After doing some exploring this past year in the Eastern Townships (or Les Cantons de l’Est, en français) just outside of Montréal, I feel equipped to share a few favourites thus far. I’ll begin with the most recent trek, an overnight visit last weekend with my daughters. The photo above is from the wrap-around balcony at Cidrerie Milton (summer special, two flights of cider and a cheese board, yes, please). Dinner was at Parcelles, which came highly recommended by Montréal restauranteur friends, and it was delightful – excellent food, nice wine, lovely people. We stayed overnight in Magog, enjoying the lively main street in the evening and a stroll in the waterfront park in the morning.
A few other places that I can recommend, from my few explorations of the townships this past year:
- Microbrasseries – Brasserie La Ferme for good beer and good snacks, with picnic tables and Muskoka chairs overlooking green fields and rolling mountains. Robin Bière Naturelle for a great backyard patio, good beer and good snacks here, too, and live music in the summer.
- Places to stay – Auberge Sutton Brouërie on the main street in Sutton, nice room above the microbrasserie, fun stay. Auberge Nuits St-Georges on the main street in Bromont, nice room, nice grounds, friendly hosts.
- Nature – For time among the trees, my favourites thus far are Parc écologique Jean-Paul Forand (Picard entrance), Parc national de Mont Orford and Parc national de Mont Mégantic (which is home to the world’s first International Dark Sky Reserve, in collaboration with 33 neighbouring cities and towns). An aside: my favourite among the cabins you can book in the Québec national parks is the EXP cabin.
There is so much more in the townships to discover, I know. This is a start, the first of several posts, I expect, about day trips and overnight visits just outside of Montréal.
a few words ... from Montréal 