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Related: Culture Forums, Support ForumsThe Secret Island Getaway Most Canadians Have Never Heard Of
Windswept hills, secret beaches, Acadian culture, and the freshest seafood like, ever.https://www.thrillist.com/travel/nation/things-to-do-in-the-magdalen-islands-canada
Alright America, huddle up. I'm about to let you in on a secret. On the east coast of Canada, smack in the middle of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, theres an archipelago of eight islands with 186 miles of pristine red and squeaky white sand beaches, rich Acadian culture (yes, the same Acadians that migrated to Louisiana and became known as Cajuns), and truly amazing gourmet eats. Im talking some of the best seafood, anywhere. Theyre called Îles-de-la-Madeleine, or the Magdalen Islands, and theyre wildly popular among Québecoisyet few people in the rest of Canada have even heard about them. If you've read up on climate news latelymoon wobble, code red, ahh!this stunning archipelago might not be around for too many more generations. And every year, more and more people are finding out about this pearl of the east coast (yep, thanks to stories like this one). So youll definitely want to plan a trip sooner rather than later.
What to know before you go
With a landmass just 20 square miles bigger than Manhattan in a gulf of water roughly the size of Minnesota, Îles-de-la-Madeleine isnt exactly a place youll bump into unless, well, youre Jacques Cartier sailing to North America in 1534. So if you want to go, youll need to plan ahead. Seriously, some people plan their trips two years in advance. To get there, you can fly into Îles-de-la-Madeleine Airport on the island of Île-du-Havre-Aux-Maisons, or sail about five hours on the sparkly new Madeleine II ferry from Souris, Prince Edward Island. The extra cost to bring a car aboard the ship is worth it, as theres so much to explore, despite the archipelago being just an hour drive tip-to-tip. June to August is your best chance at great weather and when you can see the awesome sandcastle festival. But peak season is also when the islands adorable pastel-colored cottages, cabins, and campsites book up, so May and September might be a better bet. And yes, this is Quebec, so expect to hear mostly French with smatterings of English when necessary.
Explore secret beaches and historic lighthouses
If coming by ferry, youll land at Cap-aux-Meules, which has all your necessities but admittedly lacks on the charming side. For something cuter, drive south to La Grave, where Acadian refugees first landed after escaping deportation in 1755s Grand Dérangement, when the British and French colonists butted heads over Canadian land. Today, La Grave is a cute fishing village with solid restaurants like Café de la Grave, pretty shops like Atelier Côtier where you can buy art made of sand, and the beachfront venue Au Vieux Treuil that plays music into the night. Other hubs worth checking out are LÉtang du Nord, with its boardwalk, carnival-like energy, and delicious ice cream from Cremerie du Port; Entry Island, which requires a short boat trip, has only 60 inhabitants, and grants desktop screensaver-like views from atop its biggest hill; and Île-du-Havre-aux-Maisons where you can see glass-blown jellyfish at La Méduse and the historic Cape Alright Lighthousebuilt in 1928, its much cooler than its name suggests. As for beaches, you wont have to look too hard. For every one of the 13,000 year-round Madelinot locals, theres probably a different secret beach, but some faves are at Pointe-aux-Loups, LAnse aux Whalers in Fatima, at the tip of La Graves long and skinny sand dune, and Dune-du-Sud on Havre-aux-Maisons.
Procure the ultimate picnic
Seeking out and eating gourmet food is basically a sport on Îles-de-la-Madeleine. The Circuit des Saveurs food trail features 26 producers that offer traditional, extremely tasty local cuisine that you can usually taste on-site. At Fumoir dAntan, you can see (and smell) herring smoked the traditional wayover slow-burning fires for three monthsand then grab some for your picnic along with smoked mackerel, scallops, and salmon. At Miel en Mer, open a door to witness thousands of bees working on their honey, which turns white when it crystalizes. And at Cultures du Large, youll absolutely want to hop on a boat out to sea and eat the freshest oysters youve ever tried before taking a box for yourself. As for booze, brewery À lAbri de la Tempête serves intriguing flavors in its multi-level bar and Le Barbocheux does artisanal yet inexpensive berry wine tastings. For a more guided food experience, restaurants across the islands cleverly combine these gourmet products. At Gourmande de Nature, Chef Johanne Vigneau utilizes the abundance of amazing seafood around the archipelagothink crunchy lobster tail and a deconstructed cheesecake served inside a scallop shell. And at Bistro Accents, where 80% of all ingredients are local, Chef Hugo LeFrançois sears halibut to perfection and knows how to cook a mean seal filet mignon. When I asked LeFrançois why Madelinot are so passionate about eating local, he told me its a form of mutual respect. If everyone would be independent, everyone would die, he said.
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The Secret Island Getaway Most Canadians Have Never Heard Of (Original Post)
Celerity
Sep 2021
OP
marble falls
(57,075 posts)1. Sounds tres bien.
PJMcK
(22,031 posts)2. Sounds like a sailing destination
But not for the faint-of-heart!
Thanks for the post, Celerity. Have a good week.
mitch96
(13,890 posts)3. Ok bucket list item... Along with this little jewel... Still a part of France!!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Pierre_and_Miquelon
I saw a food show and this area in Canada was highlighted..
Only 265 miles apart from each other.
m
I saw a food show and this area in Canada was highlighted..
Only 265 miles apart from each other.
m
tanyev
(42,550 posts)4. Lovely, thanks for this.
Bayard
(22,057 posts)5. Sounds wonderful!