TADOUSSAC ★★ Tadoussac Is Quite Rightly Listed As One of the 50 Most Beautiful Bays in the World

DESTINATIONS

TADOUSSAC ★★ Tadoussac is quite rightly listed as one of the 50 most beautiful bays in the world. Tadoussac is also the oldest village in Canada. In fact, the village celebrated its 400th anniversary in 2000. But above all, Tadoussac is an internationally-renowned whale-watching site

AERIAL VIEW OF TADOUSSAC © iStock-499558477, excentric_01 WHAT TO DO — WHALE WATCHING ★★★ All aboard for Tadoussac’s signature activity! Accompanied by a naturalist guide, come and discover the giant of the seas. Whale watching can be done from mid-May to mid-October. The whales are most numerous and most active in September.

CENTRE D’INTERPRÉTATION DES MAMMIFÈRES MARINS (CIMM) Before setting out on your whale watching adventure, you may be interested in visiting the marine WHALE WATCHING CAPITAL OF THE WORLD mammal interpretation centre. © NetaDegany You will find whale skeletons, a discovery film with magnificent images and more. The Centre is located not far from the pier. Open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. in high season. 108, DE LA CALE SÈCHE, TADOUSSAC 418-235-4701 WWW.GREMM.ORG/CIMM- HORAIRE-ET-TARIFICATION/

WHALE-WATCHING FROM LAND Visitors who prefer to remain on terra firma can follow the Pointe de l’Islet trail (0.8 km / 20 minutes) from Tadoussac pier. It’s the best place ★ in Tadoussac to observe marine mammals from the shore.The Cap-de-Bon-Désir Interpretation and Observation Centre ★ , which is part of the WHALE WATCHING IN A ZODIAC CRUISE © Tourisme Quebec, Christian Savard Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park, is another good spot to see to get close to the whales, even have underwater cameras, whales, seals and seabirds from while keeping a safe distance. offering an interesting view. WHAT SHOULD YOU the shore. In summer, the centre It is also the least comfortable, Most tickets include a short trip BRING ON A WHALE offers marine wildlife activities as so you may want to think up the Saguenay Fjord ★ ★ ★ . WATCHING CRUISE? well as an exhibit on the history twice if you are prone to Accessible to all. Daily from the of the lighthouse and its keepers. seasickness. Children under beginning of May to the end of Dress warmly! Even on a hot day, the temperature drops quickly Open from mid-June to early 6 are not generally allowed. October once you are out on open water. September, daily from 9 a.m. to 6 Not recommended for p.m. Reduced hours in low season. pregnant women. Daily from SEA KAYAK • Warm sweater • Pants 13, CHEMIN DU CAP DE BON DÉSIR, the beginning of June to early The most exciting and • Windbreaker or raincoat GRANDES-BERGERONNES October. environmentally friendly • Hat, gloves, scarf 418-232-6751 option for whale watching. Sea • Warm socks WWW.PC.GC.CA/FR/AMNC-NMCA/ CATAMARAN CRUISE kayaking requires a certain • Sunscreen QC/SAGUENAY/CAP-DE-BON-DESIR Given the size of the boat, you level of physical fitness and • Sunglasses (polarized for better won’t get as close to the whales is more dependent on the vision) • Binoculars ZODIAC CRUISE as you would in a zodiac, but weather. Not for children • Camera (protected from water/ Whale watching by zodiac is the ride is smoother and more under the age of 7. Daily from humidity) without a doubt the best way comfortable. Some catamarans mid-May to mid-October.

★ Noteworthy ★★ Worth the detour ★★★ Must see DESTINATIONS

CHAUVIN TRADING POST This replica of one of Canada’s first fur trading posts tells the story of an industry that is a fundamental part of the country’s history. The museum houses exhibits explaining the fur trade between the Montagnais Indians and the French. Season: early to mid-June and early September to mid-October: daily from 10 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Mid-June to early September: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. 157, RUE DU BORD DE L’EAU 418-235-4657 SAND DUNES The dunes sector of the park offers exceptional views of the St. Lawrence River. The dunes are in fact 2 immense marine terraces measuring 30 metres in height that stretch along the edge of the river. The impressive number of migratory birds in the sector led to the creation of the Tadoussac Ornithological Observatory (OOT). From August to October, large numbers of birds of prey and sparrows can be seen. CHAUVIN TRADING POST

CHEMIN DU MOULIN-À-BAUDE, TADOUSSAC © Authentik Canada, Simon Lemay

VIEW ON THE ST. LAWRENCE RIVE FROM THE DUNES © Authentik Canada, Simon Lemay

★ Noteworthy ★★ Worth the detour ★★★ Must see YOU MAY NEED TO TAKE A FERRY ACROSS THE RIVER!

If you are heading to Tadoussac from the Charlevoix region or the south shore of the Saguenay Fjord (or vice versa), you will need to take a ferry across the Saguenay River, between Baie Ste-Catherine (to the south) and Tadoussac (to the north).

Note that reservations are not necessary. The ferry is free, and the crossing takes about 10 minutes. A boat leaves every 15 to 30 minutes, depending on the season and the demand.

So in high season, you may reach Tadoussac a little (or much!) later than planned. Forewarned is forearmed! https://www.traversiers.com/en/our-ferries/tadoussac-baie-sainte-catherine-ferry/home/

SMALL CHAPEL IN TADOUSSAC VILLAGE © Tourisme Quebec, André Quenneville FESTIVAL — Festival de la chanson de Tadoussac Dates : July 1-4, 2021 The smallest of Quebec’s large cultural events, this music festival welcomes close to forty acts on eight different stages. The entire village becomes one large festival site dedicated to music. FESTIVAL DE LA CHANSON

WATCHING A WHALE FEEDING © shutterstock_1321964198, Annie Leblanc WHERE TO EAT —

1 LE GIBARD ($) 3 PICK-UP GRILLÉ ($$) supplies at the beer store and those often found in Quebec This friendly, colourful little café-bar A small restaurant with a learn more about the industry restaurants. Open daily in May, offers regular musical evenings with charming patio overlooking by visiting the interpretation June, September and October local artists. It’s a warm, authentic Tadoussac Bay and the marina, area. The tasting room and store from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and July- spot, pleasant to visit for a coffee, a offering grilled cheese are open daily from 10 a.m. to August from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. beer or a snack with a beautiful view sandwiches and hamburgers 10 p.m. 239, RUE DES PIONNIERS of the bay. Open daily from 10:30 made with Quebec cheeses. 145, RUE DU BORD DE L’EAU 418-235-1180 a.m. to 3 a.m. in high season. Don’t miss the warm potato 418-980-4900 WWW.LECAFEBOHEME.COM 137, RUE DU BORD DE L’ EAU chips! Open daily from 11 a.m. to WWW.MICROTADOUSSAC.COM 418-235-4534 11 p.m. 6 CHEZ MATHILDE ($$$) 139, RUE DU BORD DE L’EAU 5 CAFÉ BOHÈME ($$-$$$) Warm atmosphere and 2 À L’EMPORTÉE COOP ($) 418-235-1420 The place to go for a good DELICIOUS meals. Live music in The village bakery serves WWW.PICKUPRESTAURANT.COM cup of coffee and a decadent the evening on piano and double excellent sandwiches, healthy dessert. This client-friendly bass. Sumptuous breakfasts, a salads and pastries made with 4 MICROBRASSERIE bistro is located in the old bistro lunch menu and gourmet local wild berries. Just the thing DE TADOUSSAC ($$) general store dating back to dinners. Open daily from 11 a.m. for a picnic at Pointe de l’Islet or This microbrewery relies on the 1892. Also serves fine pizza, to 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. in the sand dunes. Open daily in quality of its products, but also gourmet burgers, reinvented (early June to late October). summer from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 on their originality, to stand Mac & Cheese, smoked Quebec Reservations recommended! p.m. Also open in low season with out from the crowd by creating seafood plate and regional 227, RUE DES PIONNIERS a reduced schedule. daring beers inspired by local artisan meats. They even 418-235-4443 164B, RUE MORIN brewing traditions. Come taste offer an extensive children’s WWW.CHEZMATHILDEBISTRO.COM 418-235-4752 this Quebec difference in the menu with different and WWW.ALEMPORTEE.COM tasting room, stock up on more interesting choices than *** Hours may vary ***

Microbrewery $ Inexppensive $$ Moderate $$$ Upscale $$$$ Fine dining TADOUSSAC 138 Q Tadoussac Percé

N Quebec City Q NB USA

to the Centre d’interprétation et d’observation of Cap-de-Bon-Désir

300 m

SAND DUNES ★

CHAUVIN TRADING POST ch. de la Rivière du Moulin à Baude 6 5 2 rue des Pionniers

★ 138 rue des Pionniers Noteworthy 3 4 Bay of 1 Tadoussac

CIMM St. Lawrence River ★ Worthdetour the

Saguenay River DEPARTURES FOR WHALE WATCHING ★★★ 1 = Restaurants = Parks

★ to Charlevoix POINTE DE L’ISLET = Ferry

Must see TRAIL ★ = Hiking trails

138