France

My romantic stay in Shawi definitely begins with an outing to the Resto-Lounge Le Radoteux. It’s always a perfect option! For my part, I choose a glass of wine with the General Thaï chicken or the poke bowl. My boyfriend loves fish&chip, ribs or one of their burgers. During the hot season, there are often singers on the terrace! Remember to book, especially on Friday evenings, to be in the front row of musical shows at the place du Marché.

Then, head to parc de l’Île Melville to sleep in the luxurious floating studio. The spot peace to relax in the heart of nature! Yves and I sit on the roof terrace at dusk, to enjoy the view with my glass of wine (and yes again! It’s allowed on vacations, Hehe). With the soft breeze from the river on a summer evening, it’s literally a paradise!

After a good night’s sleep, we continue our local discoveries by driving to Grand-Mère! Along the way, we stop at La Mie de Grand-Mère to stock up on food. Let yourself be tempted by one of their incredible mille-feuilles! When we arrive at parc des Papetiers, we’re still speechless in front of the remarkable view of the majestic river and the suspension bridge dating from 1928! We sit down to enjoy our picnic. We then lie down in the deckchairs to feel the moment and rest, before going up in the observation tower!

We continue our walk to admire the natural and architectural treasures of the surroundings, including the English district, the rocher de Grand-Mère and the parc de la rivière Grand-Mère.

At the end of the day, we go to the maison de la culture Francis-Brisson to attend the show Objectif Terre! The ancestral cachet, the spectacular architecture of the room and the cabaret atmosphere add to the experience. It’s with excitement that we wait to discover the world of the astronaut David Saint-Jacques and to see how the Culture Shawinigan team will have succeeded in reproducing the effect of weightlessness in Shawi. Hehe! Psst! There are performances at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.

With a smile glued to our lips, we leave the room with the desire to talk to everyone about Objectif Terre. Our stomachs bring us back to earth (got it?). Treat yourself with a gourmet dinner in the romantic atmosphere of Restaurant le Goglus in Saint-Jean-des-Piles. The fine french and local cuisine is always delicious! Psst! It’s a bring your own wine restaurant.

The sun is rising? Put on good shoes, we’re going to walk Shawi. It’s the best way to take the pulse of a city and discover some local treasures! One of my favorite is to start from the promenade du Capitaine-Veilleux in the Shawinigan-Sud area and go to the Parc Saint-Maurice in the downtown area by crossing the two bridges. Psst! Keep an eye opened for what’s happening in town. If you’re lucky, you might have the opportunity to be in Shawi during the street theater festival Les Escales Fantastiques!

In the afternoon, without any surprise for those who know me, I suggest you visit the Notre-Dame-de-la-Présentation Church. Eh! A church? Wait, this is not just any church. Listed as a National Historic Site of Canada, you’ll have the chance to admire the work of the famous painter Ozias Leduc, recognized as one of the greatest painters of religious art in Quebec. The man, nicknamed the Michelangelo of Quebec, devoted the last years of his life to this great project. A must see!