6 Things to do in Coaticook, Quebec
Almost two hours away from Montreal, Coaticook is the home of the longest suspended footbridge in North America, the famous Coaticook ice cream and magnificent views of the valley.
For a classic weekend getaway with friends, we ventured into the valley and rented a cottage. The weather in late March and the beginning of April is unpredictable, to say the least. You never know if it's going to be hot or cold, rainy or if you are going to have one of the last snowstorms. We were lucky and got a beautiful snowstorm, we got to enjoy the valley with a majestic white coat. Plus, this snow is perfect for snowball fights.
The road is almost a scenic route, you drive through the mountains, farm fields and little towns. Once in a while, you will catch a glimpse of deer running around. Coaticook is around a 2-hour drive from Montreal so you will need to rent a car.
Did you know that the name “Coaticook” derives from the Abenaki word “koatikeku”, which means “where the river is bordered by white pines”? The word “Abenaki” itself (or “wôbanaki”) signifies “the people from the country of dawn”, meaning the people from the country to the east, per the Digital Museums of Canada.
Things to do in Coaticook
Located in the eastern townships, the valley offers fewer attractions than the region of Brome-Missisquoi. Read all about it in my previous blog post.
The region does provide a lot of activities whether you are the outdoors type of person or you are looking to do agro-tourism. This will be your perfect destination.
1. Parc de la Gorge de Coaticook
My suggestion will be to start at the Parc de la Gorge de Coaticook. It has been named the 1st Wonder of Eastern Townships. One of the main attractions is the 169 meters-long suspended bridge on which you can admire the deep gorge. The park has multiple trails for bikes, hiking and snowshoeing. You can also camp on-site.
The park offers a one-of-a-kind experience at night. Foresta Lumina, a night-illuminated and multimedia trail, takes you into the world of the fairies that live in the forest. Made by the recognized Moment Factory studio, the attraction is 2 km long. Via its scenography, lighting, video mapping and music, the immersive experience is based on the region’s magical and fictitious mythology.
Heads up: I hear that Foresta Lumina is very crowded and the walking pace is very slow. Also, you have to reserve your tickets in advance. Note that the attraction is only open during summer. I haven’t had the chance to do the trial yet however, it is definitely on my to-do list.
2. Mount Pinacle
Mount Pinacle is a 675-meter-high (2215 ft.) mountain with spectacular views of the valley and the lake. The hike is considered to be an intermediary hike in terms of difficulty and takes around 2 to 3 hours to do the whole route.
3. Walk in the mountains
Or, you can, like us, walk around your cottage. Recall that there are no ugly roads in the mountain!
4. Eat and drink at Coaticook Brewery
After a long day walking, you might want to go for a beer and eat at the Coaticook Brewery. The food is good but their craft beer is even better. They have seasonal beers so you will always have something new to taste.
5. Ice Cream time!
For dessert, you might want to go to the famous Coaticook ice cream. Their facilities are located just in front of the brewery. Take out their famous 1L containers or order a cone and enjoy it on site. In the creamery, you can also buy some cheese. Be sure to buy the curd cheese for your next DIY poutine!
6. The US - Canada border
The area borders two US states, Vermont and New Hampshire. You can easily go in between the countries through some checkpoints. However, the 8,800 km border is widely visible with its 6 meters "no touching zone" where all the trees have been removed from the entire border lines.
Did you know that this is the longest international border in the world between two countries? Good thing that Trump's plans from March 2016 to build a wall between the two sister nation did not happen!
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