Starting June 1, some Canadian National Parks will start gradually reopening to the public.
As the world gradually reopens, you have to wonder if people will prefer to ease back in by seeking out experiences with lots of space. Quebec is the perfect place for this: across the province, there are stunning national parks and cultural sites with all kinds of room to explore away from the crowd. Here are three of our personal favourites.
Parc national du Bic
Parc National du Bic is near Rimouski, roughly three hours northeast of Quebec City. It's more than just quintessential Quebec wilderness: the mineral-rich earth blessed by the neighbouring Saint Lawrence Seaway seems to fill the forest-lined capes, islands and mountains with more life than you could imagine.
The National Park itself has fantastic hiking, bike trails, beaches, kayaking, camping... there's something about that blend of woods and ocean in the air that makes the experience totally unique. You could literally park at the entrance and spend days on end in there away from crowds.
But that's not all: there's a cultural experience to be had too. Nearby towns like Le Bic and Rimouski are renowned for local produce like cheese and sea food. We highly recommend Fromage en Tête, a local cheese shop that specializes in over 300 local cheeses.
Parc national Forillon
Right at the mouth of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, roughly 8 hours northeast of Quebec City, you'll find Parc national Forillon. It's the start of the International Appalachian Trail, home to countless blue whales and the site of Fort Peninsula, Quebec's only fully preserved and publicly accessible World War II coastal battery.
The park offers all the classic activities and services, and for water sports fans there's Penouille Peninsula beach, where you'll find some of the best kite-surfing conditions in the country.
It's a long drive to Forillon, but it's one of the best road trips you'll ever take. It's about 8 hours if you drive the south coast of the Saint Lawrence, but if you take the north coast and hop on the ferry in Baie-Comeau, you'll drive through one of our favourite regions in Quebec, Charlevoix.
