Back at the beginning of June, we spent a long weekend in Tadoussac – a village about 6 hours north-east of Montreal, along the Saint Lawrence river. We booked a yurt on airbnb for the 3 nights. It was on a bit of a cliff and had a beautiful view of the Saguenay river. With a fire pit and wood stove for those cool nights, it was the perfect little escape. On the first day we explored Tadoussac a little and stopped by the brewery in town. Afterward we headed to our home for the weekend to make some mac and cheese – a favourite when we are camping or staying in a cabin. We ate by the campfire while enjoying one of the many beautiful sunsets. The Yurt sits on a farm and the hosts were super sweet. They have 3 other yurts on their land a rustic cabin for rent.
The following day we explored a hike that took us about an hour and a half up to a beautiful view of the bay below where we could see where our hike started and pat ourselves on the back. After a hard day’s work we rewarded ourselves with a delicious meal at Chez Mathilde. Matt had stumbled on an article about this restaurant and it had a great review. After confirming with them that they could accommodate a vegetarian, we were eager to try it out. Since it was their first weekend open of the season they couldn’t offer a full vegetarian tasting menu. But they did prepare me 2 dishes that weren’t on the menu, a daikon cannelloni and followed by a pasta dish with local Saguenay mushrooms, spinach and dried figs. For dessert, we really enjoyed the chocolate sausage (no meat in there) filled with dark chocolate, dried fruits, puffed rice and nuts. Oh how I wish we could go back there soon for another meal!
The next day we had planned an early morning kayak trip to see the whales. But unfortunately with the extremely windy, cool and rainy weather, the chances of having a peaceful ride with the whales was almost zero. Not only was it less likely to see whales at the beginning of June, but with choppy conditions, it was pretty much impossible. So being given the choice, we decided we would have to come back at a future date for a kayak visit with the whales. It was disappointing but with the cold and rainy conditions, it was a day best spent driving around exploring the sand dunes, enjoying a warm drink and a late breakfast at the cozy Cafe Bohème, and cuddling up with a Milk Street podcast by the fire in the yurt.
On our last morning, we decided to pack up early and go have breakfast at the hotel Tadoussac, a landmark in town with its big red roof . Though the classic buffet breakfast was mediocre, it was fun to see inside this hotel that’s been receiving guests for over 150 years. And right across the street, you will find the oldest wooden chapel in north America, built in 1747! It’s a really cute little town, though I can’t imagine the crowds during the warmer months. It is on the list of the most beautiful bays in the world and I can confirm that it is an adorable little town to visit.
