Page 67 - 2026-2027 Travel Guide to Canada

people. Québec’s gastronomic trails link the
harvest of the countryside with the markets of
the cities. The trails are known for artisanal
cheese producers, small production vintners,
local growers and specialty producers.
Exploring the trails is a way to meet the people
who create the province’s signature products,
from foie gras to springtime maple syrup.
The Farmlands Route (Chemin du
Terroir) loops through the Laurentians
countryside, with stops at producers of
wines and ciders, maple goods, fresh-picked
apples and Québec’s famous fromageries.
Grape growers and vintners, and many
bistros and restaurants, are a part of
Québec’s Wine Route—La Route des vins
(www.laroutedesvins.ca/en).
At the peninsula jutting into the Gulf of
St. Lawrence, Gaspésie Gourmande brings
together around 150 businesses who create or
process products harvested from the land, sea
and forest, as well as the shops, restaurants,
chefs and B&B establishments that sell or
serve their wares (gaspesiegourmande.com).
WHAT’S NEW?
After a major renovation, the Insectarium is
back. Get a new appreciation for industrious
ants, hard-working bees, pest-controlling
spiders and many other insects that we
couldn’t live without. Check out the large
glass vivarium where guests can observe
insects, including free-flying butterflies
(www.espacepourlavie.ca/en/insectarium).
Step into Olympic history as the 1976
Montréal Olympic Games turns 50. With a
dynamic citywide celebration, headlined by
a must-see exhibition running March
through September, experience the Games
through iconic artefacts, bold design, and
the dramatic story of its groundbreaking
architecture and urban legacy (www.mon
trealolympique.ca/en).
Kiamika Regional Park offers a next-level
wilderness escape with the opening of the
Blueberry Bay area. Find ready-to-camp
sites, a canoe-camping hub, and a scenic
new hiking trail featuring a panoramic
lookout on Île de la Perdrix Blanche
(www.reservoirkiamika.org/en).
Mont-Saint-Pierre’s new "mountain-by-the-sea
resort" in Gaspésie is the ultimate thrill-meets-
tranquility destination, offering everything
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WINTER SCENE IN THE HISTORIC PETIT CHAMPLAIN DISTRICT, QUÉBEC CITY • REGION DE QUEBEC
COPYRIGHT GOUVQC/EMMANUEL COVENEY
from beachside hikes and stargazing to off-
piste skiing and heart-pounding free flight
initiations (www.montsaintpierre.ca).
Ungava Polar Eco-Tours is a new Inuit-
owned enterprise that welcomes visitors for
a summer adventure on the Gyrfalcon
Islands, offshore from the Inuit community
of Tasiujaq in Leaf Bay, which competes with
the Bay of Fundy for the world’s highest tides.
Muskox and many species of birds can be
observed on the islands, while boat outings on
Leaf Bay offer potential encounters with polar
bears in their natural habitat. With friendly
Inuit guides, explore breathtaking natural
landscapes and awe-inspiring Arctic wildlife
and opportunities to view the northern lights
(www.ungavapolarecotours.com).
Six distinctive Québec escapes join the
Ascend Collection in 2026, as Choice Hotels
unveils a handpicked lineup of urban
hideaways, lakeside retreats, and mountain
resorts. Drift from Montréal’s vibrant streets
to Orford’s alpine calm, where château-style
suites, spa sanctuaries, golf greens, and
storybook farms turn every stay into an
experience (www.choicehotels.com/
en-ca/ascend).
CITY LIGHTS
The province’s unique European sensibility
flavours the intersection of art, culture
and history. This is a big part of the city
centres—Montréal and Québec City—with
their wealth of museums, galleries and
special exhibits.
In Québec City, small music clubs, funky
bars, boîtes à chansons (intimate venues for
the province’s singer/songwriters) and
music festivals like the Québec City Summer
Festival (Festival d’été de Québec), one of
Canada’s biggest music festivals, contribute
to a vibrant arts scene (www.feq.ca/en).
Cosmopolitan Montréal sits at a cultural
crossroads, rooted in both anglo and franco-
phone heritage. The city has put together
itineraries to inspire visitors, from nightlife to
shopping to annual festivals (www.mtl.org/en).
Montréal abounds with theatre and
dance, music and circus arts, and museums
and art galleries showcasing everything
from cutting-edge works to timeless classics.
An underground system of pedestrian
passageways, RÉSO, connects Métro stations
and corridors filled with boutiques and
small shops.
Montréal is renowned for its lively summer
gatherings—from jamming sessions to dance
fests. In cool contrast, take in a concert at Old
Montréal’s Notre-Dame Basilica, a neo-Gothic
masterpiece with marvellous acoustics
(www.basiliquenotredame.ca/en). Or visit
the quays of the Old Port on foot, by Segway
or hoverboard, where performances range
from reggae to harbour symphonies created
with ships’ horns.
Year-round, chic prevails in Old Montréal’s
clubs, trendy bistros and the free-spirited
Latin Quarter’s cocktail bars. The city teems
with bars, discos, microbreweries, cigar
lounges, cafés and outdoor terraces.
THE GREAT OUTDOORS
Outdoor enthusiasts can soak up Québec’s
untamed wilderness by visiting the
province’s numerous parks. With thousands
of crystal-clear lakes and an impressive
range of wildlife, they are idyllic for camping,
canoeing, fishing, cycling, mountain biking
and hiking. In winter, the guarantee of snow
creates a paradise for downhill and cross-