I had the good fortune to be in Quebec in the summer of 2023. Mostly, it was a cycling trip with one of my cycling clubs. However, there was one day when we were in the Eastern Townships that wasn’t a great cycling day (rain!) so we looked around for some other interesting things to do.

We were staying in Magog, which was a pretty central location. We knew there were some wine routes close, there were cheese farms, and we were near Knowlton. Our first stop was at the Tourist Information Centre, very quiet on this rainy day, so we had the opportunity to chat at length with the extremely helpful person working there. He gave us some maps and information and our adventure began.

What to do in Magog?

Our first stop was the Lac-Brome Museum. Truthfully, we went there mostly to shelter from the pouring rain. They had a temporary exhibit called Through the Eyes of Children: Finding Home in Brome County, telling the stories of almost 100,000 British children who were sent to work in Canadian homes between 1869 and 1939. It was fascinating – a piece of history so close to home that I had never heard about. I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to see this.

Another remarkable find for me in this museum was an old mandolin that looked exactly like the one my dad always had on a wall at home – which had belonged to his father. An unexpected memory that left me with fond thoughts of my childhood.

Three Pines

If you are a Louise Penny fan, you will know a lot about the town called Three Pines. Maybe you didn’t know that Louise Penny is from Knowlton, and that some of her inspiration comes from locations in and around Knowlton.

In fact, there are even “Three Pines” tours that you can join that will take you to “Myrna’s Bookstore” (Brome Lake Books), “Sarah’s Boulangerie” (La Rumeur Affamee) and other establishments well known to Louise Penny fans.

One of the places we visited was the Abbaye de Saint-Benoît-du-Lac, a Benedictine monastic community that is the inspiration for one of Louise Penny’s books (The Beautiful Mystery). It’s an active monastery with an orchard and a cheese factory, making fabulous products and selling them in their store. Having a reliable source of income is a means of ensuring sustainability of the community.

The rain was stopping by then, and we could see that the Abbey was a beautiful building set in a spectacular location. There were so many people there, many dropping in to purchase cheese and other items from their store. The products are available only in Quebec. We all bought a few things and took a self-guided tour, which are very much encouraged by the community.

By this time it was getting late in the day, with many places closing around 4 or 5 pm. We didn’t get to a lot of the places that were on our maps, but we had a great time visiting the ones that we did get to. I think another trip is in order.

Incredible Light Show

We headed for our evening event about an hour away in Coaticook, a show called Foresta Lumina, a magical multimedia light show and story that is so hard to describe, held in La Parc de la Gorge.

The park is a spectacular place, a multiple award-winning natural attraction known for its picturesque landscapes. Of particular note in the gorge’s suspension bridge that spans the Coaticook River Gorge and provides breathtaking views of the surrounding nature and the gorge below. It was our entry route to the Foresta Lumina show – at night with the lights it is the beginning of an enchanting hike through the forest trails.

I was blown away by how captivating and entertaining this show was. Delightful in so many ways, it is definitely worth a stop if you are anywhere near the Eastern Townships. (One of the people in my group was visiting for the third time!). Next time I will also make sure to come early enough to see the gorge in the day.

Close to the park is the famous, a dairy company known for its ice cream. Of course, a stop to be made not just if you have kids.

We had a wonderful day – seeing different things and gathering different experience. Lots of good eating too! Grateful that the rain gave us an unexpected adventure.

To me – another reminder that the touring experiences are so important to the overall enjoyment of a trip. The biking is always good – the hiking is always good – and the touring complements everything. Each place has its unique history and treasures to share. Invariably you learn something or find out about something new and worth sharing.

Where else can I go?

Please contact me if you are interested in discovering wonderful places with a new travel community!

3 highlights:

• There was an art competition in Knowlton this year, so the streets were full of creative displays
• The Foresta Lumina was such a magical experience – definitely a highlight, and a show that I would see more than once – I am a huge fan of interactive light shows!
• Discovering new things with my cycle club, even though we weren’t cycling

3 things for the next time:

• Visit La Parc de la Gorge during the day for a different experience
• A full Three Pines tour
• Explore more of the Magog area by bike or by car, following some of the many itineraries and tourist routes available