Road trip to the Côte-Nord

Marie-Eve, her partner and her 2 children, aged 5 and 8, travel around in a Class C motorhome. In their search to see more of Quebec over the summer, they were interested by the idea of Terego. They told us about their experiences with several producers on our blog. Are we all ready? Let's go to the Côte-Nord!

We're always enchanted by the wonderful landscapes and peaceful locations on every Terego location. But what stands out the most is, without a doubt, the warm welcome and generosity of the hosts. We only made a brief stop at "Bleuet des Champs", a blueberry farm in Longue-Rive, about 45 minutes east of Tadoussac. We arrived late, as the journey took longer than expected, and left early, since our trip was all planned in advance. Nevertheless, we were greeted with beautiful smiles and they opened the store in the early morning especially for us. Since blueberry season hadn't started, we couldn't pick our own, but we certainly didn't miss out with all the delicious products on offer at the store: spreads, jellies, blueberry butter and caramels, pies and donuts, chocolate-covered blueberries, berry wines and onion confits, and more. We went for a blueberry and haskap berry wine which was simply delicious. We would have liked to stay longer and enjoy the place. The view of the river was superb, and the RV spots looked very inviting, with their adirondack chairs and outdoor fireplace (with wood provided).

There's so much to see on the Côte-Nord. Any visit has to begin with the tourist town of Tadoussac, famous for its whale-watching cruises. 

But did you know that it is also home to some impressive sand dunes which are so steep they once held ski competitions on them? Those of a more daring nature love to run down them, while the others descend more slowly, taking in the landscape. And if it's not too chilly, you can even dip your feet in the river on the beach below!

 If you want to see whales from dry land, I recommend a stop in Grandes-Bergeronnes or Les Escoumins. As well as the campsites along the edge of the river (Bon Désir, Paradis Marin, Mer et Monde Ecotours), you can also stop at the Cap-de-Bon-Désir Interpretation and Observation Center (run by Parks Canada). Bring your warm clothes and a snack, or even a picnic, sit on the rocks and watch the river for these impressive creatures!

The “Le Bleuet des Champs” Terego site is the perfect spot to spend the night! You can spend the morning walking to the nearby Marais Salés Visitors' Center. It's a perfect spot for bird watching and a short hike on the boardwalk.

Next, I recommend you head east for about an hour and stop at the Raguenau quay. There are a few reasons to stop at this place - the lovely view of the river, the life-size dinosaurs and the obelisk - but my favorite is the short but superb Fascines trail. Only 400m long, it starts near the children's play area in the first parking lot. From the start, it offers a fascinating view of the boreal forest, with its path bordered by lichen on the ground and in the trees! Fans of edible wild plants will also be able to identify Labrador tea and creeping snowberry, as well as traditional blueberries. After about 200 meters, the path leads you to large rocks on the river bank which provide a nice view of the river and the Raguenau quay.

Last stop for the day: the magnificent Pointe-aux-Outardes Natural Park. When you're driving towards this destination, it sort of feels like driving towards the edge of the world. And when you get there: Wow!

The site offers intersecting hiking trails, so you can make loops ranging from 1 to 5km. These paths cross through many ecosystems: the boreal forest, a peat bog, a huge salt marsh, sand dunes, and more. The site is also home to a magnificent beach, sloping gently down into the river. When the tide is low, you can walk out into the water for a while, the water only coming up to your knees. The water is a nice temperature, compared to many other beaches along the river, and the sand is so soft! And those sunsets and sunrises!

Your heart will be captivated by this immense and wild natural space, and now all you need to do is find a place to stay for the night. Why not try one of the two Terego hosts in the area which have overnight RV parking? First of all, there's the Sucrerie Rustique, an agri-food company that uses local plants to make delicious products. There's also the Dalpalou farm, which breeds several types of animal, including alpacas, angora goats, ostriches, and more. Too hard to choose? Spend one night at each, and enjoy more of the beautiful area of Pointe-aux-Outardes! Enjoy discovering the Côte-Nord!

To learn more about this "Adventure Family", please check out their Facebook, Instagram or their website (in French)!

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