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It’s in the books. A whirlwind trip to our favorite province, with lots of French conversation, live hockey, local flavors, and of course, exploration. I wrote recently about the idea of visiting more than just the two big cities, and now I’m convinced it was the right thing to do.
Day 1 was lost to flight delays, but I arrived in Saint-Hyacinthe, about 45 minutes East of Montreal, around 11:00 that night. On a positive note, crossing the border later at night was easy, traffic was light, and finally, I had a fantastic experience at my hotel. The idea of a private local hotel vs a global chain was the right choice with a large comfortable room, good service and food, secure parking, and access to nearly everything in town.
Saturday morning started with a car tour of town as a bit of a make up for Friday. Saint-Hyacinthe is a great mixture of the old and the new, with historic sites like (1937) Stade L.P. Gaucher, and (1830) Le 1555 Marché Publique, and modern sites like the multi stage (2005) Centre des Arts Juliette Lassonde. The one way, cobblestone streets of downtown offered much of the old world charm we love in the big cites, and nothing seemed more than a walk or short drive away.
Later Saturday morning, it was off to Trois-Rivieres. Among the larger cities in the province, it plays a much smaller role in terms of recognition. As the 2nd oldest city in the province, the old town is on par with Montreal and Quebec with stone & mortar buildings, massive churches and an abundance of unique museums. Musee Pop is a must, and should always include the option for the Old Prison. The Arc de Triomphe-like Port Pacifiqe-Duplessis alone makes the Parc de L’Exposition worth the visit, and why not check out the many racing options at the Grand-Prix de Trois Rivieres while you’re at it!. The afternoon was a contrast to the historic district, heading over to the shiny new Colisee Videotron to see the Trois-Rivieres Lions take on Adirondack Thunder in the ECHL. Despite ranking near the bottom of the league in attendance , the Lions create an amazing, raucous atmosphere.
Saturday evening was back across town to meet friends for dinner at Microbrasserie Archibald proving that Trois-Rivieres’ lively restaurant scene is on par with anywhere in the province. Finally it was back to “basecamp Hyacinthe” for some much needed rest.
Sunday was the most off the beaten path day with the trip to the Hydro-Electric city of Shawinigan. A small blue collar city of just under 50,000, it’s not a vacation or tourist destination, but it sports a modern downtown restaurant scene, and is home to the one of a kind Cite de L’Energie museum. The city also serves as an outdoor enthusiasts gateway to the stunning mountains and rivers of the Mauricie National Park. The main event was a QMJHL showdown at the incredibly fan-friendly Centre Gervais Auto* which ranks among the league’s best. Shawinigan’s most impressive aspect, however, was its incredibly friendly, welcoming people.
To be clear, yes, these three cities included many of the undesirable realities found in all cities. While they can appear more prevalent than in Montreal and Quebec, it’s really a matter of scale when looking at proximity to the favorable attractions discussed above.
Quebec is a big province- the largest in the country. It’s full of great cities and towns, each with their own unique feel and attractions. This trip both solidified my opinion, and increased my interest, regarding the need for further exploration. Quebec is, indeed, far more than two cities.
*as a hockey fan, I can claim to have seen the professional, college and junior games in more than 50 arenas across the continent, and Centre Gervais Auto is easily one of my best overall experiences
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