The Laurentians’ Chemin du Terroir is sublime in fall! More than 226 kilometres of signposted trails criss-cross a rural landscape with a thousand hidden treasures. Agritourism may take centre stage, but our local culture, heritage, and history are also celebrated and presented in perfect settings for a romantic, family, educational, or (of course) culinary getaway. Our locals await with open arms to help you experience the Laurentians and taste its culinary treasures.
Cheers to Local Producers
It’s harvest time in the Laurentian vineyards, so come enjoy Chemin du Terroir’s rich bouquet of flavours. Saint-Eustache’s Vignoble Rivière Du Chêne (Rivière Du Chêne Winery) has a wide variety of wines that you can sample at tasting activities or drink with a meal at our bistro. Experience what it’s like to be a winegrower by taking part in Journées des vendanges (Harvest Days), weekends from September 23 to October 15. Come enjoy the bubbles and aromas at La Bullerie in Saint-Joseph-du-Lac, a vineyard that specializes in sparkling wines. White, rosé or red sparkling wines, in myriad types and varieties, to sample and enjoy! You can also get fresh pizza baked in a wood-fired oven until October 8. From September 1 to October 23, visit Vignoble et Microbrasserie Les Vents d’Ange for wines with a rich nose and taste. Choose a guided tasting tour to learn more about wine-making, or get a takeaway package that you can sample while viewing the estate— a perfect occasion to raise a glass with friends!
Foodies Are In For a Treat
Get the very best local products from locally-owned businesses. Boucannerie Belle-Rivière in Mirabel has a wide variety of smoked meats, fresh and smoked sausages, pâtés, and other homemade products to snack on. Treat your loved ones and guests to cheeses from Fromagiers de la Table Ronde. This multi-generational family farm in Sainte-Sophie has fresh soft, semi-firm, firm and blue-veined artisan cheeses to tempt even the best connoisseur! Sweet tooths will love some fine chocolates from FAYS, Terroir chocolaté, an artisan chocolate maker in Oka. Pick and choose from Sélection de la Chocolatière boxes of 6, 12 or 24 chocolates, fine pastries, nougat, and many other sweet treats. Top it all off with a delicious tea from Thés d’Argenteuil in Lachute. Take your discoveries a step further by booking a tea break or tasting workshop. Add a unique touch to your next taste experience.
Family Getaway
Exploring Chemin du Terroir is even more fun with family! Come meet Princess Api at La Magie de la Pomme in Saint-Eustache when we host a fun day of family activities this fall. U-pick, tractor rides, mini-farm, sunflower fields, photo station, and lots more! To explore the world of bees with family members young and old, visit Intermiel in Mirabel for a guided tour with avid beekeepers. You can also picnic under trees on the vast, charming estate, visit the mini-farm, and walk through the field of giant sunflowers. Verger Richard Legault in Saint-Joseph-du-Lac welcomes and invites your whole family to come pick apples before rounding out your day with a tractor ride through the orchard. Don’t leave anyone at home. On-leash dogs are welcome too! Lastly, Mirabel’s Parc régional éducatif Bois de Belle-Rivière (Bois de Belle-Rivière Regional Educational Park) will charm and enchant you with more than 20 km of forest trails. You could also play a game of disc (frisbee) golf or go rainbow trout fishing every weekend till October 1. Make sweet family memories with a drive through our one-of-a-kind region!
A Region-Wide Grocer
Shop along Chemin du Terroir and fill your basket with fresh, locally-grown products. With apple season in full swing, Tarterie du Verger des Musiques inc. in Saint-Joseph-du-Lac has a whole host of sugar and fruit pies, buckwheat pancakes, fruit cakes, and much more. Their specialty: Delicious apple bread. Aux Saveurs du Printemps in Mirabel is renowned for its maple products. Try the Aux saveurs d’automne (Fall Flavours) special collection featuring sweet beets, jams, sweet pickles, maple fruit ketchup, and more. Another sugar shack with good meals is Cabane à sucre Constantin in Saint-Eustache! For September, reserve a box of five oven-ready meals with new menus each week. Lastly, get fresh food right from the farmer at Ferme Dausyl in Mirabel. Its meat, milk, cheese and yogurt will add a local touch to your fall table. Please buy from local farmers, even for routine meals!
Adventure and Discovery Lovers
Take time to discover Chemin du Terroir’s simple pleasures through activities you’ll long remember. Hop on the Traverse Oka-Hudson (Oka-Hudson Ferry) for a memorable outing on Lac des Deux Montagnes. The best, calmest way to get from one tourist region to the next. For adventurers young and old, Parc national d’Oka is the place to be for unforgettable moments in nature. Hiking, cycling, overnight stays, discovery activities, and so much more for your family to enjoy! Lovers of plants and flowers will be enchanted by Saint-Eustache’s Jardins Michel Corbeil, for its magical setting and its green spaces where you can rest and unwind with a nice picnic. Learn about plant and wildlife protection initiatives, including a pollinator garden and a monarch butterfly sanctuary. To help you make discoveries from the air, Hélibellule in Mirabel has guided helicopter tours for all occasions. It has a range of packages to fit your needs, including Panorama des Laurentides (Laurentians Panorama), which offers unique views of the region’s fall colours.
Out With Friends For Local Food and Drink
Looking for a place to try new alcoholic products for your next outing? Here are some suggestions to help quench your thirst for local discoveries. Whatever your tastes, plan a trip to Microbrasserie Route 8 (Route 8 Microbrewery) in Saint-Eustache for classic and original beers with distinctly local flavours. Then drop by the store if you’d like to take your favourite beer home with you. Rediscover the apple with ciders from Cidrerie Lacroix in Saint-Joseph-du-Lac—a perfect complement to meals at our gourmet restaurant. A great place for an outing with friends or an intimate evening for two in a warm and friendly setting. Book a guided tour of Mirabel’s Distillerie Côte des Saints, followed by a tasting session, to learn the basics of how they make gin, whisky and liqueurs. You can buy their rich, tasty products right on site if you wish. Liven up get-togethers with friends, at Brasserie Dieu du Ciel! Pub & Boutique Saint-Jérôme serves up a wide range of craft beers in a fun, friendly setting along with a great bistro menu full of local ingredients. Beer can also be purchased to go.
Fall Cooking Ideas
Add fresh ingredients to your fall recipes to make them even tastier! Making apple pie or your favourite dessert? Get your wheat and buckwheat flour from Moulin Légaré in Saint-Eustache. Did you know Moulin Légaré was North America’s oldest water-powered flour mill, in operation since 1762? Domaine Lafrance in Saint-Joseph-du-Lac will welcome you with open arms and help you pick the very best apples for your fall menu. Complement this with a range of tasty ciders and spirits straight from the Cidrerie. And be sure to stop by Magasin de L’Abbaye d’Oka to stock up on local products for your epicurean tastes. If you get hungry while shopping, stop at Sacré-Bistro for a great culinary experience. Oka’s Labonté de la Pomme orchard & apiary invites you to come pick a variety of fruits and vegetables, including apples, pears, green cabbage, and pumpkins. For more inspiration, try a gourmet meal at Cabane à pommes made with locally sourced products. Eating local is always a winning choice!
To order the Chemin du Terroir map, please visit our website at https://www.laurentides.com/en/order-our-maps-and-publications.
For all tourism-related questions: info-tourisme@laurentides.com or call: 450 224-7007 | 1 800 561-6673.