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BY Nancy Mueller 5 Comments ON July 29, 2015

How to Make the Most of Your Great Escape to Charlevoix, Québec

Parc national des Grands-Jardins

The more I travel to Québec, Canada, the longer I want to stay . . . From following the culinary trail in Montréal, to celebrating Winter Carnival in Québec City, to sampling the restorative spas in Lanaudière and Mauricie . . .

For my latest exploration, I’m off to the charming Charlevoix region an hour northeast of Québec City for a few days of summer play. Infused with the natural beauty of a mountainous landscape, plus the immensity of the St. Lawrence River (Fleuve Saint-Laurent), the area attracts outdoor enthusiasts, art & culture lovers and passionate foodies.

Recreational adventures abound here – hiking, biking, kayaking, whale-watching, and star-gazing, with plenty of culinary discoveries and comfortable lodgings along the way – making Charlevoix, a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, the perfect getaway for traveling solo, with friends or family.

Take a Hike and Discover the Via Ferrata.

Hotel Le Germain Charlevoix

After an overnight stay and tasty breakfast at Québec City’s Hôtel Royal William in the trendy New St-Roch district, we’re off on our road trip to discover the wonders of Charlevoix. Upon arrival, we drop our bags at Hôtel Le Germain Charlevoix, our home-away-from-home for the night. Contemporary in style, the hotel combines artistic, urban sophistication with country ambiance, in a nod to its cultural and historical roots.

Hiking Parc national des Grands-Jardins

Following a lunch that features flavors of the region, we head out for a light afternoon hike at Parc national des Grands-Jardins. My first clue that our planned activity entails a bit more than light hiking comes when we meet our guide who offers helmets and harnesses for our venture. Uh-oh.

Waivers signed, we start our hike, pausing occasionally to take in the spellbinding views and snap a few photos, and for some of us to catch our breath. Made it!

But wait – our guide leads us to the “Practice Rock,” the first step to the via ferrata circuit on the Mont du Lac des Cygnes. Uh-oh, again.

via ferrata Tourisme Quebec

Way too slowly, it dawns on me: Via ferrata. Translation: “Iron Way.” Ohhh. Now I get it. Mountain climbing, of sorts, with cables and clips and pegs, oh my! Where’s my high school French when I need it?

Willing to keep an open mind for the promise of spectacular views on a safe itinerary, I give it a go, but within a few upward steps, I learn my limit while translating the phrase, “Geez Louise” to my Quebecois host. Instead, I opt to take the trail back down to the lodge and wait for the others to follow. But for other wanderboomers in our group, the via ferrata proves irresistible. Challenging, sure, but ultimately rewarding. The rest of us applaud their accomplishment as we head to Le Saint-Pub Microbrewery in the heart of Baie-Saint-Paul to celebrate. Cheers!

Go Kayaking on Rivière du Gouffre.

With the new dawn comes a new adventure – river kayaking! After a short, hands-on demo on how to hold and use our paddles, our small group of single and double kayaks heads out on our 6 km (roughly 3.7 miles) expedition. Easy whitewaters and shallow waters make for a fun outing for novice and experienced kayakers alike as we descend down the Rivière du Gouffre to Baie-Saint-Paul.

A few beachings, seaweed entanglements and waves of laughter later, we thank our guide for the chance to explore beautiful Charlevoix from the water’s edge.

Bike Around Isle-aux-Coudres.

After a quick stop to pick up boxed lunches, we board the ferry to Isle-aux-Coudres for our next outdoor adventure, a bike tour of the island, with a few planned stops along the way. My Charlevoix host sets the pace on our tandem bike as we pedal along on the flat, country roads while enjoying the soft summer air and scenic views.

Before long we arrive at our first destination: Les Moulins de L’Isle-aux-Coudres, the unique site of an authentic working watermill, restored windmill and miller’s residence. We watch as guides demonstrate how wheat and buckwheat are ground into flour at the mill, explaining the process in both French and English.

All that biking worked up a thirst! Fortunately, we happen to be close to a cidery, Cidrerie Vergers Pedneault, the next stop on our island tour. Our cider tastings include several of the cidery’s award-winning artisan apple, pear, plum and Saskatoon berry products. Yum!

Discover Innovative Regional Cuisine.

Dining at Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu

Charlevoix is a food lover’s paradise easily discovered by following the region’s Flavor Trail from Petite-Rivière-Saint-François to La Malbaie. Over 40 regional growers, producers and chefs welcome visitors along the trail with delicious gourmet treats like artisan breads and pastries, pates, charcuterie, chocolate, honey, duck, pork, cheese, ciders and beer.

Playing Golf at Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu

After our afternoon adventure on the Isle-aux-Coudres, we check in at the historic Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu overlooking the St. Lawrence River in La Malbaie. On site, we continue our regional and classical cuisine discoveries at Le Charlevoix Restaurant with Executive Chef, Patrick Turcot, who introduces us to delectable trout carpaccio from les Eboulements, pan-seared scallops and foie gras with calvados and apple crisp, seared crab salad and red pepper cream and maple salmon gravlax, puffed quinoa salad and roasted almonds. Time to go hiking, biking and kayaking again!

Enjoy a Night of Star-gazing.

What better evening entertainment than a star-gazing session at the Astronomy Observatory (Observatoire Astronomique)? In partnership with the Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu, the observatory invites guests to search the skies with specialized telescopes under the guidance of scientifically-trained staff. Visitors can also take a self-guided tour of a scale model of the solar system by following a 3 km (just under 2 miles) trail along the St. Lawrence River.

Curious about the landscape and geology of the region? Through exhibits and lectures at the observatory, you can learn how the impact of a 15 billion tons’ meteorite that hit 350 million years ago created the mountainous character of Charlevoix.

Take a Whale-watching Zodiac Cruise.

Whale watching Quebec

On our last day in Charlevoix, we’re all suited-up in weather-resistant gear and ready to start our whale-watching adventure for the chance to see blue, fin, minke, humpback and beluga whales at play. In calm waters, before long we spot several seals near our boat while holding out hope for whale sightings. Success! Not only do we see several fin and minke, but our naturalist on board points to the horizon where a couple of belugas are swimming near shore. Moments later, a mama and baby beluga pass our zodiac where earlier we had watched one whale shoot towards our zodiac like a torpedo, only to veer away at the last moment. Wow.

Hop Aboard the Train Léger de Charlevoix.

Train Leger de Charlevoix

As we near the end of our Charlevoix journey, we have time for one more excursion before returning to Québec City: a rail cruise via The Charlevoix Light Rail Transit. Fun. Easy. Relaxing. We wind our way along the shoreline, mesmerized by views of the stunning river and mountain landscape, daydreaming about our unforgettable Charlevoix adventure.

View from Train Leger de Charlevoix

Many thanks to Tourisme Québec for hosting our days of summer play in Charlevoix!

For more information visit:

Lodging:
Hotel Royal William
Hôtel Le Germain Charlevoix
Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu
Hôtel Chateau Laurier Québec

Activities:
Parc national des Grands-Jardins
Katabatik
Vélo-Coudres
Croisieres AML
Les Moulins de L’Isle-aux-Coudres
Train Leger de Charlevoix

Eateries & Cidery:
Le Saint-Pub Microbrewery
Resto-Boutique La Table
Cidrerie Vergers Pedneault
Pains d’Exclamation
Café Chez Nous

Wander on!

Nancy

What about you, wanderboomers? What’s your favorite place to visit in Quebec? 

Filed Under: Activities, Alabama, Baby Boomers and Travel, By Land, By Ship & By Sea, Canada, Destinations, Hiking, Québec Tagged With: Biking, Charlevoix, hiking, kayaking, Québec, St. Lawrence River, star gazing, via ferrata, whale-watching

BY Nancy Mueller Leave a Comment ON December 31, 2014

2014: Oh, the Places I’ve Been!

How to capture an entire year of phenomenal travel experiences in one post? Impossible. Instead, here’s a photo montage of a few favorites, reminding me what a lucky gal I am . . .

Quebec

February and August . . . I fell in love with Quebec . . .

San Francisco

March . . . Stopped by San Francisco, the City by the Bay . . .

Okanagan B.C. Wine Country

May . . . Wandered through Okanagan, B.C. wine country  . . .

Kenmore Air Over Seattle and Spokane

May . . . Flew high with Kenmore Air over Seattle . . . and Spokane . . .

Ohai California

May . . . Took a mini-retreat in Ohai . . .

Whales watching in the San Juans and Glacier Bay

Spring and summer . . . Went whale watching in the San Juans and Glacier Bay . . . Imagining what I could have captured with the right camera lens!

Carson Kressley and Kym Johnson

July . . . Danced with the Stars, Carson Kressley and Kym Johnson, on a Holland America cruise to Alaska . . .

Blue Angels

August . . . Got buzzed by the Blue Angels at the top of the Space Needle, prompting the guy standing next to me to say, “Time for a change of underwear.”

Evelyn Hannon

Played Seattle tour guide and made friends with the pioneer Journeywoman herself, Evelyn Hannon, and her friend Marilyn . . .

Mount Rainier

September . . . I reacquainted myself with our favorite mountain, Mount Rainier . . .

Jetty Island

Summer . . . Discovered two new treasures close to home – Jetty Island and . . .

Birch Bay

June . . . Birch Bay . . .

State Cross Country Championships

November . . . Witnessed these phenomenal young women bring home the State Cross Country Championship – Woo hoo!!

Pacific Northwest

Happy New Year from the beautiful Pacific Northwest!

Wander on!

Nancy

Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism
Holland America
Kenmore Air
The Oaks at Ojai
Quebec Tourism
Snohomish County Tourism
Thompson Okanagan / Destination BC
Visit Rainier

Thanks to my hosts for covering part, though not all, of my travel expenses.

Where have your travels taken you in 2014, Wanderboomers? I’d love to hear.

Filed Under: Activities, British Columbia, California, Cruising, Destinations, Pacific Northwest, Québec, San Juan Island, Seattle, Travel Experiences, Washington State Tagged With: 2014, Blue Angels, Carson Kressley, Dancing with the Stars, Happy New Year, Holland America, Kenmore Air, Kym Johnson, State Cross Country Championships

BY Nancy Mueller 7 Comments ON February 26, 2014

10 Best Boomer Women Bonding Trips

St. Chapelle Winery Idaho

Solo trips and romantic escapes have their place. But sometimes we boomer women want a little more girlfriend bonding time. The next time you’re ready for a gal pal getaway, here are 10 Best Boomer Women Bonding Trips to satisfy your wanderlust for a day, a weekend or an extended vacation:

#1 – Spa Travel

Spa Natur'Eau Quebec

Boomers have led the pack in spa travel for decades and we’re not ready to change that anytime soon, are we? Not only do spas offer pampering treatments, saunas and hot springs;  increasingly, spa travel takes a 360 approach to health and wellness in exotic locations. Whether you tend towards yoga classes by the sea, hiking through old-growth forests or weight loss boot camps, you’re bound to come home relaxed and rejuvenated.

#2 -Foodie Fun

Appetizers Spa Natur'Eau Quebec

Food and wine are meant to be shared with friends. So why not sign up for a tasting tour, 5 course progressive dinner or cooking class to discover new flavors and gastronomic traditions? Browsing local farmers’ markets will whet your appetite and inspire new culinary concoctions. Learn from master chefs as you eat and drink your way around the world, or even your own neighborhood.

#3 – Cultural Immersion

Unique, authentic experiences remain high on the boomer women’s favorite travel list. The desire to connect with a place through its people and customs leads to learning a foreign language in the country where it’s spoken. Or renting an apartment so you can mix & mingle with local residents instead of staying in a hotel.

#4 – City Slicker Escape

Take advantage of the many girlfriend getaway hotel packages, offering everything from champagne & chocolate greetings to scenic city views and tickets to special events. Go to a show in your hometown or explore a new destination together through its art and architecture. Investigate the city’s history on foot, by subway or trolley for your own urban renewal.

#5 – Bucket List Adventure

Olympics Seattle WA

What places are still on your Bucket List? Where in the world do you want to go next? Make a plan with a gal pal to start taking turns on annual getaways. This year you get to choose and cross one more destination or travel experience off your list. Next year she gets to choose. But why wait to another whole year? How about twice or even four times a year instead?

#6 – Writer’s Retreat

A writer’s retreat is just the thing for wanderboomers who want to explore self-expression through poetry, memoir or the next best novel. Pick up tips of the trade from guest speakers and enjoy dedicated time to pursuing your craft with a girlfriend. By the time you return home, you will be well on your way to achieving your writing goals.

#7 – Festival Tour

Find your inner fun at a traditional festival anywhere around the world. Dance the samba at Carnival in Brazil. Or celebrate the rites of Spring at the colorful Holi Festival in India. Enjoy the annual Songwriting Festival in Gulf Shores or listen to jazz in Montreal. Don’t forget Quebec’s Winter Festival or the Sundance Film Festival which honors the best in independent films.

#8 – Trip Down Memory Lane

Through Facebook I’ve reconnected with a childhood girlfriend. We each moved on to different parts of the country long ago. But we plan to meet up again in the place where we spent our early days as best buddies. Or maybe we’ll just skip that part and sign up for the annual Beatles cruise, basking in our shared childhood memories of the Fab Four.

#9 – Voluntourism

Want to make a difference in the lives of the people you meet in your travels? Volunteer tourism provides wanderlusters with rewarding opportunities to help with hiking trails maintenance, housing projects, tutoring or care for the elderly, often in exchange for discounted travel costs. You can see the world, help the planet and build cross-cultural relationships all on one trip.

#10 – Thelma & Louise Road Trip

Quebec Road Trip

For the ultimate boomer girlfriend escape, plan your own road trip together with or without GPS. Though you might want to visualize a different ending from the movie . . . Road trips provide just the right balance of destination discoveries, thoughtful conversation and self-reflection. Get off the beaten path and enjoy your shared adventure.

Disclosure: Some, though not all, of my travel experiences seen here were provided by Idaho and Quebec tourism hosts.

Wander on!

Nancy

What’s your favorite girlfriend bonding trip, wanderboomers?

 

Filed Under: Activities, Baby Boomers and Travel, Destinations, Festivals, Food & Dining, Idaho, Make a Difference, Québec Tagged With: bonding, boomer women travel, bucket list, city slicker, cultural immersion, festival tour, foodie, gal pal, girlfriend getaway, spa travel, Thelma & Louise, volunteer trip, writer's retreat

BY Nancy Mueller 2 Comments ON February 7, 2014

Friendly Faces of Québec Winter Carnival

Bonhomme

The friendly faces of Québec Winter Carnival begin and end with Bonhomme. Besides his numerous appearances around Québec City, Bonhomme’s image appears everywhere about town.

Bonhomme Image

His smile and good cheer ripple through the region.

From the staff at the renown Ice Hotel (Hôtel de Glace), just 10 minutes from downtown,

Ice Hotel

to the more than 1500 Carnival volunteers,

Quebec Winter Carnival

vendors

Sugar Shack Godin Family

and artisans

Wendake Artisan

the Carnival spirit creates an infectious, joyful energy that spills over into the surrounding neighborhoods.

Aux Anciens Canadiens Restaurant

Friendly faces greet visitors at local restaurants like Aux Anciens Canadiens on Rue Saint Louis

J.A. Moisan

and shops like J.A. Moisan, the oldest grocery store in North America (1871) on Rue Saint-Jean.

Even the delivery man for La Bôite à Pain boulangerie stops me on the street to offer the gift of a freshly baked loaf of bread.

La Boite a Pain

It’s hard to resist the Québecois hospitality.

Quebec Carnival

Merci, Québec!

Wander on!

Nancy

Thanks to sponsors Québec Tourisme and Québec City Tourism for hosting.

For more fun Friday photos, be sure to check out Delicious Baby.

How do you celebrate Winter, Wanderboomers? Share with us here.

Filed Under: Activities, Baby Boomers and Travel, Destinations, Festivals, Québec Tagged With: Aux Anciens Canadiens, Bonhomme, Ice Hotel, J.A. Moisan, La Boite a Pain, Quebec Winter Carnival, Volunteer

BY Nancy Mueller 4 Comments ON February 6, 2014

Beat the Winter Blues at Québec Winter Carnival!

If you can’t beat winter, why not embrace it?

Quebec Winter Carnival

That’s the philosophy behind the Québec Winter Carnival, celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2014.

Host Paule Bergeron with Québec City Tourism explains: “Winter is something we are born with. We forget that we are taking some of you out of your comfort zone, but we hope you leave here with a new vision of what winter can be like.”

Opening Ceremony Quebec Winter Carnival

Here are a few highlights of my visit to this year’s festival:

Bonhomme –  Winter Carnival’s Beloved Roving Ambassador

Bonhomme Images

With his perpetual smile and positive energy, Bonhomme (“Good Man”) embodies joie de vivre (“joy of living”), the heart of the city’s fun festivities. Cheerful and expressive, he frequently tells children around him: “I love you so much!”

Ever the diplomat, he deftly side-steps my question, “You’re cheering for the Seattle Seahawks against the Broncos in the Super Bowl, aren’t you?” He responds gently, “That’s a delicate question.”

A good and wise man it turns out.

Bonhomme

Ice Palace

 

Bonhomme's Ice Palace

As a genial host, Bonhomme warmly welcomes visitors to tour his new home, the Ice Palace, for a glimpse into his private life. He knows that people are curious about what he likes to eat (“Cold things”),

Bonhomme Food

where he sleeps and showers

Bonhomme Shower

and what he does for fun inside the 40 foot tall structure constructed from 300 tons of ice.  Here guests can walk through his living and sleeping areas, including the kitchen and dining room, plus view photos taken with famous celebrities from past Winter Carnivals.

Maple Taffy Sticks

Maple Taffy Stick

What’s not to love about a taffy stick treat made with boiling maple syrup and clean snow? After the syrup is poured onto the snow, we let it cool briefly before pressing the stick in the syrup. Rolling the maple syrup around our sticks, voila!

Maple Taffy Stick Snack

We have a tasty taffy snack to go.

Carnival Streets

Quebec Carnival Lumberjack Ax Throwing

Winter Carnival expands to eight neighborhood streets in addition to the main site on the Plains of Abraham in 2014. Happenings include street performers, lumberjack ax throwing and curling demonstrations that add to the Carnival atmosphere throughout the city.

Winter Carnival Activities

Quebec Winter Festival Snow Sculpture

Whatever winter activities you can imagine, you will find them here at the Québec Winter Carnival. From dog-sledding to carriage and Ferris wheel rides, hockey tournaments to ice fishing, snow sculpture competitions to spa treatments – and don’t forget snow-shoeing, canoe racing, human-size table soccer, winter camping and the world’s largest snowball fight –

World's Largest Snowball Fight

well, you begin to understand why Québec is well on its way to achieving its vision of becoming the “Snow Capital of the World by 2020.”

When You Go

Wondering how you can join the fun? Purchase a Carnival Effigy (small, plastic Bonhomme figure which you can attach to your outerwear) for $15.00 (or $45.00 for a family of four) as your  passport to 17 days of Winter Carnival activities. Such a deal!

For further information,  be sure to check the official Carnaval de Québec website.

Thanks to Bonhomme and sponsors Tourisme Québec and Québec City Tourism for showing me how to have fun and stay warm this winter.

Keep on moving and dancing, Wanderboomers!

Wander on!

Nancy

What’s your favorite Winter Festival, wanderboomers?

 

 

Filed Under: Activities, Baby Boomers and Travel, Destinations, Festivals, Québec Tagged With: Bonhomme, Ice Palace, Quebec City Tourism, Quebec Winter Carnival, Seattle Seahawks, snow sculptures, Tourisme Quebec

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Hello fellow wanderboomers! I’m a Seattle-based travel journalist, specializing in fun travel adventures for the young at heart. My articles have been featured in Hemispheres, AAA Highroads Magazine and Northwest Travel & Life Magazine where I'm a frequent contributor. When this Wanderboomer isn’t traveling, I help global executives polish their personal and professional brand for long-term results.
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