Going on an adventure on the roads of Quebec when the outbreak of leaves coincides with mild weather is the best way to say goodbye to summer. But it is still necessary to have a mode of transport, which is less obvious than ever for those who do not own a vehicle. Solutions and Destinations.
As anyone looking to buy an automobile knows, it’s not easy to get your hands on a new or used vehicle these days, especially when it comes to an electric model. . As for those who wish to use a car occasionally by betting on short-term rentals, they too must be patient, because this sector is also affected by an increase in demand, especially during weekends.
An emerging solution: car sharing. A pioneer in this niche, the Turo platform, which is gaining more and more followers in Quebec, offers an almost unlimited choice of models. Vans, motorhomes, SUVs, electric vehicles, economical subcompacts, convertibles, sports cars, luxury or ultra-luxury, there is something for everyone. We can therefore choose a specific vehicle according to the destination and the mood of the moment, a question of varying the experiences. Want to play the game? Here are four fall getaways worth the trip and a match of vehicles tailored to make the most of them.
Nature glamping in Lanaudière
Duration: 2 to 3 days
Vehicle: To reduce its GHG emissions,
an EV like the Hyundai Ioniq or the Tesla Model X
To disconnect and cut ties with the daily routine, there’s nothing like an unplugged stay in the heart of nature, where the only ambient noise is produced by the fauna and the rustling of the leaves. During the fall season, camping enthusiasts can afford an “upgrade” to a rustic but well-equipped accommodation, including a cozy bed and central heating. You can find them everywhere in the beautiful region of Lanaudière, where you can practice a host of activities such as climbing, courses in the trees and hiking, on foot or by bike, on an extensive network of trails.
Among the options to discover, the Gollé Goulu campsite, in Saint-Côme, offers, in a ready-to-camp formula, cabins without electricity, lit by solar energy, heated by a wood stove and equipped with dry toilets , where pets are accepted. As for the houses perched high (in the trees) of Kabania, in Notre-Dame-de-la-Merci, they are twinned with common buildings equipped with a kitchen and a relaxation area. Note: charging stations are available in these municipalities.
On the way to Bas-Saint-Laurent and Gaspésie
Duration: 4 to 5 days
Vehicle: For comfort and to get off the beaten track,
an SUV like the Jeep Wrangler or the BMW X5
Gaspésie is associated with summer vacations, days spent on the beach and lobster dinners while the sun is still shining. However, this region deserves to be discovered in the fall, when its landscapes are at their most beautiful and tourists are conspicuous by their absence. If you leave from Montreal or Quebec, the road is quite long, but, following the course of the river, you can make several very pleasant stops in the Bas-Saint-Laurent.
First stop: Kamouraska, where there are excellent gourmet addresses, such as the Côté Est restaurant, renowned for its divine local cuisine, the Niemand bakery for its breads and pastries, and the Tête d’match brewery for its tasting palettes accompanied by snack stuff. A few kilometers further, Parc national du Bic is worth a visit to admire some of the most unique coastal landscapes in Quebec. After observing the seals during a kayak trip or climbing to the top of Pic Champlain, head to the village of Bic to sit down at the restaurant Chez Saint-Pierre and discover the local cuisine of chef Colombe St-Pierre. A few steps away, you can spend the night at the Auberge du Mange-Grenouille, which also has an excellent restaurant.
The next day, we go through typical villages as far as Matane, then Gaspé. Once there, the choice of activities is dizzying: hikes along spectacular cliffs dropping into the ocean, sea kayaking and whale watching, which are less shy in the fall. The road trip culminates with a visit to the Île-Bonaventure-et-du-Rocher-Percé National Park, followed by an excursion to the amazing UNESCO Global Geopark, an immense territory of geological significance preserved for future generations.
Gourmet getaway in the vineyards
Eastern Townships
Duration: a day or a weekend
Vehicle: For fun, a convertible or a luxury model,
like the Ford Mustang or the Porsche Boxster
The blaze of colors is particularly stunning in the Eastern Townships, and it is optimal during the harvest season. So now is the time to treat yourself to an epicurean getaway, provided you appoint an abstinent driver! A one-day tour is suitable for residents of Montreal, but a slightly longer trip allows you to spoil yourself by staying in a charming hotel and feasting on the excellent restaurants of the region.
Among the best known vineyards, let us mention that of Orpailleur, a true pioneer of viticulture in northern climates, the Domaine des Côtes d’Ardoise, which offers tastings on its rural site, Château Ste-Agnès, a historic estate of European style dominated by a castle and a chapel, and the Clos Saragnat, which specializes in the production of straw wine from dried grapes. To properly prepare your itinerary, simply consult the laroutedesvins.ca website, which offers several circuits in the Brome-Missisquoi sector, the cradle of Quebec viticulture.
Set sail in the Îles-de-la-Madeleine
Length of stay: one week minimum
Vehicle: To be autonomous, a motorhome,
like the Toyota Sienna or the Dodge Grand Caravan
To take an epic road trip to The Islands, you have to get there first – and take a ferry from Prince Edward Island. Visitors have everything to gain when arriving in their motorhome, as the rental car fleet is quite limited, as is the choice of accommodation. The reward: end-of-the-world landscapes, the warm welcome of the Madelinots and holy peace after the tourist season. Here, you can walk for hours without meeting anyone on a white sand beach that crunches underfoot, along the red cliffs in a sea kayak and roll from one island to another for a complete change of atmosphere. Hiking enthusiasts can take the Entre vents et tides trails, a circuit developed in 2015 by regulars on the Compostela paths, which crisscrosses the beaches, natural sites and villages of the archipelago.
Staying in the Îles-de-la-Madeleine also means discovering local flavors. From the friendly Café de la Grave, housed in a former general store in Havre-Aubert, to the Nature Gourmet stopover in Étang-du-Nord, passing by local producers such as Fromagerie Pied-de-Vent, the Smokehouse of yesteryear, the Trésor du large oyster farmer and the microbrewery Abri de la Tempête, the gourmet circuit is worth the (big) detour!
Turo is Canada’s largest and fastest growing peer-to-peer carsharing platform. It connects local car owners with a vibrant community of travelers looking for the perfect vehicle for their next adventure. Turo is reinventing the car-sharing model by encouraging Canadians to make better use of their approximately 23 million vehicles.
This content was produced by Le Devoir’s special publications team in collaboration with the advertiser. Le Devoir’s editorial team had no role in the production of this content.
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