A 24-Hour Escape: Discoveries and Delights in Amos-Harricana

With the desire for a simple and short excursion, we load our vehicle with a small bag. Sometimes you need a little getaway, and this is one of those times. With the dog's cushion, a few personal items, iced coffees for the road, we're ready to drive towards the Amos-Harricana area. Here's the story of a 24-hour journey filled with gentle moments and discoveries in the surprising territory of Amos-Harricana.

First Stop at Bistro Méditérranéo

Our first stop is at Bistro Méditérranéo. The restaurant is very charming, as are its employees! We are welcomed with big smiles. The menu specialties include delicious sandwiches like shish-taouk, shawarma, and falafel. Sandwiches mean a picnic, so we stop at a lovely park near the Harricana River to enjoy our meal. It's a great start!

The Municipal Well and Its Mysteries

Our afternoon is filled with a visit to the municipal well as part of the Anisipi discovery tour. The tour includes several stops, such as the tipi in Pikogan, a visit to Refuge Pageau, and the municipal well. We meet at the Amos marina, where a shuttle picks us up. The tour of the municipal well is presented by Moment Factory. Our guide starts the tour right from their introduction. The visit is interactive, with several riddles along the way to the well. On-site, we learn about eskers, which are fluvioglacial formations. We first visit a scientist’s lab, where we get tips on water preservation and statistics on water usage. The highlight of the tour is the visit to the municipal well with its sound and light show. The visit is particularly interesting for children, teaching them the importance of conserving water. However, adults will also be amazed by the beautiful spectacle.

Cocktails and Mocktails at La Grande Ourse

We end this day of discoveries with more delightful discoveries in liquid form! We are welcomed on the terrace of the Miellerie de la Grande Ourse’s drink bar. The place is, of course, bucolic! We eat outside but under a roof to protect us from possible bad weather.

Moreover, a fireplace is available if we want to cut the possible humidity of the late day. The field and sky at 180 degrees form our backdrop. We take advantage of this beautiful setting to eat, but mainly to taste the specialized cocktails and mocktails of the drink bar. Naturally, honey and alcohols produced by the Miellerie de la Grande Ourse are at the heart of these creations. It's a unique experience!

La buvette de la Miellerie de la Grande Ourse, à St-Marc-de-Figuery sur le territoire d'Amos-Harricana, offre aussi des mocktails.

A Well-Deserved Rest at Amosphère

We end our day at the Amosphère hotel, where we unload our bags and bodies for the night. To our great delight, the hotel accepts dogs, which we had requested in advance. We are responsible pet owners, after all. The very large and soft bed allows us to have a well-deserved rest after this wonderful day.

In the morning, we enjoy breakfast at the Amosphère restaurant. The Benedictines, a classic almost as classic as the For Men plate, are great choices! The service is cheerful, and the waitress is very aware of her clientele’s need for caffeine (which we appreciate!). We leave the Amosphère full of energy.

Au restaurant de l'hôtel Amosphère, sur le territoire d'Amos-Harricana, il est possible de souper et bien sûr, de déjeuner.

Our Alpaca Friends

Before leaving the charming territory of Amos-Harricana, we visit the alpacas. The Chalpagas Farm, which has forty-eight of these wonderful creatures, welcomes us with open arms. During the visit, we learn how Sylvie, from the farm, meticulously takes care of her alpacas. We also learn about the characteristics of alpaca fiber and its transformation process. It’s clear that Sylvie works hard with her alpacas and is passionate about her job. It's a pleasure to see. The presence and gentleness of these animals fill me with happiness!

À la Ferme Chalpagas, sur le territoire d'Amos-Harricana, il est possible d'en apprendre sur les soins accordés aux alpagas.

Charmed by this 24-hour excursion, I return home with a full heart. I know there are many more things to see in the Amos-Harricana territory. I think of the Jardins St-Maurice, other attractions on the Anisipi circuit, the beekeeping safari at the Miellerie de la Grande Ourse, the Scaro jeweler’s workshop, the beach, and the municipal campground at Lake Beauchamp... It's clear as esker water that 24 hours is not enough!