Sleep with the wolves and experience winter in a whole new way with your family

It’s early in the morning. The light is slowly beginning to enter the room and everything is still silent. Then suddenly, a long howl cuts through the forest. It is answered by another. Then several. The whole pack is singing. Lying in our glassed-in refuge in the heart of the Appalachian Park, we realise that these are not recordings or a tourist attraction: these are real wolves, just a few metres away from us. The children open their eyes wide. The sun rises quietly behind the trees and the howling still echoes in the cold morning air.

It’s the kind of moment you never forget.

This unique experience takes place at the Sanctuaire des Loups Lupo, a fascinating place located in Saint-Fabien-de-Panet. When we arrived, we were greeted by Luigi, the founder of the sanctuary. Passionate about wolves and their protection, he enthusiastically recounts the history of each of them and their place in the pack. We meet Résilience Lakota, the alpha she-wolf, Shadow the dominant male, and Matsi and Akira, two superb light-coated she-wolves. The guided tour teaches you a lot about these often misunderstood animals. You quickly realise just how social, intelligent and deeply attached wolves are to their family group.

At night, we sleep in a glassed-in mini pod set up directly on the site. Through the large panoramic window, the wolves’ territory stretches out before us. From time to time, one of the wolves approaches curiously, observes the children for a few moments, then disappears again.

In the evening, an illuminated trail about a kilometer long allows you to walk peacefully through the woods. The lights hanging from the trees create an almost magical atmosphere.

Then comes the night… and the sound of the wolves.

The next morning, the road takes us to Frampton to discover Miller Zoo, a place well known to fans of the TV programme Un zoo pas comme les autres.

The visit allows us to see a number of impressive animals up close: lions, jaguars, leopards, black bears, wolves and lynxes. Children spend long minutes in front of each enclosure, fascinated by the power and beauty of these animals. Winter adds a special atmosphere to the site. Snow covers the paths and the stillness of the season makes the experience even more immersive. A hot chocolate in the canteen is the perfect way to round off the visit before hitting the road again.

A typically Beauceron gourmet stopover

In Beauce, it’s hard to resist the call of poutine. In Sainte-Marie, La Poutine d’Or has become a must for fans of this quintessentially Quebec dish. The concept here is simple: everyone creates their own ideal poutine. You choose your sauce, toppings and, above all, your cheese curds from a range of different flavours: plain, barbecue, fine herbs, maple and many more. It’s the kind of friendly place where you stop to eat… and always leave with an extra bag of cheese curds!