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Put a little zest in your summer! Here are some intriguing activities that will take you off the beaten path.

Reinvented bicycles

How about riding a bike up into the treetops? Or maybe you would prefer to bike in tandem along the rails of a railroad track. Let’s start in Sutton, at the Diable Vert. The bike is firmly attached to a cable and you’re securely mounted on the bike. You control the speed with the pedals.

The 1 km course will give you a bird’s eye view of the surrounding countryside. Plan some time to visit the rest of the site as well. Your ticket also gives you access to the hiking trails.

For those who prefer to stay on the ground, try the Vélorails in Beaulac-Garthby, in the region of Chaudière-Appalaches. A vélorail consists of two bikes that are attached on either side of a platform. The cyclists propel it along the rails of the railroad track using their pedal power.

There are two courses: 10 km and 18 km. The ride takes either 1 hour 30 minutes or 2 hours 30 minutes, along the shores of Lac Aylmer, then through fields and woods.

Cool off in a grotto

Don’t mind getting a little wet and dirty? Walking on uneven, at times muddy terrain? Your efforts will be richly rewarded!

The Société québécoise de spéléologie [Québec caving society] organizes guided tours in six of the 20 caves that form its network in Québec.

Some require experience, but here are two caves considered family friendly where children over the age of six are welcome:

• Le trou du Diable in Saint-Casimir de Portneuf: An excellent introduction to caving with its 1 km discovery trail. Aspiring cavers walk through a creek, whose water sometimes reaches up to their knees. Bring boots and clothes as suggested on the website. Helmets and headlamps are provided, as is a guide.
• Caverne de Saint-Léonard: It is located in Pie-XII Park, in Montreal. Despite its small size, this cave is interesting from a geomorphological point of view. Some agility is required for a descent into a small canyon (about 2 m deep) and a short passage that requires crouching.

A 100% forest menu

The Abbaye Val Notre-Dame, in Saint-Jean-de-Matha, has become a popular recreational and tourist destination over the years. In the summer of 2023, it will resume operations with enhanced forest discovery and tasting activities.

Here are four of many offerings:

• Bring your own picnic and enjoy it under the tent at the edge of the forest.
• Visit the abbey’s orchard. Discover hazelnut trees, sea buckthorn, mini-kiwis, Egyptian onions, string potatoes, edible flowers and more.
• Guided gourmet walk lasting about 3 hours followed by a tasting of forest tapas. • And a new activity this year: gathering forest edibles, followed by a culinary workshop to prepare and taste them. Will you go for the “forest burger” or the “bannock pogo”?

Give it a try !

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Find out more

VÉLOVOLANT
audiablevert.com
450 538-5639

VÉLORAILS
lesvelorails.com
418 946-3082

ABBAYE VAL NOTRE-DAME
abbayevalnotredame.ca
1 877 960-2891

SPÉLÉO QUÉBEC
speleo.qc.ca
514 252-3006