7 Perfect Days With the Family in Québec City and Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean

Beach in Saguenay Lac St-Jean
Pointe-Taillon, Saguenay Lac Saint-Jean, Steve-Deschênes

The Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region is less than 200 km away from Québec City. Just drive up Route 175 and voilà! You’re in a whole other world. Route 175 is a beautiful forest highway that takes you past Jacques-Cartier National Park and through the Laurentides wildlife reserve. And with all the fun things to see and do in both Québec City and Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean, your family will have a blast from start to finish. Ready? Let’s go!

  • Day 1
  • Day 2
  • Day 3
  • Day 4
  • Day 5
  • Day 6
  • Day 7
  • See the Amazing Aquarium and Fall in Love With Old Québec
  • Day 1 See the Amazing Aquarium and Fall in Love With Old Québec

    1

    Aquarium du Québec

    Get ready for an encounter with over 10,000 marine animals representing 300 different species. The polar bears and seals are always a big hit with visitors of all ages. Don’t forget your bathing suits so you can cool off at the splash pad.

    13.17 km
  • 2

    Old Québec

    Québec City’s historic district is all European charm, making it a must-see in every season. You can walk the walls between the Saint-Jean and Saint-Louis gates, stroll the cobblestone streets (they’re car-free on weekends), and admire the sweeping views from the Upper Town. Of course you’ll also want to see the famous Château Frontenac, the Parliament building, and the Plains of Abraham. The sector will be especially lively this summer, with a ton of COVID-friendly surprise activities and performances.

  • Splash it up at Village Vacances Valcartier Waterpark and Explore Québec City’s Lower Town
  • Day 2 Splash it up at Village Vacances Valcartier Waterpark and Explore Québec City’s Lower Town

    3

    Village Vacances Valcartier Waterpark

    Spend unforgettable moments as a family at a waterpark with 35 slides, multiple splashpads, 2 adventure rivers, and a huge wave pool, all heated. Don’t forget your sunscreen and buy your tickets in advance.

    35.06 km
  • 4

    Petit-Champlain et Vieux-Port

    Québec City’s Lower Town is full of gems. Spend a few blissful hours strolling through the Petit-Champlain district and the Old Port to see the shops, art galleries, bistros, and narrow cobblestone streets.

  • Fill up on Fresh Air and Enjoy the Great Outdoors
  • Day 3 Fill up on Fresh Air and Enjoy the Great Outdoors

    5

    Jacques-Cartier National Park

    Admire the spectacular scenery of the Jacques-Cartier River Valley on a hike or out on the river. With over 100 km of hiking trails, you’re sure to find one that hits all the right notes. After your hike, you can go kayaking, canoeing, or SUPing and cool down in the Jacques-Cartier River. Don’t forget to prepay the entrance fee before you go.

  • Head to Lac-Saint-Jean
  • Day 4 Head to Lac-Saint-Jean

    6

    Route 175

    Keep your eyes peeled! This scenic highway has tons of wildlife crossings for creatures great and small. They keep the animals safe and are usually pretty busy!

    179.56 km
  • 7

    Val-Jalbert Historic Village

    Val-Jalbert is an authentic village from the early 1900s known as the site of the magnificent Ouiatchouan Falls. It also boasts a fine dining restaurant and cozy B&Bs in period homes. Be sure to recharge your phone on the road so you can capture your travels back in time.

  • A Different Kind of Zoo
  • Day 5 A Different Kind of Zoo

    8

    Zoo sauvage de Saint-Félicien

    This wildlife zoo is home to 95 different species that live in the boreal forest, for a total of over 1,000 animals. With memorable experiences like the Nature Trail Park, where the humans are “caged in” aboard a train with mesh openings and the animals roam freely. Note that this year, you’ll need to book your tickets in advance online.

  • Lake, Beach, Water Sports and Cycling
  • Day 6 Lake, Beach, Water Sports and Cycling

    9

    Parc national de la Pointe-Taillon

    If you like the peace and quiet of being out in nature, you’ll love Pointe-Taillon, a park with a huge sandy beach along Lac Saint-Jean that can only be reached by bike or on foot. The beauty of the beach and the lovely bike paths and hiking trails are sure to be a hit with the whole family. Note that this year, you have to prepay the entrance fee on the SEPAQ website before you go.

  • Discovering the Saguenay Fjord
  • Day 7 Discovering the Saguenay Fjord

    10

    Parc aventures Cap Jaseux

    Be sure to spend time at this outdoor and ecotourism adventure park on the edge of the Saguenay Fjord. You can even stay the night in a treehouse, a suspended sphere, a windowed dome, or a log cabin. The park has hiking trails, a beach, guided kayak excursions, a ropes course in the trees for all ages and ability levels, a via ferrata, and a campground.

    93.07 km
  • 11

    Parc national du Fjord-du-Saguenay

    This park spans both sides of the majestic Saguenay Fjord. Explore them on the hiking trails or on a bike and try the via ferrata that runs along the rockface in the Baie-Éternité Sector. The Baie-Sainte-Marguerite Sector on the other side is the place to go to see beluga whales. You can camp at the park or stay in an Echo Cabin. Visitors to the park this year are required to prepay the entrance fee online before they arrive.

    You can get back to Québec City the way you came, through the park, but for just a few more minutes of driving, you can take the loop that goes past Saint-Siméon and through Charlevoix. It has gorgeous views of the St. Lawrence River and gives you a chance to see another part of the province. Enjoy the trip!


Équipe édito
Editorial Team

As proud ambassadors of our beloved city, we’re delighted to be sharing the things and places we love most in the Québec City area. What a joy for us to help you discover everything this vibrant and welcoming city has to offer!

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