-Leamy, a destination in a class by itself thanks to its luxurious hotel, top-notch entertainment and well-deserved reputation for fine cuisine.The great outdoors: the only ingredient missing is you!
Right on the doorstep of its namesake city, Gatineau Park offers urbanites an ideal year-round recreational environment, with canoe-camping, swimming, hiking, skiing, snowshoeing and winter camping on the agenda. The park is also home to the Mackenzie King Estate, former summer home of the illustrious Canadian prime minister. Further down the Ottawa River, Parc national de Plaisance welcomes thousands of Canada geese who stop over on their spring and fall migratory routes. The Papineau-Labelle and La Vérendrye wildlife reserves attract nature lovers wanting to catch a glimpse of moose, beaver and white-tailed deer. They’re also a top destination among hunting, fishing and canoe-camping enthusiasts. In the Forêt de l’aigle (eagle’s forest), tread among the treetops on Canada’s longest suspended walkway! Cycle tourists haven’t been forgotten, either: the Outaouais region offers up some lovely itineraries for the pedal-pushing crowd, particularly in the Gatineau area, alongside the Ottawa (in Pontiac County) and Gatineau rivers.The Outaouais: go with the flow in best of both worlds!
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