A trip to Lanaudière and Mauricie

The La Pimbina sector of Parc national du Mont-Tremblant accessible via Saint-Donat, is less well-known than the Lac-Supérieur area in the Laurentians, but the natural beauty there is just as magnificent. In addition to the numerous hiking trails, there are plenty of lakes for water activities like canoeing, kayaking, and even swimming!

At the end of the day, settle down at Auberge du Lac Taureau, renowned for its regional cuisine, health services, and outdoor activities. Also known as the Taureau Reservoir, this immense lake has 32 km of sandy shores. Vamos a la playa!

Spend the day at the Auberge du Lac Taureau. There's no shortage of activities to choose from: water sports, fishing, swimming, cruising, mountain biking, cycling, and even a seaplane flight.

Next, head to the Auberge du Vieux Moulin, where several spa relaxation, fishing, outdoor, and gastronomic packages are available for families and couples. Where to stay? A room at the inn, a night in a cottage, a Coolbox or even a teepee... why not?

Abbaye Val Notre-Dame, where cheeses, ciders, chocolates, and other local products are sold, is part of one of the six gourmet tourist circuits of Goûtez Lanaudière. Fancy an agritourism trip?

Without realizing it, the road has taken you to Mauricie! In Saint-Alexis-des-Monts, the Pourvoirie du Lac Blanc is a family resort offering a multitude of outdoor activities, cabins, and inn rooms. Spend the night at this magnificent site to make the most of it the next morning.

During a stay at the Pourvoirie du Lac Blanc, enjoy a spot of fishing (with its 12 lakes teeming with fish!), a peaceful ride in a rabaska canoe, or even a black bear watching. Or treat yourself to the full package with a helicopter tour to admire the region's lakes and forests from a great height.

A few kilometres from the Pourvoirie du Lac Blanc, end the day at the Hôtel Sacacomie, a log cabin nestled in the heart of the forest. It features a Nordic spa with energy-efficient facilities, a wide range of on-site activities, and a gourmet restaurant..

Head toward the industrial past of the city of Shawinigan by visiting La Cité de l’énergie. Exhibitions, observation tower, hydroelectric power plant, guided historical tour of the city: so many activities gathered in one place!

Head to the Saint-Jean-des-Piles area for a cozy stay in one of the mini-cottages at 2800 du Parc, across from the Saint-Maurice River. Stretch your legs outside using adventure equipment, and then recharge at the on-site restaurant.

From Le 2800 du Parc, you are less than a kilometre from the 536 km² of nature in Parc national de la Mauricie. There are several hiking trails to explore, including viewpoints and lakes (with beaches!) for a dip and a canoe or kayak ride.

Late afternoon is a great time to fly over the region and admire its forest cover dotted with lakes, aboard a Hydravion Aventure aircraft. Its seaplane base is located in Saint-Étienne-des-Grès, south of Shawinigan.

End this long day outdoors by settling in comfortably at the Delta Hotel Trois-Rivières, right downtown. The location is ideal for a chat in a café or a night out in a city bar, if you feel like it after a day full of activities!

There is a sugar shack that is open year-round, not just in the spring! At the Cabane à sucre Chez Dany, Québec customs are very much alive, including traditional music, meals based on maple syrup and taffy on snow.

At times running along the St. Lawrence River, the Chemin du Roy is the country’s oldest ridable road. It’s an attraction in and of itself, with heritage buildings.

Our trip ends with a stop at the Musée d’art de Joliette. You wouldn’t know that this was one of Québec’s most important art museums. It’s worth taking the time to discover its contemporary art collections and its activities.