Take your pick: adrenaline packed or slow and contemplative?
Published on Jun 28, 2022
The entrepreneur-adventurer Lydiane around the world travels everywhere throughout the planet. More than 50 countries visited in 15 years. And yet, when she comes to the Eastern Townships, she feels profoundly happy.
By Yvan Martineau
“A special, quite unique atmosphere prevails in the Townships,” says Lydiane. “Everywhere I look, I feel its charm. The villages are pretty, the mountains are superb. And the landscapes . . . magical! When I stay here, I feel like I’m on holiday, travelling.”
A citizen of Québec City, this new mom has been living in Montréal for a long time. The Eastern Townships proved to be her favourite playground. “Very often on weekends, I would head for the Townships. I’ve always loved the panoply of perspectives, landscapes and outdoor sports offered here.”
Lydiane—St-Onge, her real name—still visits the area frequently since her sister lives in Bromont. She enjoys camping, hiking, road and mountain biking, trail running and indoor climbing at the Backbone Climbing Centre. In the winter, she loves alpine touring (also known as backcountry skiing).
Her two not-to-be-missed activities in Bromont: Balnéa spa & réserve thermale, nestled in the heart of the mountain by Lake Gale, and the restaurant Gaïa, in the Vieux-Bromont sector of town, on Shefford Street. “The Eastern Townships have a well-deserved excellent agri-food and culinary reputation,” says Lydiane. “You can always find establishments that showcase fine local products. I like to eat vegan and gluten-free recipes, and they’re readily available here. Gaïa is the best place of its kind that I know of.”
Here are some of Lydia’s memorable outdoor experiences: Camping on top of Mount Sutton, a special feature of the resort that is increasingly developing into a four-season destination. “You reserve a rustic shelter, at the top of a ski slope, at an altitude of 840 metres in a cleared area with a fabulous view of the mountains and valleys (you can also bring a tent),” she “explains. “One of my finest lifetime memories of the Townships. The view and the sunset are amazing! The day before, my boyfriend and I were biking the Route des vins! This wilderness campground was a wonderful addition to our getaway.”
“As for trail running, I love the Parc National du Mont-Orford trails, an exceptional playground for this type of activity. On bicycle, I recommend the Route des vins de Brome-Missisquoi in Dunham, Frelighsburg and the surrounding area.”
To uphold her adventurer reputation, we must add to our list of memorable memories a paddleboard outing on the Missisquoi River . . . in winter! It’s sweet madness, when the nature all around us is clad in white, but the water hasn’t frozen yet. “This river is so sinuous and bucolic, very calm in summer, but more challenging in winter, and especially in spring if we wish to add to the challenge.”
To sum up, if Lydiane the globetrotter is passionate about the world, there is no doubt that she also feels strongly about Québec and the Eastern Townships. Give yourself the gift of following in her footsteps.
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