Portneuf

Credit: Mathieu Lamarre

Chemin du Roy

Built in 1731 to link Québec City and Montréal, Chemin du Roy, or the King's Way, is Canada's oldest highway.

On the banks of the St. Lawrence River, you'll come across three of the prettiest villages in Québec: Neuville, with its heritage homes and gardens overlooking the river; Cap-Santé, proud home to one of the few remaining Québec churches dating back to the French Regime; and Deschambault–Grondines, with its Vieux Presbytère, built in 1815, and the magnificent Église Saint-Joseph. Nearby must-sees include two historic monuments: Moulin de La Chevrotière and Moulin à vent de Grondines.

Credit: Aliksir Huiles Essentielles

Just down the road, the Deschambault public market is worth a stop if you're hankering for some regional products. And while you're in the area, be sure to visit Aliksir, a treasure house of aromatic herb products and essential oils.

You can also pick your own berries at fruit farms throughout the area.

This is a region renowned for its cheeses, so why not visit Fromagerie des Grondines in Portneuf, as well as Boutique Spécialité Alexis-de-Portneuf in Saint-Raymond.

Credit: Mathieu Lamarre

The Road to Adventure

There's a veritable playground here for anyone who loves the outdoors.

In Saint-Alban, a section of Rivière Saint-Anne—Secteur des gorges de la rivière Sainte-Anne—is fully marked out for family activities. Interpretive paths have been laid out along the riverbank, and canoes, kayaks, and inflatable rafts can be rented onsite. Steep cliffs make this the ideal spot for rock climbing and spelunking! In winter, trails are groomed for snowshoeing, ATVs, and snowmobiling.

Heading toward Saint-Raymond, Vallée Bras-du-Nord is a hikers', paddlers' and mountain bikers' paradise. Explore its impressive trails and admire the 150-meter-high Delaney Falls!

Saint-Raymond is also home to La Vallée Secrète, where parents and kids can take part in interactive adventures under the tutelage of local gnomes!

Great adventures await you farther north near Rivière-à-Pierre in the 775-square-kilometer expanse of Réserve faunique de Portneuf, with its 375 lakes and 11 rivers. And close by this wildlife reserve's entrance, the amazing geology of Chutes de la Marmite makes these captivating falls another must-see.

Credit: Mathieu Lamarre

A Green Route for Bikes...

Cycling is another great way to tour the region's picturesque villages. You can follow the bike-friendly Chemin du Roy, part of the province's "Route Verte" network, or choose the Jacques-Cartier/Portneuf bike path for some 60 kilometres of superb cycling.