If you visit eastern Canada, it’s a must visit place. Close to Quebec city, it’s a 30 mins drive to a new world. It’s called the “Garden of Quebec”, “Treasure Island”, and the “Cradle of French Civilization in North America”. Located minutes outside of Quebec City, the picturesque Ile d’Orleans makes for the perfect full-day or half-day trip. You can easily combine a visit to the island with a trip to Montmorency Falls, which lies directly across the way from Île d’Orléans, or venture a little farther outside of town to see Canyon Sainte-Anne. The Algonquins called it Minigo, the “Bewitched Place,” and over the years the island’s tranquil rural beauty has inspired poets and painters. Île d’Orléans is only 15 minutes by car from downtown Québec City, but a visit here is one of the best ways to get a feel for traditional life in rural Québec. Centuries-old homes and some of the oldest churches in the region dot the road that rings the island.

One of Quebec City’s greatest pleasures is wandering around the Marché du Vieux-Port—nibbling on miniature chocolate and apple crepes, sampling wines from smiling vendors, and breathing in the bouquets of flowers lining the interior halls. The charming downtown farmers market is just a 15-minute drive away from the source of many of its offerings: Île d’Orléans. With 7,500 residents scattered across six parishes on a rural wonderland twice the size of Manhattan, the island is an absolute must-see, especially in the summer, when it’s bursting with treasures from small-scale farms, wineries, and culinary artisans.

And though the island is nicknamed the “Garden of Quebec,” there’s a lot more to like about historic Île d’Orléans. “Just get to the island and work around it,” local tour guide Michelle Couture-Demers advised. “Each parish has something different going for it.”

Ile d’Orleans was one of the first places in Quebec to be colonized by the French, giving it the title, “The Cradle of French Civilization“. A large amount of French Canadians can trace their ancestry to present and past residents of the island. Prior to colonization, the island was inhabited by indigenous tribes. Many people were attracted to live on the island due to its fertile soil, providing the perfect conditions for farming and agriculture. The island remains devoted to farming and agriculture, and has become a popular destination for those interested in tasting local products and regional cuisine. As there is such a bountiful harvest there, it has been referred to as the “Garden of Quebec” or “Quebec City’s Cornucopia”.

Tips:

  1. Awesome Landscape Photography location
  2. Plan your trip during fall or spring season to capture awesome colors
  3. Round Trip will take approximately 2 hours with multiple stops
  4. Stay in Bourbon Orleans
  5. Taste some of Quebec’s best ice-wine and ice-cider
  6. Eat some delicious ice cream and home baked cookies
  7. Enjoy a hearty meal at Vignoble Ste-Petronille