Between Montreal, Mont-Tremblant and Ottawa lies the Outaouais region, filled with pristine forests, rural landscapes and rolling mountains. Often overlooked by other more touristic attractions, Outaouais has several small-town that will delight every traveller.

To celebrate my birthday, I and a few friends, decided to discover Montebello, a small town with a rustic charm. Better known for the magnificent, Chateau Montebello, a Fairmont hotel with its golf, the region has more to offer. Here is a guide to the things to do in Montebello.

Montebello is the perfect day trip from either Montreal or Ottawa. In fact, it is around a 1h30-drive from Montreal and a 1h-drive from Ottawa. If you are starting your trip in either city, it is fairly easy to rent a car so don’t be stressed out about this factor.

Psst: I left the best activity for the end, so read to the end! ;)

1. Hiking

There are two main areas to enjoy the woods. The Plaisance Falls offer great viewpoints of the falls. They have an impressive 67 meters drop. There are also many picnic tables, and quite frankly, is there a better place to have a picnic? The second area is the Plaisance National Park is known for its 230 species of birds. The park is famous for the iconic geese migration and the turtle egg-laying event. There are many hiking and bike paths to choose from. You can also kayak or canoe and camp at the park. Kenauk Nature is another great nature stop to visit.

2. Manoir-Papineau

The Manoir-Papineau is a national historic site. The mansion overlooks the Outaouais River and showcases the life of the leading politician in the 19th century. Louis-Joseph Papineau was one of the founding fathers of Canada and Quebec. He was a firebrand politician, lawyer, and leader of Lower Canada’s Patriot Movement. He participated in the Lower Canada Rebellion of 1837-38 against British rule.

To visit the historical site, you can book a guide or tour the premises on your own. Apparently, the gardens are a must-see (we did not go to see the manoir, sometimes it is hard to have plans that please 10 persons- sigh!). The historical house is located on the grounds of Fairmont Chateau Montebello. From June 26 until October 9 you can visit the Manoir Papineau for free.

Psst: In 2017, all of Canada’s parks and historical sites (not the provincial ones like the Plaisance park) are free to celebrate Canada’s 150 years as a nation (you can read more about it in my other post here).

3. Chateau Montebello

The Chateau Montebello is a must-stop. Even if you are not staying the night at the hotel, it is worth a stop! The hotel was constructed in the 1930s and it predominantly features its log construction. Canada’s wealth was built upon furs and timber, so it is even more important for the heritage. While you might be thinking, it is just a log cabin, in fact, it is the largest log castle in the world! The interior will take your breath away. The ceiling is a masterpiece with the banisters and railings along with the second-floor lounge with the main fireplace standing in the middle of the space. The hotel also has numerous pools, a spa, golf activities and hiking trails. It is designed to be a high-end resort. If you have the money, then I would suggest splurging as all the Fairmount hotels are one of a kind. We loved our stay at Le Manoir Richelieu in Charlevoix.

4. Do a scavenger hunt!

Explora Géo-Rallye is an electric bike scavenger hunt. Unique on its kind, the route takes you through the village and the golf. This was a fun activity to do with a group of friends. However, I found it a bit dangerous, the bikes are heavy and the route takes you to big streets with traffic. I personally hit a signpost and a few months later I still have some wounds on my leg. Also, I found that the route could have been more beautiful, instead of making us go through the golf, a nice flat landscape through the woods would have been more enjoyable.

5. Parc Oméga

By far the best activity in the region. What could be better than to see wild animals running free from the safety of your car? All the animals are from the northern hemisphere and are in their natural habitat. This weekend getaway will make you feel like you are on vacation. You can buy carrots and feed the cute deer and wapitis that will poke their heads through your window car to eat the treats.

There are two areas where you can leave the car and walk along with these magnificent animals, the Colonization and the First Nations (I know, they could have chosen other names). In the Colonization area there is a farm and animal shows; don’t worry the animals don’t do any tricks and are not trained, it's just their feeding time. The First Nation area showcases 11 beautiful totems made by indigenous artists.

Through the car route, you will see coyotes, arctic foxes, black bears, moose, eagles and beavers, to name a few.

The park is open all year long and offers very different experiences depending on the season. This gives you opportunities to go back to the park!

Did you know that you can stay at the park overnight in either a tipi or a logged cabin? Imagine taking your morning coffee with a wild deer nearby, I’m definitely adding this to my bucket list!

Where to eat and drink in Montebello?

If you are a foodie, then, there are 2 stops that you need to do. Fromagerie Montebello if you are a cheese lover, I’m lactose intolerant so I cannot personally recommend the stop. However, the shop has a multitude of local cheeses, one even won an award. Rebellion 1837 which is a blue cheese that won bronze at the World Cheese Awards. ChocoMotive is an artisan chocolate store that has a delicious variety of chocolate truffles. If you are curious about the chocolate business, this is the place to ask your questions as it is also an interpretation center. Délices champêtres is a typical Pataterie, a Quebecois hamburger deli.

Of course, a guide of BRB Travel Blog would not be complete without a craft beer recommendation! Les Brasseurs de Montebello will delight every beer drinker. La Reine du Mont-Vinoy, le Fantôme d’Ezilda and la Chocobello are their best sellers.

If you are looking to splurge and having a high-end meal, then you should go to the restaurants of the Fairmont Chateau Montebello numerous restaurants to choose from.

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