Travel
Our Canada: Gatineau, Que.
Image courtesy of Nordik Spa Image by: Image courtesy of Nordik Spa
Travel
Our Canada: Gatineau, Que.
After living in Quebec and in Montreal, I moved to the Outaouais region in 1997. I am very proud to be a Gatinoise, mainly because of how easy and pleasant it is to work, live and be active in this urban setting that's surrounded by rivers to paddle through, beautiful green areas to explore, and an exciting cultural milieu to see, hear and savour.
Out and about in Gatineau
Each day of the year, I can walk or bike to work and truly enjoy the proximity to Gatineau Park (one of our national park treasures) and the network of paths that connect it to the heart of the city. During my lunch break, I can go out for a picnic along the shores of the Ottawa River and admire the exceptional views overlooking Parliament Hill and downtown Ottawa. My favourite lunch includes some fantastic local cheeses such as Tête à Papineau or Rebellion 1837, two fabulous artisanal cheeses from the Fromagerie Montebello. On my way back to work, I walk by the Café la Tierra on Eddy Street for the best latte (made with locally-roasted beans) and homemade marshmallows from Beatrice et Chocolats.
To mark special occasions, I end my day with girlfriends at Soif, a wine and tapas bar managed by Veronique Rivest. In 2013, Veronique (from Gatineau) became the first woman to make it onto the podium at the World's Best Sommelier competition, where she placed second at the event held by the International Sommelier Association in Tokyo.
Our treasure of parks, forests, trees and lakes
When the weekend chores are all done, I go for a hike in Gatineau Park around Pink Lake (which is bright green, by the way!) or at Belvedere Champlain. On warm sunny days, I take the family to La Cigale where I treat myself to the best Gingersnap and Chai home-made ice-cream (the kids have Dulce de Leche or Apple Pie, while their dad has Chocolate Guinness!). On special occasions, we go to l’Orée du Bois for a traditional meal featuring local products, or we indulge in a thermal experience at Nordik Spa-Nature. These three fantastic places are strategically located in Old Chelsea, adjacent to Gatineau Park and only a short 10-minute drive from downtown Gatineau or Ottawa.
Road trip – by car or on bike
If I'm looking for a full day outing, I drive east to la Petite-Nation, where a charming, pastoral agritourism route awaits with cheeses, fresh fruit and vegetables in season, organic meats including bison, wild boar, lamb, chicken, beef… and even a chocolate economuseum! Or, we drive west to the Pontiac region, where we love to cycle along Cycloparc PPJ, a former railroad that stretches over 90 km along the Ottawa River, where the most awe-inspiring sunsets await you!
Sounds picturesque, doesn't it? Think your community can top the sights, sounds and tastes of Gatineau, Que.? Tell us why and we'll feature it as part of our 40th anniversary celebrations!
Out and about in Gatineau
Each day of the year, I can walk or bike to work and truly enjoy the proximity to Gatineau Park (one of our national park treasures) and the network of paths that connect it to the heart of the city. During my lunch break, I can go out for a picnic along the shores of the Ottawa River and admire the exceptional views overlooking Parliament Hill and downtown Ottawa. My favourite lunch includes some fantastic local cheeses such as Tête à Papineau or Rebellion 1837, two fabulous artisanal cheeses from the Fromagerie Montebello. On my way back to work, I walk by the Café la Tierra on Eddy Street for the best latte (made with locally-roasted beans) and homemade marshmallows from Beatrice et Chocolats.
To mark special occasions, I end my day with girlfriends at Soif, a wine and tapas bar managed by Veronique Rivest. In 2013, Veronique (from Gatineau) became the first woman to make it onto the podium at the World's Best Sommelier competition, where she placed second at the event held by the International Sommelier Association in Tokyo.
Our treasure of parks, forests, trees and lakes
When the weekend chores are all done, I go for a hike in Gatineau Park around Pink Lake (which is bright green, by the way!) or at Belvedere Champlain. On warm sunny days, I take the family to La Cigale where I treat myself to the best Gingersnap and Chai home-made ice-cream (the kids have Dulce de Leche or Apple Pie, while their dad has Chocolate Guinness!). On special occasions, we go to l’Orée du Bois for a traditional meal featuring local products, or we indulge in a thermal experience at Nordik Spa-Nature. These three fantastic places are strategically located in Old Chelsea, adjacent to Gatineau Park and only a short 10-minute drive from downtown Gatineau or Ottawa.
Road trip – by car or on bike
If I'm looking for a full day outing, I drive east to la Petite-Nation, where a charming, pastoral agritourism route awaits with cheeses, fresh fruit and vegetables in season, organic meats including bison, wild boar, lamb, chicken, beef… and even a chocolate economuseum! Or, we drive west to the Pontiac region, where we love to cycle along Cycloparc PPJ, a former railroad that stretches over 90 km along the Ottawa River, where the most awe-inspiring sunsets await you!
Sounds picturesque, doesn't it? Think your community can top the sights, sounds and tastes of Gatineau, Que.? Tell us why and we'll feature it as part of our 40th anniversary celebrations!
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