Six Star Magazine Six Star Magazine 2012 | Page 20

Quebec
With its rural nature and hilly territory,
Quebec is always a favourite destination.
Many drivers cite the Eastern Township
Trail or the Laurentians as the best places
to drive.
But for the road not traveled, it’s hard
to beat the Navigator’s Route (Route des
Navigators) on the South Shore of the
St. Lawrence Seaway. “Three centuries
history roll by as well as riveting views
of a majestic river dotted by islands,
picturesque villages and rich architectural
heritage. The route runs for about
470 km along Route 132, linking Baiedu-Febvre (Centre-du-Québec) to
Sainte-Luce (Bas-Saint-Laurent),”

Mt. Tremblant – From the village to the slopes

Historic rods and reels abound and no
Next on the clockwise route is Acadian
Country and Cheticamp, a small but
lovely town that preserves French culture
(different than Quebec’s) and language
and traditional craftsmanship. It’s one of
the best places to go whale watching and
is the main entrance to the Cape Breton
Highlands National Park, where there is
truly incredible scenery.
As one commentator stated, “As you
enter the park, the road rises through a
valley on cliffs that tower 300 meters
above the water. Stop at one of the many
lookout points to admire the views over
the Bay of St. Lawrence and the hills and
keep your eyes open. It’s quite common
to see eagles soaring overhead and
occasionally whales swim just offshore.”

The Park spans the entire trail and
can be accessed from the south side
from many points including Neils Harbor
(where the Chowder House is right by the
Lighthouse) and Ingonish. Also, don’t miss
the top of the trail at Dingwall, where you
can veer off and go to the majestic ocean
views and beaches at Meat Cove, Bay St.
Lawrence and Cape North. The Ingonish
the celebrated Keltic Lodge and there’s
wonderful hiking there, too.
Also on the Island, but not to be
missed is the Fortress of Louisburg
National Historic Site. It is the largest
reconstruction site in North America,
with walls built between 1720 and 1740,
and a major cog in the struggle between
the French and English for control of
what is now Canada. (nstravelguide.com)

(bonjourquebec.com)
Just a sampling of the drive’s
wonderful qualities includes the following:
Naval history buffs will be fascinated
by the Musée maritime du Québec in
L’Islet and its icebreaker and hydrofoil,
and by the A. C. Davie shipyard in
Lévis, facing Quebec City. Just off
Montmagny lies Grosse-Île, a national
welcomed thousands of 19th-century Irish
immigrants in search of a brighter future
in the New World. “The island is part of
an archipelago that, along with the river’s
shores, serves as a stopover in the fall for
masses of snow geese en route to their
wintering grounds. Another must-visit
site in the region is Saint-Jean-Port-Joli,
“a pretty village where art and history
recommended Quebec drives include
the King’s Road, and the Whale, Wine
and New France Routes.