WHAT TO DO WITH YOUR TEENS THIS SUMMER?
MUST-DO ACTIVITIES TO ENJOY YOUR VACATION IN LAC-SAINT-JEAN WITH YOUR TEENS AND TWEENS
WHAT TO DO WITH TEENAGERS?
Let's face it, as kids get older, it becomes more and more difficult to have them with you and it ends up being really complicated! Some want their independence while others prefer their video games. How do you get your teenagers interested in family activities? Here are some suggestions for cool places to visit and fun activities to do with your 10 to 16 year olds.
Combining technology and history: Discover our technological tour
The Val-Jalbert Historical Village, in Chambord, offers a georally that will please your technology buffs. A GPS will give you clues and geographic coordinates to find treasures hidden throughout the site. Your smartphone can also be used for various games, quizzes, and additional information, to take you even deeper into the historical universe that Val-Jalbert has recreated!
Energy to burn? Challenge your teens to climb the 764 steps that lead to the top of the famous Ouiatchouan waterfall. You'll be out of breath and, above all, you'll have a lot of fun!
Experience pure adrenaline
Cross the Métabetchouane River canyon on the highest zip lines in the region. At the "Trou de la fée” Cave Park in Desbiens, you will experience thrills, and, from the air, you will have an exceptional view of the site. The two zip lines are 350 m long, 50 m above the river, and are linked by a cabled path that introduces you to via ferrata courses. Sensitive hearts, please refrain!
Take a lap at Go-Karts et Karting Saint-Félicien. The Go-Karts are accessible to the whole family, however, to try karting you must be at least 14 years old and have a minimum height of 56 inches. For those who wish to experience karting without their parents, you must be 16 years old. Is it raining today? It seems that karting in the rain is even more fun!
For beginners as well as the most experienced, Club Tobo ski, in Saint-Félicien, will give your teens an unforgettable experience thanks to its 60 kilometres of mountain bike trails. Don't have a bike? No problem! The centre has a fleet of rental bicycles for the whole family.
Discover nature in a different way with your teenagers!
Are you brave? Go hiking on the Ouiatchouan trail, a 30 km route that connects Ermitage Saint-Antoine and the Val-Jalbert Historical Village! Immerse yourself in the mature forest and hike along the majestic Ouiatchouan River. A central access point allows for a shorter 18 km hike to Val-Jalbert, and a 12 km hike to Lac Bouchette. Two refuges offer interesting shelters, while bivouacs can be set up at certain points along the trail.
There is no age limit for visiting the Zoo sauvage de Saint-Félicien! With your teenager, discover more than 500 animals of 86 species from the Boréalie and cold regions of the world. Explore the hiking trails and enjoy the 7 km train ride in the Nature Trail Park. Is your teenager still hungry? Stop by the restaurant which offers a splendid view of the Rivière-aux-saumons.
Get on your bikes and set off to discover breathtaking landscapes on the Véloroute des Bleuets. No matter how many kilometres you ride, the Véloroute des Bleuets is lined with cycling rest areas that have picnic tables, as well as water and sanitary facilities. You will also have numerous accesses to Lac Saint-Jean, its beaches, or nearby rivers.
Aventure Lac-Saint-Jean offers an activity that will certainly take your teen out of their comfort zone: black bear watching. At nightfall, you will go into the heart of the forest to observe the black bear and the beavers in action. Accompanied by a passionate and experienced guide, the two-hour activity takes place in a safe environment at the top of an observatory on the edge of a small lake built by beavers.
Quebec Photogravie offers you a unique experience in Quebec with the observation of the Northern Flying Squirrel. Nestled in an observation tower where you can spend the night, all you have to do is make yourself comfortable and stay on the lookout to see this small mammal capable of gliding up to 50 metres.
Always up for a good meal
Here, it is possible to satisfy the biggest appetites in the world, including those of teenagers! For cheese lovers, a visit to one of the two cheese factories in Saint-Félicien is a must! At Bouchard Artisan Bio, taste delicious cheddars made in the traditional way from organic milk. For soft cheeses, visit the Fromagerie au Pays-des-Bleuets as well as its butcher shop and berry orchard.
Complete your picnic with artisanal bread from the La Moisson d’Or bakery and delicious products from La Maison du Bleuet!
Fancy a good meal at a restaurant? Le Campanile, a family restaurant at Ermitage Saint-Antoine in Lac-Bouchette, has a dining room and a terrace, both with a view of the water. In addition to its varied daily menus, à la carte menus and tasty tables d’hôtes, Le Campanile offers you its delicious Lac-Saint-Jean tourtière and fresh products from the artisanal bakery every day.
On warmer days, La Vache Copine dairy bar, at the Roberval marina, allows you to treat yourself to a good soft-serve ice cream while cooling off.
Go to the museum, but not just any museum!
The Amerindian Museum of Mashteuiatsh is a great way to have fun while doing something useful. Through permanent and temporary exhibits, indoors and outdoors, your teens will be charmed by the culture of the thousand-year-old Pekuakamiulnuatsh (Ilnuatsh of Lac Saint-Jean) people as well as other North American First Nations.
Do the cosmos and planets fascinate your teenager? The Planetarium of Saint-Félicien offers a multimedia show under a colourful dome and several newly renovated discovery rooms, including a room with magnificent photos of auroras taken here, in Saint-Félicien! In the evening, when the weather is good, observe the sky through the telescope housed in the R2D2 observatory.
Activities for two
For a successful sports day for two, Les Cèdres de Chambord golf club is the place to introduce your teenager to golf or simply to spend an unforgettable moment. The golf club offers an 18-hole course and a practice area in an enchanting setting.
If you prefer to relax, why not go and lounge on one of our fine sandy beaches, which compare favourably to beaches in the South? Bring your lunch, current favourite book, flip flops, and plenty of sunscreen. Take a dip in the warm water of our magnificent Lac Saint-Jean.
Take to the water
What a wonderful idea to take a cruise on Lac Saint-Jean! For about 20 kilometres, you will have the incredible opportunity to discover landscapes that cannot be seen from land and to hear the captain and naturalist of Aventure Lac-Saint-Jean tell you a thousand and one stories about this great expanse of water of more than 1000 square kilometres.
Are you more the type of person who likes to catch fish? Our majestic Lac Saint-Jean is a true paradise that will undoubtedly offer you the best fishing stories. No need for your fishing rod, Aventure Lac-Saint-Jean takes care of everything! Accompanied by a guide with more than 15 years of experience, you will sail on Lac Saint-Jean in search of walleye or the very popular landlocked salmon.
You can also rent watercraft. At the mouth of the Ashuapmushuan River, in Saint-Félicien, play in the water by renting a variety of different watercraft at Domaine des Trois-Iles: paddleboard, pedal boat, rabaska, and kayak.
COVID-19
To ensure a safe visit, specific measures have been put in place by the various tourist sites. However, it is possible that some of their activities or services have been suspended due to restrictive Public Health standards. Before making a reservation, contact the tourist site by phone or consult their website.