Luxury, Culture, and Cuisine: Exploring Canada with Excursionist
- Megan Bobinger
- Jun 1
- 4 min read
Last month, I had the opportunity to spend six wonderful nights in Canada, exploring a
mix of countryside charm, historic Québec City, and vibrant Montréal. Flying in and out
of Montréal made for an easy and seamless itinerary, and each stop along the way
offered a completely different experience. The entire journey was thoughtfully arranged
by Excursionist, one of our most trusted DMC partners specializing in custom travel
throughout the U.S., Hawaii and Canada. Their attention to detail and access to
exceptional local guides truly elevated the experience from start to finish.
My trip began at Manoir Hovey, a beautiful lakeside retreat tucked along the shores of
Lake Massawippi in Québec’s Eastern Townships. From the moment I arrived, it felt
peaceful, intimate, and effortlessly luxurious. The property has a cozy, refined feel with
stunning waterfront views, exceptional cuisine, and the kind of quiet atmosphere that
encourages you to truly slow down and relax.
Our first day was dedicated to settling in and enjoying the property, including time at the
spa, which was the perfect way to recover after travel. The following day, Excursionist
arranged a private tour of the Eastern Townships with Patricia, our wonderful local
guide, who brought so much warmth and personality to the experience. One of our first
stops was Virgin Hill Coffee for a demonstration and tasting. I am still thinking about the
affogatos, which were heavenly. We later visited La Belle Alliance, a family-owned
winery that felt charming, welcoming, and authentically local. It was the perfect way to
end the day before returning to Manoir Hovey for a gourmet tasting menu at Le Hatley,
the property’s exceptional restaurant.
From there, I continued to Québec City for a two-night stay at Auberge Saint-Antoine,
one of the most charming and unique properties I’ve experienced in Canada. Located in
the heart of Old Québec, the hotel beautifully blends historic character with modern
luxury. As someone who loves history, I especially appreciated how the property
incorporates archaeological artifacts and the city’s rich heritage throughout the hotel
experience.
We spent our first day exploring Old Québec on a private walking tour arranged through
Excursionist, and I instantly fell in love with the city’s charm. With its cobblestone
streets, historic buildings, and sidewalk cafés, it truly felt like stepping into a small
French town without crossing the Atlantic.
The following day, we ventured out with our local guide, Franz, to visit Montmorency
Falls and Île d’Orléans. This ended up being one of my favorite days of the trip. We
stopped at La Confiturerie Tigidou, the cutest little jam factory with the most beautiful
countryside views, followed by Ferme François Gosselin, a family-owned maple
producer where we sampled different varieties of maple syrup and even tried maple
water — something I never expected to enjoy so much!
Lunch was at Domaine Sainte-Famille, a local winery that featured one of the most
beautiful lunch spreads I’ve ever seen. The setting felt eclectic, warm, and refined all at
once. As if we hadn’t already eaten enough, our guide surprised us with fresh poutine
during lunch. No visit to Québec is complete without it! We ended the day at
Chocolaterie de l’Île d’Orléans, where I had what may have been the best chocolate-
dipped ice cream cone of my life.
I finished the trip with two nights at The Ritz-Carlton, Montréal, a property that perfectly
captures classic luxury with a modern edge. The hotel feels elegant yet approachable,
with beautifully renovated rooms, impeccable service, and an ideal location for exploring
the city.
Our Montréal experiences, once again expertly curated by Excursionist, were heavily
centered around food, which felt very fitting for such a vibrant and multicultural city. On
our first day, we toured the city with Ruby, our fantastic local guide, tasting our way
through some of Montréal’s most iconic spots. We sampled smoked meat sandwiches
from Schwartz’s, gnocchi from Della Nonna’s, ice cream and sorbet from Kem Coba,
and fresh bagels from St-Viateur Bagel. We finished the day with an exclusive tour of
the upper levels of Notre-Dame Basilica, where the views and perspective inside the
church were absolutely stunning.
On our final day, we headed out on a private food tour with Danny that felt like the
perfect sendoff. We explored Marché Jean-Talon Market, stopped for fresh bagels and
pastries at Bernie Beigne, and tried beef bologna sandwiches at Wilensky’s, which
ended up being my personal favorite of the day. We wrapped up the trip with cocktails
and appetizers at the Four Seasons Montréal, where we watched hockey and reflected
on everything we had experienced over the past week.
One of the things I loved most about this itinerary was how easy it was to combine three
completely different experiences into one trip. From relaxing lakeside luxury in the
Eastern Townships, to historic European charm in Québec City, to sophisticated city
energy in Montréal, the journey felt balanced, immersive, and incredibly memorable.
Canada continues to surprise me with its depth, beauty, food, and hospitality, and this is
absolutely an itinerary I would love to share with clients looking for a luxury escape a
little closer to home. While this was my first trip to the Great White North, it most
certainly will not be my last.
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