Charlevoix (Summer)

Charlevoix’s rugged landscape and extensive flora and fauna earned its recognition as a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1989. From the north shore of the St. Lawrence east of Québec City to the Saguenay River, Charlevoix offers ancient Laurentian mountains, picture-perfect villages, a thriving arts scene, and wonderful places to eat and sleep. It also has a crater some 56 km (almost 35 miles) across, caused by a meteorite smashing into earth 350 million years ago. The region’s rich maritime history is best discovered in the old village of St. Joseph-de-la-Rive, in the museum based in the old shipyard. A free ferry from here cruises to ...

Charlevoix’s rugged landscape and extensive flora and fauna earned its recognition as a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1989. From the north shore of the St. Lawrence east of Québec City to the Saguenay River, Charlevoix offers ancient Laurentian mountains, picture-perfect villages, a thriving arts scene, and wonderful places to eat and sleep. It also has a crater some 56 km (almost 35 miles) across, caused by a meteorite smashing into earth 350 million years ago. The region’s rich maritime history is best discovered in the old village of St. Joseph-de-la-Rive, in the museum based in the old shipyard. A free ferry from here cruises to the tranquil island of Île-aux-Coudre, where three economuseums offer insight into the island’s past. The village of La Malbaie-Pointe-au-Pic has attracted tourists since the start of the 20th century, when steamships brought the elite of New York, Montréal and Toronto to experience someplace out of the ordinary. A whale-watching center as well, Charlevoix continues to draw lovers of both nature and the arts.

About the Expert

Joanna Ebbutt is the author or editor of three Insight Guides to Toronto and Canada, and coauthor of Off the Beaten Track: Western Canada. She has been writing about travel for three decades, including chasing the aurora borealis in Northern Ontario.