This text is part of the special book Plaisirs
The Vallée-de-la-Gatineau, from the municipality of Low to Maniwaki, is home to pretty addresses and regional parks where we can have fun and entertain our taste buds. Story of a long spring weekend.
Celebrate the return of cycling
The days are starting to warm up in the valley. The rising temperatures and the clear trails encourage us to take the Véloroute des Draveurs for our first outing of the year, the one that does the most good! It is also an opportunity to admire the spring which settles comfortably everywhere in the region. Located between Blue Sea and Messines, this section of the Trans Canada Trail stretches over 72 rather flat kilometres.
At the end of the day, we stop at Les Fruits du Sommet, a family business with multiple operations. In addition to U-pick and products derived from the fruits of their harvest, they design essential oils from the residue of conifers from their logging company. The smells emanating from their small production plant are reminiscent of a spa or a walk in the forest.
real jewelry
While Gatineau Park is undoubtedly the best known in the Outaouais, Mont Morissette Regional Park is possibly the region’s best kept secret. Located in the municipality of Blue Sea, its 13 kilometers of trails have enough to entertain us all day. We finish it by climbing to the top of the 18 meter high observation tower. From there, the panoramic view of the Vallée-de-la-Gatineau is sublime.
Then, there’s nothing like a busy day of hiking to whet your appetite. In the area, the good address is L’Huile d’Olive, on the shores of Thirty-One Mile Lake, in the Majopial Village. This recreational tourism complex includes cabins for rent, two inns and a marina.
In the kitchens of L’Huile d’Olive, executive chef Marc Gervais has 35 years of experience in the trade. A native of Gatineau, his mission is to highlight the producers of his region in his menu, which changes with the seasons. What mainly attracts passers-by to this restaurant, which is rather isolated from major centres, is its wine cellar. Sommelier since 2009, Chef Gervais takes pleasure in helping us choose a bottle of wine that will perfectly accompany our meal.
The art of moving and eating well
Obviously, the ritual of the weekend is to move, then to eat very well. The next day begins on the slopes of Mont Sainte-Marie. Known for winter skiing, this mountain also offers year-round hiking trails.
For a snack, head to the Boréal farm near Low. In a bid to get closer to the land, owner Christa de Benedetti moved here amid the pandemic. The market gardener follows the principles of permaculture, a global agricultural approach adapted to local natural ecosystems. In his shop, we get our hands on his popular marinades and the products of his neighboring farmers, in addition to sustenance of a succulent soup and a slice of savory pie with seasonal vegetables.
Not far from there, Anne-Marie Laplante, from the Thuya farm, is a passionate farmer. On her farm, she raises chickens, pigs and a few cows, in addition to growing a few vegetables. Throughout the summer, she organizes four outdoor meals. On site, it is also possible to get your hands on his delicious pizzas cooked in a wood oven and garnished with vegetables and meat from his farm.
Satisfied and alert, we return with the feeling of having discovered a real gem to offer us more than once a year.
This special content was produced by the Special Publications team of the Duty, pertaining to marketing. The drafting of Duty did not take part.