This text is part of the special book Plaisirs
Are you a caravanning enthusiast? Do you already know where you will go on vacation next summer? Here are some trending ideas in 2023 for your next road trip !
We asked Martin Gauthier, assistant director of the CAA-Quebec Travel Center in Trois-Rivières, which helps caravanners with their itinerary, to tell us about the places popular this year with motor vehicle enthusiasts. Here are his suggestions.
The North Shore for 10 days of vacation: the whale route
Since the pandemic, a large number of Quebecers have discovered the North Shore for their vacations. Beautiful landscapes and wide open spaces are still popular this year. The end of Route 138, which leads to the village of Kegaska, is the most popular end point of the rroad trip on the North Shore. It is a total of 1315 km to travel from Montreal, or more than 15 hours on the road. Of course, the end of Route 138 is not the only goal of the trip, even if it is its point of arrival before taking the way back.
The Côte-Nord is a favorite place for long road trips along the river, because of its many attractions and the variety of landscapes, which make the crossing so captivating. Several campsites are accessible along Route 138 and welcome recreational vehicles, even large ones. The whale route, which runs along the river, allows you to sometimes observe these cetaceans from the window of your RV. Some campgrounds, such as Tadoussac or Bon-Désir, offer a breathtaking view of the river or the Saguenay Fjord. A great opportunity to go sea kayaking and see the great cetaceans up close.
The Maritimes for a two-week vacation: the Cabot Trail in Nova Scotia
The Maritimes, as much Nova Scotia as New Brunswick or Prince Edward Island, seduce with their panoramic roads along the sea, the beauty of the beaches, the wide open spaces and their gourmet attractions. The Cabot Trail is arguably the most coveted road in the Maritimes. Located in Nova Scotia, it passes through Cape Breton Highlands National Park for 298 kilometres, offering travelers spectacular valley and coastal views along the way. However, the path is winding and has sometimes steep slopes to negotiate. It is doable if you drive a big RV, taking your time, but it is also possible to leave your caravan in the campsites located on the way to the road and then take your car to explore the area. This will make it easier for you to reach the picturesque fishing villages or one of the many hiking trails. Several campgrounds are located in Baddeck, in the lower part of the Cabot Trail, or in Chéticamp, for example, at the Plage Saint-Pierre campground. This will allow you to take magnificent panoramic photos!
New England for a week and more: from Mount Washington to the beaches of Cape Cod Bay
New England remains a favorite summer destination for vacationers. With its mountainous attractions, historic coastal towns and white sand beaches, the states of New Hampshire, Maine and Massachusetts, in particular, have many things to offer for a memorable stay.
After taking route 89, which crosses Vermont and its mountains, direction I-93, then the 302, a road which allows you to cross the White Mountain National Forest and which offers spectacular landscapes. We arrive in New Hampshire, where we leave our RV in the parking lot at the foot of Mount Washington Park, which is the highest peak in the northeast of the United States, with its 1917 meters above sea level. The choice is then offered to you to climb it on foot (which is not within everyone’s reach), or to travel the path leading to the summit by car or on board the picturesque Cog Railway. Breathtaking views await you.
A good night’s sleep at one of the region’s national park campsites will then allow you to descend to the coast, a crossing of about two and a half hours, to visit the city of Portland, Maine. It is best to find a campsite outside the city and then take your vehicle or the bus to get to Portland, because the city does not allow you to travel easily with your RV. You will find a pretty fishing village with a unique character, where the good restaurants serving fresh and delicious seafood are legion! Take the opportunity to take a short cruise aboard the Casco ferry and discover one of the almost uninhabited islands in Casco Bay. Nature excursions that are really worth the detour.
The holiday getaway can then end on Cape Cod Bay, in Massachusetts, to enjoy the beautiful white sand beaches of the Cape Cod National Seashore and swimming, if you are not too chilly!
This special content was produced by the Special Publications team of the Duty, relating to marketing. The drafting of Duty did not take part.