Ange and her family are enjoying a three-part family outing in Thetford Mines

Spring is just around the corner! As much as the mild weather and the return of light are good for us, we want to make the most of winter activities right up until the end. Spring break seemed like the perfect time to improvise a day’s getaway in the Thetford Mines region.

We set off at dawn for the Musée Minéro, where a number of themed activities were on offer. First, we toured the temporary exhibition on bees before taking part in a workshop on honey and pollinators. We tasted different honeys and created beeswax candles.

We then immersed ourselves in the permanent exhibition on the history of minerals, mines and the region. The children really enjoyed the various interactive activities, including virtual reality. One of the museum’s pavilions is only open during the summer months, so we’ll be back!

With our appetites whetted by our discoveries, we headed for Boulangerie La Réserve, just a few minutes from the museum. The owners are passionate about using local produce and quality Quebec flours to create their unique breads. Their production varies every day, so you can discover new products and get some nice surprises.

The place is warm and inviting, you instantly feel at home and everything we tasted was delicious. We fell in love with the blueberry viennoiserie, which made us dream of summer. Strolling through a bakery-café is a classic holiday getaway!

Third stop of the day: snowboarding at Mont Adstock. It’s always great to get out and about with the family, and snowboarding, which is only an occasional activity for us, is even more special. The mountain offers affordable rates, which is greatly appreciated. Its iconic shape is reminiscent of a volcano, and the summit offers panoramic views of the surrounding lakes and mixed forest.

Mont Adstock can be (re)visited at any time of year, and offers a host of sporting activities: hiking, mountain biking, golf, skiing, snowshoeing, tobogganing, etc. At the end of the afternoon, we lounged by the central fireplace in the main chalet before heading home.

This one-day getaway was the perfect end to our spring break, and we were pleasantly surprised by our exploration of this lesser-known corner of our region!

Photos: Ange Hébert-Corriveau