From Ottawa to Percé Rock

In the morning: visit the wonderful Museum of Civilizations. It is both pleasant and fascinating, and children will love it. The whole history of Canada is explained, with a special focus on Indigenous cultures.

Leave Ottawa and follow the road along the river towards Mont-Tremblant.

I suggest a stop at Parc Omega, near Montebello, where you can see all of Canada’s animals. Sure, it’s not the same as randomly spotting them on a forest hike, but at least you’re guaranteed to see Québec’s small and large mammals… especially with children who are rarely silent or patient…

Then enter the Laurentians region and settle into a beautiful resort made up of apartment-style pavilions. You will have your own kitchen and terrace. And also: outdoor pools, water games…

The region is fantastic for outdoor activities: walking, canoeing down a river, mountain biking, and more…

Mont-Tremblant National Park is one of the most beautiful in Québec, and also one of the most rugged. There is no shortage of activities—ask the guides to explain everything you can do there. Why not attend a short evening talk? Or join a walk with a naturalist guide?

At the nearby Tremblant ski resort, the atmosphere is totally different: café terraces, restaurants, music, and plenty of activities (alpine coaster, climbing, lake, etc.).
You can also take the gondola up to the top of the mountain for a lovely view over the whole region.

Overnight at the same place.

Reluctantly, you leave your accommodation and head back down towards the St. Lawrence River.

In Trois-Rivières, would you dare visit the former prison, in pure American style? And when the guide locks your children in a cell—will it turn them into well-behaved kids?

Continue along the river. Arrival in Québec City, the only fortified city in North America. Stroll around and enjoy the lively atmosphere of Old Québec; the historic district is a delight to explore on foot.
Accommodation in a **** hotel not far from Old Québec (indoor pool).

Old Québec is not very large, and you still have this morning to wander around if you wish.

Then the road follows the south shore of the St. Lawrence. To your left: the river and, beyond it, the Laurentians. To your right: the Appalachian Mountains. It’s a long drive, but you may have time to go see seals at Parc du Bic.

You arrive at a small inn tucked away deep in the woods, on the shore of a beaver lake.

Activities are offered at the inn: canoeing and kayaking, mountain-bike trails, a national hiking path, a fish-filled lake, quad rentals, and interpretation of local flora and fauna.

In the afternoon, you return to the St. Lawrence and Rimouski. At Pointe-au-Père, you can visit a moving little museum about the worst shipwreck ever on the St. Lawrence: the Empress of Ireland in 1914, which claimed over 1,000 lives. Right next door, a submarine can also be visited… on land!

In Sainte-Anne-des-Monts, you leave the river behind to head into the mountains. You stay in a large lodge in the heart of Gaspésie National Park, near Mont Albert.

Visit Parc national de la Gaspésie. You can attempt the ascent of Mont Albert (900 m). From the top, you’ll admire landscapes reminiscent of the Far North. A herd of caribou can also be found there.

At the interpretation center, you’ll find other excursion ideas or easier walks that are still beautiful and wild.

Overnight at the same place.

Continue due south and cross the entire Gaspé Peninsula, with its lakes and mountains.

Then follow Baie-des-Chaleurs. Suggested stops: the Loyalist village of New Richmond, the Acadian Museum in Bonaventure, and Banc-de-Paspébiac, a reconstruction of an old cod-fishing port.

Accommodation in a *** hotel in Percé. Sea view and a view of Percé Rock!

A day to discover Bonaventure Island and its 70,000 Northern Gannets, and to walk out to Percé Rock if the tide schedule allows—or drive up a mountain road for breathtaking views.

You can board a boat for a short sea cruise to see both sides of Percé Rock. Then you’ll circle Bonaventure Island and disembark. A 45-minute walk along the island’s trails brings you to the area where around 50,000 gannets nest. Watch their spectacular dives into the sea. You can explore other trails as well. Finally, take the boat back to Percé. Duration: between 1h45 and 3 hours.

Overnight at the same place.

It’s a long stage, but what a beautiful drive!
First comes Forillon National Park, a true gem of pristine nature and cliffs.
A lovely walk is possible out to the cape. Bears can sometimes be seen. Whales too—but much more rarely.

Then the entire road along the northern coast of Gaspésie is magnificent: fishing villages, lighthouses, hills…
And the sea to your right: although it is still the St. Lawrence River, you can’t see the opposite shore.

Soon you will cross to the other side of the St. Lawrence. But before that, you could visit the Jardins de Métis in Sainte-Flavie—one of the most beautiful garden parks in Canada.

Depending on the crossing you choose, you could also stroll through Parc du Bic if you didn’t do it five days ago. Legend has it that after creating the world, God found a few pebbles left in his pocket and tossed them—thus Parc du Bic was born, with its many rocks, large and small, and seals basking in the sun.

You take the ferry to reach the north shore. A few more kilometers and you arrive in the village of Tadoussac.

Today is whale day! Head to Tadoussac to spot whales on a 3–4-hour boat trip. If you prefer, you can go whale watching by zodiac or sea kayak! There are many whales, as well as belugas and seals.
In the village, a small center provides an excellent introduction to the lives of these mammals.

Then take the road through the beautiful Charlevoix region, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Overnight in a guesthouse with a view over the river. Alternatively, you can stay in an inn or in a self-catering apartment.

A wonderful day to discover, for example, Parc des Grands-Jardins and admire magnificent landscapes. The flora is different in Québec, and wild animals are easier to spot… or rather, less difficult to see!

Another option: Parc national des Hautes-Gorges-de-la-Rivière-Malbaie for hikes along the river or to climb the cliffs; there is also a very pleasant mini-cruise on the lake, and bike rentals are available.

The small village of Baie-Saint-Paul is very charming, with many art galleries, and strolling there is a delight… Overnight at the same place.

Follow the St. Lawrence, whose banks draw closer and closer together. Before reaching Québec City, stop at Canyon Sainte-Anne, or Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré for its basilica, or the Montmorency Falls.

You pass by Québec City again, like meeting an old friend.
Then you enter the beautiful Mauricie region. In Trois-Rivières, why not visit the old prison, or simply take a walk around this small town?

You arrive at your inn. It is beautiful and the welcome is friendly—on the shore of a lake, of course. Many activities will be offered.

Visit La Mauricie National Park: the perfect place for a final hike—or better yet, a canoe loop on a lake. The villages in the region are charming. Or perhaps you’ll simply want to enjoy the inn’s facilities (pool, sauna, massage, lake, canoeing, quad, black bear safari…). Reluctantly, you leave your inn to return to Montréal, but you can take your time if you wish.

The detour via Drummondville on the south shore is well worth it: you can visit the Village Québécois d’Antan, a beautiful reconstruction of life in bygone days. Arrival in Montréal, the world’s second-largest French-speaking city. You pass near the former Olympic Park; if you have time, visit the Biodôme for a surprising and captivating discovery of the Earth’s four climates. Overnight in a *** hotel downtown (rooftop pool!).

(For those who prefer nature, you can stay a second night at this inn.)

A shorter day to continue exploring the city and perhaps do some shopping.
The city has very distinct neighborhoods, such as the business district, the entertainment area, Old Montréal… Everything can be done on foot or by bike (Montréal is an island). Or, of course, by sightseeing bus…

Late afternoon or evening (depending on flight times), drive to Montréal airport. Return the car and board your return flight.