Sandrine

With all that, it must be lunch time, soon. So, head over to the Tous les jours Dimanche bakery to order a chicken sandwich and a raspberry lemonade, as well as a chocolate cookie. Terrace available, or you can enjoy either the parc Saint-Maurice or the parc des Vétérans to find a little freshness and have a view of the river.

For your 1^st afternoon with us, I suggest you rent a boat (paddle board, kayak, or anything else) at the parc de l’Île Melville, to criss-cross our river and its banks. Be careful, you have to find out about the currents before you get in the water!

If you want to go swimming afterwards (as long as you have put on your bathing suit!), you have two options: in the Saint-Maurice river along the Avenue du Capitaine-Veilleux (there are swimming lanes and you can park easily) or at the municipal swimming pool in the parc Saint-Maurice (take the opportunity to admire the architecture of the building) at a minimal cost.

Before going to enjoy a well-deserved happy hour, leaning on the bar at Trou du Diable, or on the terrace if the weather allows it (and if you’re lucky enough to find yourself a seat), I suggest you take a look Culture Shawinigan’s website, maybe there’s an outdoor show during your stay. After all, it’s always fun to attend an outdoor concert, downtown or in a park.

Oh, I forgot, I was telling you DO NOT WANT TO MISS Shawinigan institution: the Trou du Diable. Even if you’re not a beer lover, you’ll find what you’re looking for (try the Snake Bite, a mixture of dark beer and cider). Otherwise, let the staff guide you. It’s also a great place to have dinner for the loner that you are because you can easily make lots of new friends.

If, on the other hand, you want a more relaxed atmosphere, cross over the street to the Saint-Mo (if I were you, I would save myself some appetite for their ball of fried ice cream as a dessert…)

After a good night sleep, I’d like to take you to the Grand-Mère area. If you haven’t had lunch, I suggest you sit down at the P’tit Broadway for brunch or go for a chocolate bread from La Mie de Grand-Mère.

Depending on the time you have, you can either simply climb to the top of the parc des Papetiers tower to admire the view , or set off to discover Grand-Mère, its English neighborhood and the parc de la rivière Grand-Mère (ask Tourism Shawinigan before you go, they’ll show you the coolest walking route!).

You can’t leave Shawinigan without going through La Mauricie National Park, a must! Enter through the Saint-Jean-des-Piles entrance and stop at le 2800 du Parc. After that, you have to stop and contemplate Lake Bouchard (one of my favorites!), and then go to the other side of the park via the panoramic road. Last stop, the Cascades: ok, I’m warning you, the place is victim of its own success, but you’ll understand seeing it (and don’t forget to put on your bathing suit if you don’t mind the cold water, or your hiking boots if you prefer to explore the trails).