Tourisme Charlevoix suggests two or three days at least to discover La Malbaie and its surroundings. We agree, and would add that the Manoir is best used as a base: a place to come back to in the evening after a day in the mountains or on the water. These are the places we would put first, with the distances the sources give.
La Malbaie itself
The town of La Malbaie gathers several former villages, and Tourisme Charlevoix names three sectors with their own character: Pointe-au-Pic, where the Manoir and the casino stand; Cap-à-l'Aigle across the bay, with its marina; and Saint-Fidèle further east. Wikipedia notes that the place was long known in English as Murray Bay, and that the town is the seat of the judicial district of Charlevoix. The tourism office lists galleries, restaurants and inns enough for an afternoon on foot.
Musée de Charlevoix
At 10 chemin du Havre, down the hill from the hotel (telephone 418-665-4411). The museum's stated mission is to introduce the public to the history of Charlevoix and to folk art, "from yesterday to today". Tourisme Charlevoix describes several exhibition spaces including an outdoor area overlooking the river, and activities for children. We would make it the first stop of a stay: the rest of the region makes more sense afterwards.
Cité Mémoire Charlevoix
A free activity that leads visitors through several points of interest around La Malbaie using augmented reality, projections and podcasts, according to Tourisme Charlevoix. It is a good way to spend an evening hour after dinner.
Observatoire de l'Astroblème
Charlevoix's rounded valleys are the trace of a meteorite impact. Wikipedia's article on the Charlevoix impact structure gives it a diameter of about 54 kilometres and an age of roughly 450 million years. The Observatoire de l'Astroblème explains the story with interactive activities, real meteorites and geological samples, according to the tourism office.
Parc national des Hautes-Gorges-de-la-Rivière-Malbaie
Inland, up the valley of the Malbaie river. Tourisme Charlevoix's La Malbaie page gives it as "about 35 minutes" in one place and "about 45 minutes" in another; we would allow three quarters of an hour. The park is known for cliffs that the tourism office describes as among the highest east of the Rockies, and for the Vallée des Glaces in winter. The park's operator, the Sépaq, did not let our server read its pages, so please check opening times and access on the Sépaq site directly.
Mont Grand-Fonds
Twenty minutes from the hotel, according to the hotel's ski page. In winter it is the local ski hill (see winter at the Manoir). In summer the mountain's own site describes walks to a summit at 735 metres with a view over the river and the Laurentians, and a Trail Station with four loop trails from 5 to 31 kilometres, plus a separate 40-kilometre linear trail. In autumn Tourisme Charlevoix singles it out for colour.
The Route des Saveurs
Charlevoix's agrotourism route links farms, cheese-makers and producers across the region. The hotel describes cheeses, charcuterie, baked goods, ciders, wines and craft beers along the way, and offers a package with a partner, Agrotours. You can also simply drive it at your own pace; the route's own site has a map of producers.
A biosphere reserve
UNESCO designated the Charlevoix Biosphere Reserve in 1988. Its figures are worth knowing: 511,100 hectares, of which 461,100 on land and 50,000 at sea, from 5 metres above sea level to 1,150 metres, with forests of maple, birch, fir and spruce, estuarine marshes, stunted krummholz and even mountain tundra. UNESCO lists among its animals the beluga, the wolf, the woodland caribou and the blue whale.
On wheels and on snow
Tourisme Charlevoix names Nord Expé and Top Location Charlevoix for snowmobile and ATV rentals and guided outings, in summer and in winter. Bikes are included in the hotel's resort fee for exploring the shore road.
Whales
The great excursion of the region has its own page: whales at Tadoussac, less than an hour east.
Sources: Tourisme Charlevoix, UNESCO, Charlevoix Biosphere Reserve, Mont Grand-Fonds, Musée de Charlevoix, Route des Saveurs.
- How far is the Parc national des Hautes-Gorges from the hotel?
Tourisme Charlevoix gives both 35 and 45 minutes from La Malbaie on the same page. Allow about three quarters of an hour.
- Is the Musée de Charlevoix close to the hotel?
Yes, it is in La Malbaie at 10 chemin du Havre, down the hill from Pointe-au-Pic.