Explore Quebec on a Fly/Drive Culinary Tour

Yes, the French-Canadian province of Québec is famous for its locally-produced maple syrup and for the “sugar shacks” sprinkled around the countryside.

Other products popular for family outings are sausages, eggs and heaping helpings of crêpes.

But in this era of going “green,” with the focus on sustainable local food products, a “foodie” touring Québec can expect to experience infinitely more creative meals than traditional thick pea soup and pancakes with maple syrup.

In fact, the entire province is criss-crossed by tourist routes designed to highlight local cuisine. Specialties range from farmhouse cheeses in the fertile valleys and maple products from the forest’s edge, to ice cider (a local take on ice wine) at the foot of the hills and fish from smokehouses along the banks of rivers.

Taking advantage of this culinary bounty, Maxxim Vacations offers “Québec Culinary Quest” as a six-night fly-drive vacation.

This itinerary begins with a night in Montréal, followed by two nights each in Saint Paulin and Montmagny and concluding with a night in Québec City. The tour, which provides a feast for all of the senses, allows you to explore four regions: Montréal; Mauricie; Chaudière-Appalaches; and the Québec City region.

The tour begins in Montreal, the city that is as close as you can come to Paris without crossing the Atlantic. Montréal attracts foodies with its fine French restaurants, with the animated crowds that gather at sidewalk cafés and food markets—such as the Atwater Market—reminiscent of Les Halles of Paris. Cosmopolitan Montréal is a fully evolved metropolis radiating sophistication and glamour.

Mauricie is a region that is 85 percent undeveloped—a land of immense forests and about 17,500 lakes. For outdoor enthusiasts this is Avalon, with 1,550 miles of groomed snowmobile trails and 700 miles of trails for ATV use, with 80 outfitters ready to supply the equipment needs of hunters and anglers. For hikers, there are 17 miles of groomed paths beside the Rivière Saint-Maurice, which delights with rapids and waterfalls, as well as across fields and wooded hillsides.

Accommodations are at Auberge Le Baluchon. Rooms are in four lodges, each with its own lounge as well as a whirlpool and sauna room.

Chaudière-Appalaches, you’ll discover, is about fertile valleys and mountains in harmony with the river. By following the coast, you’ll encounter some of the most beautiful villages in Québec, characterized by distinctive architecture and water mills. In spring and fall, the sky fills with flocks of migrating snow geese. In fall, you can bicycle amid beautiful autumnal colors and sample maple products in backcountry valleys.

You’ll stay at the Manoir des Érables, built in 1814 and converted to a hotel in 1975, becoming renowned for its gastronomic cuisine. It was one of the first establishments in the province to use and feature region products with the express purpose of developing authentic Québeçois cuisine. Menus are created in harmony with the seasons, with local products and appropriate wine selection.

In the Québec City Region, few visitors are untouched by the romance of this city, with its winding streets, horse-drawn carriages and the Grande-Allée, lined with restaurants and bustling bistros and dubbed the “Champ-Élysées of Québec City.” It is North America’s only fortified city and its oldest French-speaking city, embodying four centuries of rich heritage.

Located on the first floor of the Auberge Duchesnay, the Bistro-Bar Le Quatre-Temps is a place to settle for the evening. If offers a magnificent view of Lac Saint-Joseph, with a crackling fireplace and bistro-style cuisine with accents of regional Québec products. Chef Sébastien Rivard’s menu offers a variety of light fare and innovative full-course meals featuring fish, game, cheese and grillades. It offers a wide selection of wine by the glass or half-bottle.

This “Québec Culinary Quest” is priced from $1,759 per person (based on double occupancy), including six nights’ accommodations at hospitable b&bs, small, cozy inns and other properties known for their cuisine and wine selection. Also included is a midsize rental car with unlimited mileage and airfare via Air Canada or United from Atlanta, with arrival in Montréal and return from Québec City.

The budget-stretching package also includes four three-course French and Québec table d’hote dinners, three breakfasts and two lunches. Departures from Boston or New York are priced at $1,789, from Miami at $1,849, from Chicago at $1,869 and from Los Angeles at $1,919.

Reservations and additional information are available from Maxxim Vacations of St. John’s, Newfoundland. Call 1-800-567-6666 or visit www.maxximvacations.com.