Canadian World Traveller Winter 2020-21 Issue

56
Fun for Families in Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec
Article and photography by Jennifer Merrick
With so many places to see in the
world and in Canada, I’m not naturally
inclined to return to places
I’ve already visited. But there are exceptions.
Destinations whose sense of place and beauty
touch my heart and beckon me to return.
Saguenay-Lac-Saint Jean in Quebec is one of
those special places.
Located 200 kilometres north of Quebec City,
the region is known for its forest and waterways,
most notably Lac Saint Jean and the
Saguenay Fjord. Who knew Quebec had
fjords? And it’s a beauty with its deep glacial
waters stretching from Saint Fulgence to
Tadoussac at the north of the St. Lawrence
River. Our family has been fortunate to have
had some wonderful adventures in this gorgeous
region over the years. Here were some
of our faves:
Rockhounding for crystals at Cristal du Lac:
“Even after 30 years, I never know what I’m
going to find,” said Genevieve Chretien-Belly,
an owner of this quartz mining site. It was a
treasure hunt and a true family adventure.
First, we hiked a mile through the forest with
interpretive stops along the way to learn
about the unique geology of the area (and eat
blueberries). Once we reached the open
mine, we put on hard hats and gloves, and
the search began. Genevieve advised us to
keep our eyes peeled for pink quartz. Rare
and valuable, this is the only mine in Canada
and one of seven in the world where it exists.
Finding these special treasures was a thrill,
and we all left happy with our own little bags
of treasure.
Photo:Charles-David Robitaille