Luxury Lakefront Cottage Spa for Family Reunion or Retreat in Quebec

Welcome Cottage Photos Price Vacancy Things to Do Stories Ô Lotus Yoga français

Lots to do in the area: Outdoors, Winter, Art, Golf, Food, Services and Entertainment
Most people are here for the lake, but over time guests do venture out to the nearby communities for retaurants and adventure. Considering how cities have been drawing away our youth, the region has an astonishing number of interesting things to do.

OUTDOOR – HIKING, BIKES AND PARKS

FISHING Just off the dock - excellent fishing. In fact, more fish have been cuaght from the dock than from the boat. Check for Quebec fishing regulations here.

The Camp Comfort Railway Station is a 2 minute walk to our NEW (old) community hangout. Built by dreamers and visionaries. The whole crazy story is here. Including some historical photos of Camp Comfort circa 1940

Usually the first week of August is the Tour Cyclist du Lac Alymer, when 500 people circle the lake in about 4 hours.

Geocahing Maps for the area.

Bike to Beaulac-Garthby about 5 minutes away. Local tourism page for Beaulac.

The sailing event of the year is called Le Voile D'or late August.

In 20 minutes by car, you are at Parc Frontenac with some bike trails leading to some several small lakes. There are some bikes at the cottage you can use, bring your own swim suits.

Bike Tour #1 :"Best View of Lake Aylmer, no kidding".
This is a 45 minute cycle that anyone who rides a bike can do.

View Best View of Lake Aylmer in a larger map

In 20 minutes by car, you are at sentier pédestre des 3 monts offering trails that climb three hills and take you to some old abandoned asbestos mines. On the left as you exit Coleraine.

In 25 minutes, you are at the Four Winds Equestrian Center.Contact Patrice at (819) 344-5485

O'Brien General Store that has operated since 1909 in Black Lake, is now located at 4233 rue du Lac-Nior, thetford Mines and is open Juin 25- Aug 30 , Thuirsday to Sunday 10-4:00. The store was the set for Mon Oncle Antoine. By the way, Our L'Islet wood cookstove came from Black Lake in 1992, from a house that was just around the corner from the location where Claude Jutra made the very beautiful Mon Oncle Antoine. Down the street from the store is a little Claude Jutra memorial park. It is a no fuss tribute to this legendary director.

Mon Oncle Antoine was filmed only 30 minutes away in Black Lake (now Thetford Mines).

"Mon Oncle Antoine is like the Citizen Kane of Canada. In numerous polls conducted over the years in this country, this film each and every time ranks as the greatest Canadian film ever made. The story of a rural and wintery Quebec mining town as seen through eyes of a young teenage boy, Antoine is deserved revered internationally for it's poetic depiction of an aging and soon to be outmoded way of life, a timeless classic, John Ford-worthy elegance transplanted to a French-Canadian winter. read more ...

Watch this classic here:

In 40 minutes, you are at the hiking trails of Mt. Ham-Sud This is a 4-5 hour adventure.Tél (819) 828-3608

mon ham
At an hour and a half drive, you will find the fabulous Astrolabe, Mont Mégantic Observatory. Late night magic!

RESTAURANTS, PUBS, AND FOOD

Groceries are available in nearby Disraeil at the IGA which has just about everything you need. Certianly you will pay more than in the city. It's only really worth the drive to the giant Maxi discount food store near to the Walmart's in Thetford Mines if you have a large group.

Everyone at Camp Comfort agrees that the best Poutine in the area can be found 1 km away at Chez Marlo, the frits place beside the excellent gas bar-depanneaur Gatbé, enroute to the village of Beaulac-Garthby. You can get there by canoe or kayak, just head north (left) and pass under the two bridges, and you are there. This is on the way up the Coulmb River.

5 minutes. Domaine du mouton d'Or inc. - Madame Véronique Létourneau Sheep farm and with a variety of meat products available..1816, route 161 Beaulac-Garthby - Québec (418) 459-292

It’s 30 minutes to The Gould Rush, a Scottish pub and restaurant in Gould (turn left at Weedon). This place is worth the drive. Call for reservations: (819) 877-3446.

Les Berges du Lac is a pub style restaurant/bar only 10 minutes away by car. At St Gérard, turn left on to the #161, it’s 5 km from town.

Ariel view of Beaulac-Garthby, in th enot so distant last century was affectionately known simply as Garthby. How Garthby got it's name is anyone guess. Perhaps named by a government surveyor to signify "by" the garden/yard, or clearing. Before the St. Fancis River was dammed, I beleive the lake was about 30% smaller.

La Fromagerie Petit Plaisir in St.Gérard is 5 minutes by car. The Poutine is good, they make their own cheese, but the cheese doesn't melt like I like.

Restaurant Le Chateau is on the right in the middle of Weedon, about 15 minutes drive South. I ordered the burger and fries (2010) and I was extremely satisfied. The decor lives up to its name. Someone took a lot of care with the woodwork and the pressed tin cieling. This is a popular spot. The serve pizzas and Greek, and Seafood including Matane shrimp. They deliver 819-877-3888

Le restaurant Da Rita is serving homestyle cooking, using local foods in season in her house, which is very inviting. It's a BRING YOUR OWN WINE place on 353 St Janvier 819-877-2090. Please tell me what it's like.

It’s 30 minutes to The Gould Rush, a Scottish pub and restaurant in Gould (turn left at Weedon). This place is worth the drive. Call for reservations: (819) 877-3446. And you'll get to see the most magnificent covered bridge in the region. ****

Gould Covered Bridge

La Boussole, 156 Notre-Dame West, Thtford Mines, 25 minutes away serves mediterrenean/international cuisine. Food is very tasty, service is excellent. Reservations recommended (418)335-2101. map

Sheep and cheese at La Moutonnière is 45 minutes drive at Ste-Hélène de Chester. Phone in advance (819) 382-2300.

Catering for large groups call Valérie Calusic in Ham Sud at 1-819- 877-2509 or Lyne Rousseau in Weedon at 819-877-3535.

Need extra space? We reecommend this B & B in Disraeli 10 minutes away from Camp Comfort. Auberge de la Chanterelle aubergedelachanterelle@cgocable.ca 418 449-5172 Lovely rooms for $100-150/night.

OUTDOOR WINTER – SKI, SKI-DOOING AND SKATING

Ski - downhill : Mont Adstock at St. Daniel, near Thetford is a 45 minute drive. Mont Orford, near Magog, is 90 minutes away; Sugarloaf, in Maine is a two hour drive, due East. Mont-Ste-Anne, near Québec City, is 2 hours North. The ultimate ski destination is Le Massive, maybe 2.5 hours, but the most spectacular hill, right along the St Laurnece.

Cross-county Skiing on the lake shore is good for warm ups, occasionally there is a hard surface, great for skate-skiing and even surfing.

The village of Weedon, 12 kms from the cottage by car, offers some nice trails. Turn left as you enter town – look for sign.

St-Romain, a 25 minute drive, offers30 km of easy trails. Black Lake, a 25 minute trip, just before entering Thetford Mines, offers 40 Kms of easy and intermediate trails. Ask for directions in Black Lake. Club de golf et curling de Thetford, offers some great trails also. But don't pass up a trip to Mt Megantic, well worth the 90 minute drive to the longest lasting trails (50 km) in the Townships.

Ski-dooing: We are 1 km from skidoo route #65. Consult the site Chaudière Appalaches for detailed regional maps. Our guests in 2002 clocked over 1400 miles during their week in February. Conditions excellent

Skating: You just have to shovel the snow off the lake, 50% chance of finding excellent ice. I have equipment for Ringette.

Sliding and Caves: 10 minutes up the 161 Freres Du Sacre-Coeur Camp Beausejour 418 458-2646 campbeausejour@yahoo.ca

GOLF

Thetford Mines, a 35 minute, drive offers two clubs : Club de Golf Adstock and Club de golf et curling de Thetford.

The Lennoxville Golf Club is 45 minutes from the cottage. (819) 562-4922.

For amateurs, the legendary Club de golf de Sherbrooke is a 50 minute drive. (819) 563-4987.

Antiques, Museums and Art Galleries

3 minute drive to two Antique dealers on route 161, on your right. Two more shops on the #112 just past Bishopton on your left. Look for the Blue Barn and a brick house.

15 minute drive to Pavillon de la Faune, a small, but popular exhibition of local flora and fauna in some impressive dioramas.

Visit the Musée minéralogique et minier at Thetford Mines, winner of tourism prizes. For rock hounds. Tour of the mine is unforgettable.Those mine tailings contain enough nickel and magnesium to keep the region going after the decline of the asbestos industry.

At Ham Sud, you can admire the work of the artisans at Expression Textile - Art Ham-Sud, 819-877-5189

45 minutes The Art Foundry of Quebec one of the only museums of BRONZE in the world

SERVICES

Yoga Lessons and Thai Massge at the cottage or at Ô Lotus Please contact Josephine for more information.

10 minutes to Dr. Dany Grondin, English speaking dentist at Disraeli. 418-449-2666

Mechanic : 10 minutes to SHELL - Yvon Doyon – at Disraeli at 418-449-3238. The local rate of $40/hr is very reasonable.

Boat rental in Lambton (kayak, sea-doo) 418-486-2221

Boat rental - motors Geatan Boisvert 418-458-1018 $300/week (July, 2011)

Boat repair - emergency Bateaumobile 819-821-4741 http://www.bateaumobile.com

Sport Disraeli 555 Champlain 418-449-2653

Wakeboard & paraski www.nautikaventure.com

ENTERTAINMENT AND EXCITMENT

2 minutes drive to pick out some local movies and beer/wine at the very friendly gas bar-depanneaur Gatbé

35 minutes to St Fortunate's Festival of Incredible Music at Auberge St-Fortunat every Saturday night (and Sunday 5 pm) during the summer. It's a bar scene right out of the 60's, plus great buffalo burgers before 7 pm. Steven Barry Blues Band Oct 8 and Jim Zeller 0ct 23 2010

60 minutes to The Church Street Cafe - Oct to June first Friday of the month - Live Acoustic Music. Call David or Janice at 819-875-5696.

60 minutes to Kinnear's Mills Various activities Irish/Scottish 418-424-0480 This place is really something!

70 minutes to Quebec Longest Running English Theatre - the Piggery.

70 minutes to Paintball North Hatley 1-877-822-2692 14 courses. Let me know what it's like.

110 minutes to historic Old Quebec City with world class restaurants, museums and entertainment. See a fabluous tourism Video here

110 minutes to Quebec's Festival d'Ete in early July (8-18th)with many fantastic outdoor FREE music concerts - in 2002 Bob Dylan gave a surprise free show. THis year Arcade Fire, Santanna, Iron Maiden, Rammstien and The Back Eyed Peas. A well kept secret, but Quebec's Les Fêtes de la Nouvelle France in early August with a cast of thousands of people dressed in medieval gear. Very crowded but fun. Also see Quebec Tourism Site

100 minutes, almost too far away, to my favorite Bread and Puppet Circus Sideshows each Sunday starting at 1 pm (sometimes earlier), July 11, 2010. Glover, Vermont.

Some events go on until 7-8 pm. For anyone looking to affirm that critical minds exist in America and art can transform. Call in advance for times: Ph: 802-525-3031 or 802-525-1271 breadpup@together.net resistance to machines and other things as usual.