The Magdalen Islands are gem in the wild. We recently visited for a short time and can't wait to go back. We were mainly there to go sea kayaking and in our 2 day trip managed 2 nice trips plus visited most points on the islands. We loved the Eco Museums-we visited a cheese making facility, a store/museum where they smoke fish and a fabulous sand craft location where many items are made from sand. The islands are popular with cyclists since they are mostly flat and self contained. The other very popular activity is kite boarding since they have many lagoons with are shallow but are windy and so are ideal for this activity. I am looking forward to trying that on our next visit. For more images click Madeleine and for more tourism info contact: http://www.tourismeilesdelamadeleine.com/magdalen-islands/    

 

Since going to Gatineau Park on our visit last year we decided to make it a regular place to visit when we go to Ottawa. On our most recent trip while we saw the 2010 Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest by night we enjoyed Gatineau Park by day. We even spent a night in a Yurt. Also in was in the Outaouais region that we fell in love with the thrill of ziplines and tree top adventures and the closest one to Ottawa is located in Gatineau Park-It is called the Camp Fortune Aerial Park and they have 3 courses for you to try. We also enjoyed seeing the northern end of the park for the first time and enjoyed staying in the Lac Philippe campground where we could bike, canoe, swim and new for this year is a Yurt. The Yurt offers a place for anyone who wants to stay in this scenic area a comfortable place to stay who may not want to camp or stay in a tent. Click Gatineau2010 for more info and images.  

Nordik Spa in Old Chelsea, Quebec just north of Ottawa. This spa opened just a couple of years ago but has quickly become very popular. It is based on the premise that alternating hot and cold pools followed by relaxation is good for the body and soul. It is mostly outside and even though it was raining we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. The hot pools were popular but my favourite was the steam room. There was also a Finnish sauna, a gazebo with wood fire and the setting with its waterfalls and natural forest cover helps create a relaxing atmosphere.  We decided to eat there and had a delicious bison medallion with blue cheese and porto sauce. The Nordik Spa gets my vote as the best way to end the day. Click Nordik for more photos and information.

When we arrived at Lafleche Aventure it had started raining. As we headed to the office to meet our guide Marc Andre Dorval, we watched a group of 20 people getting fitted with harnesses and gloves and we were struck with how enthusiatic this group was, oblivious to the weather.  From the shelter of the office, Marc began to show us what all the excitement was about as he pointed out many ziplines that stretched across the lake and then a monster zipline that is over 200 meters long and over 30 meters in the air. Lafleche Aventures now has the largest aerial park in North America. Lafleche combines 55 tree top suspension type bridges with 12 ziplines and it is clear from all of the people here on this cool, rainy day that this is very popular. We got a chance to try course 4 and after a safety demo we were off. Negotiating the aerial bridges required focus and challenge while the ziplines provided an adrenalin rush But if ziplines aren’t your thing you can also go caving here. After our zipline tour we headed underground with Marc Dorval and he told us how they are still investigating and finding new passageways even though the cave has been explored for decades. For more pictures and information click Lafleche 

 Eco-Odyssee is North America’s only water maze. It is located just outside Wakefield, 30 minutes north of Ottawa. Owner Michel Leclair told us that he is enchanted with the beaver and after observing them for more that 25 years he decided to create a tourist attraction with a beaver’s eye view. By using a pedal boat you navigate 6.4 kilometers of waterways within the rich marsh ecosystem. “This is not a zoo” Michel told us. “Rather the birds and other animals are attracted to the marsh.” Each pedal boat is provided with a 164 page eco guide so that you can identify all the plants and animals that you come across. This is just his second year of operation and Michel is hoping to build on the 5,500 people that experienced his Eco-Odyssee last year. Click Odyssee for more information and pictures.

Gatineau Park receives about 1.7 million visitors each year. It is just a few minutes north of Ottawa and is popular with skiers, hikers and bikers. We had just a few hours to see the park before boarding our plane back to Newfoundland so on the recommendation of Francois Leduc, the park manager, we hiked the King Mountain Trail. “The park is popular in all seasons although is perhaps best known for its fall colours” He told us. “But if you want a classic hike-take the 2.5 km King Mountain trail since it will give you a great view of the whole Ottawa Valley.” It did provide stunning vistas and we even saw a family of geese enjoying the view. For more pictures and information click Gatineau.

If you want a Maritime experience with French twist then try visiting the Gaspe region of Quebec. On a recent trip we were blessed with good weather and great wildlife sitings, scenery, accommodations and food. This area is also known as the lighthouse route and has 18 lighthouses including the tallest in Canada along the way. There are lots of activities to take part in from hiking and biking to sea kayaking and whale watching. Also it includes one of Canada's iconic landmarks in Perce Rock. Also be sure to visit Bonaventure Island while in that area with its impressive gannet colony. There are also beautiful gardens at the Metis Gardins and Chic Choc Mountain Lodge is a great place to get back to nature. For more information contact http://www.bonjourquebec.com/    For more images and video click GASPE.  

Visiting Quebec's Gaspe Peninsula from Keith Nicol on Vimeo.

Via Rail is a great way to see the Gaspe region since has many stops along the way. Most people ride the rails to Gaspe or do what we did and get off at Perce--of course known for its landmark rocky island. The train offers you a relaxing way to see the landscape unfold and with its night start in Quebec City you get to wake up to the sea shore of the Bay of Chaleur the next morning. The tracks run along the coast for much of this Bay of Chaleur section and you couldn't imagine a better way to eat breakfast than in the dining car with beaches and sea cliffs to look at. You can rent a car like we did in Perce and then return a week later if you decide to take the train back or drop your car at another location. For more information see www.viarail.ca/  Click Via for more images

This area is about 90 minutes northwest of Ottawa. This area is undergoing a big transformation and we happened to be there for the ribbon cutting of their new via ferrata and giant zipline.  After the mandatory safety drill we tried the interior aerial park which combined short ziplines, ladders and Tarzan type bridges between trees. Next we clipped into the massive 250 meters zipline that spans the impressive Chutes Coulonge canyon. The water tossed and turned as we zoomed over the foaming rapids. The guide at the other end unhooked us and directed us to the bridge and via ferrata that was our only way back to the interpretation centre.  Via ferrata is Italian for “iron route” and these are popular in Europe. You basically use the same harness and clip system that you use for the aerial parks but now we climbed up the steep canyon walls. With the water churning below us we negotiated the route and I couldn’t believe where the route led us….up steep rocks and along cliff faces until we were back to the start of the giant zipline. Click Chutes for more pictures and information