Page 45 - Dreamscapes Magazine | Spring/Summer 2025

PHOTOS: MATHIEU DUPUIS/LE QUÉBEC MARITIME | SÉBASTIEN ST-JEAN/LE QUÉBEC MARITIME | JEAN-CHRISTOPHE LEMAY/LE QUÉBEC MARITIME | CLO & CLEM
family and I drove from west to east through
tidy Québecois villages and natural wonders.
Kamouraska:
A Village from Another Time
I will forever associate one of the prettiest
towns in Québec with Anne Hébert’s novel of
the same name. While it’s not the 18th-century
village from the book that I studied in high
school French class, Kamouraska retains a
timeless charm. Imagine yourself travelling
back in time as you explore the streets of this
relaxing riverside town. It boasts quaint
shops, galleries and restaurants, but one of
the best experiences is walking along the
rocky shores of its public beach, where we
savoured spectacular views of the river
meeting the sky.
Rivière-du-Loup:
Where River Meets Fleuve
Continuing eastward, we reached Rivière-du-
Loup’s Parc de la Pointe just in time to watch
the sun set in fiery hues over the St. Lawrence.
The next morning, we explored the town’s
history at the elegant Manoir Fraser, a
19th-century home that offered a glimpse into
Québec’s seignorial era. Later, at Parc des
Chutes, we were mesmerised by the cascading
waterfalls tumbling over rugged rock for-
mations on the town’s eponymous river as
it flowed towards the St. Lawrence.
Parc National du Bic:
Québec’s Natural Gem
Few provincial parks are as scenic and
accessible as Parc National du Bic. There,
conifer-lined cliffs plunge into the shim-
mering St. Lawrence. We spent the day hiking
along the shoreline, breathing in the fresh
salt air, and exploring rocky coves, where it
felt like we were the last people on Earth.
Rimouski:
A City Shaped by the Sea
Our next stop, Rimouski, fully embraces its
nautical heritage. At Pointe-au-Père Maritime
Historic Site, we huffed and puffed our way
up the stairs to the top of Pointe-au-Père
Lighthouse, the second tallest in Canada, for
sweeping views of the St. Lawrence. At the
same site, we clambered through the narrow
corridors of Onondaga, a decommissioned
Canadian Cold War submarine. Across the
street, we toured the Empress of Ireland
Museum, where we were enthralled by the
story of “Canada’s Titanic,” the greatest
maritime tragedy in Canadian history, which
took place just offshore from here in 1914.
Sainte-Luce:
Last Stop Before the Sea
Our time in Bas-Saint-Laurent ended with a
stop in the enchanting town of Sainte-Luce,
where we ambled along the boardwalk that
lines the long, sandy beach along Anse-aux-
Coques. Dotted with colourful cottages and
other families enjoying the gentle waves of the
St. Lawrence, this area, sometimes known as
Sainte-Luce-sur-Mer, seemed fitting as it was
here that the slow transition from river to sea
along the St. Lawrence was finally complete.
The next time I return to Bas-Saint-
Laurent, I think I will explore the other road
that I’ve rushed along on my way to the
Maritimes, Route 289. It passes through the
Témiscouata region along the Maine border
on the way to New Brunswick and I’ve only
caught a glimpse of the forests, fields and
lakes rushing past my window along this
scenic road. If I take the time to slow down,
who knows what wonders I will discover?
DS
TRAVEL PLANNER
For more travel information about Bas-Saint-
Laurent, visit quebecmaritime.ca/gotobsl
SPRING/SUMMER 2025 DREAMSCAPES 45