Les Jolis Vélos Créatifs, the ideal way to discover Saint-Jean-Port-Joli

Right? Yes, it’s possible with Les Jolis Vélos Créatifs, which you can borrow for free in the heart of the village. And you know what? It’s just too perfect for exploring the village and touring the stores as a family or group. Plus, it’s eco-friendly!

Choosing your vintage bike

That’s what we did with our colleagues on a beautiful September day.

We met up at the tourist information office, right in the heart of the village. This is where we take possession of our Joli Vélo Créatif for the day! Each of us chooses the vintage bike that suits our style.

We make sure that at least one of us chooses one with a wooden basket to hold our finds throughout the day.

We're off!

I can’t tell you how much fun we had. We even realized that some bikes really are more vintage than others. Not just in their style, but in their mechanics too.

– How do I brake?
– Pedal backwards Amélie!
– Huh! Do I have to pedal backwards?
– Ha, that’s right, I forgot the age gap between us. If you don’t mind, I’ll take a backseat while you get used to your creative bike…

1st stop: Le Vivoir

I confess, we could have walked there, it’s so close. Le Vivoir is a vast boutique with an art gallery feel, as well as artists’ studios open to the public. Here you’ll find unique creations by over fifty artists from Quebec’s craft and visual arts sectors. The site showcases authentic works of pottery, jewelry, postcards, one-of-a-kind paintings and much more.

In the basement, you’ll find the various workshops, and we were lucky enough to see two artists at work during our visit. All this to say, there’s artistic talent per square foot here!

2ᵉ stop: L'Atelier M

Atelier M is also a new creative space, dedicated to showcasing local talent, and exclusively that of two artists, Hélène Morency and Pier-Soleine Morency-Raby. Here you’ll find many of their exclusive creations, created on site: jewelry, high-quality glass and stained-glass works, glass and wood painting, cards…

3ᵉ stop: La Libellule, friendly restaurant

Right next door, La Libellule, a convivial eatery, is the unanimous choice of the team to stock up for what will be our al fresco dinner. Everyone goes for their favorite pita (it’s the speciality of the place) and several of us accompany it with their delicious and refreshing homemade strawberry lemonade.

4ᵉ stop: Parc des Trois-Bérets

We hop on our bikes and head to Parc des Trois-Bérets for our outdoor picnic. We take advantage of this spot to appreciate the beauty of the river as it unfolds before us.

After lunch, we return to our starting point to explore some of the shops on Chemin du Roy Est.

Stop 5: La Boutique Morency

Located in a charming ancestral home since 2004, Boutique Morency offers refined objects and pretty decorations for the home. This boutique is inextricably linked to Atelier M, which we visited on our 2ᵉ stop earlier today.

Stop 6: Ras L'Bock Boutique

Opposite, well, there’s another store in a completely different artistic field. The work of hop artisans. That’s because you’ll find the Boutique du Ras L’Bock. I take the opportunity to buy some hop supplies to enjoy in the comfort of my patio later.

Stop 7: Café Bonté Divine

Right next door, Café Bonté Divine is the place to go for a café au lait, iced cappuccino or specialty coffee of your choice. On this fine day, we enjoy our beverage outside. Trust me, it’s the kind of place we like to be indoors, in such a warm setting.

Stop 8: Le Moule à Sucre

For our last stop of the day, we turn off Chemin du Roy Est and head a little further afield. We head east on La Route des Navigateurs. We absolutely must visit this old-fashioned general store: Le Moule à Sucre. Here, you’ll find a varied and abundant selection of local gourmet products, and you’ll be transported back to your childhood in the confectionery. Works by more than a hundred artisans from various crafts are also on display.

Saint-Jean-Port-Joli by bike: a fun, eco-friendly way to discover the city!

There’s so much to see and do in Saint-Jean-Port-Joli. We only visited a small portion of this village, which is easy to explore. The Jolis Vélos Créatifs are just the thing to explore the whole village in a fun, eco-friendly way.

Photos: Stéphanie Allard

Les Jolis Vélos Créatifs

JOLIS VÉLOS CRÉATIFS inspire strolling and contemplation. They can be used for shopping, souvenirs and discoveries during your stay in Saint-Jean-Port-Joli.

RATES: Creative bikes: Voluntary contribution
Creative electric bike: $15 + txs (for 1 hour), $30 + txs (for 3 hours).

Tourist Information Office, 20 avenue de Gaspé Ouest, Saint-Jean-Port-Joli