The Eastern Townhips is a beautiful region of Quebec, Canada, located right at the border with the US. It is a collection of small towns, natural parks and beautiful lakes, and the perfect destination for a cosy fall weekend.
While every season is great in the Eastern Townships, I think spending a couple of days there during fall is perfect to enjoy the cosy vibes the season brings and admire the foliage on trees.
I went to the Eastern Townships some years ago for a couple of days. During this short weekend, we went on forest walks next to our cabin, cosied up by the fireplace, drove around and stopped by many cute towns and beautiful lakes.
If you want to spend a cosy and chill weekend in the Eastern Townships, this is the perfect post for you! The focus is really on slowing down and enjoying the peaceful nature and vibes.
A Chill Weekend in the Eastern Townships – Best Things to Do
Stay in a cabin
The best way to have cosy vibes for your weekend in the Eastern Townships is to book a stay in a cabin. There are plenty on offer and they are often surrounded by trees so that you really feel disconnected!
You can take the opportunity of your weekend in the Eastern Townships to go on a digital detox or simply spend more quality time with your loved ones or by yourself.
Regarding the specific area to stay in, check out the practical information below. We stayed within the Memphremagog area, which is known for a huge lake and its beautiful landscapes.
Hike and walk in the woods
The Eastern Townships are the perfect place to get your nature fix and go on an easy walk in the woods or hike in a regional park.
There are 4 regional parks in the Eastern Townships area: Mont Orford National Park, Mont Mégantic National Park, Frontenac National Park and Yamaska National Park. They all offer plenty of hiking possibilities.
Depending on the area you are staying at, you might want to check out one or the other parks.
Autumn is the perfect time for this to admire the vibrant foliage of golden, orange and red leaves.
We stayed near the Mont Orford national park, which is located North of Magog, and our cabin was located in a wood so we got plenty of walking possibilities!
Drive around the lakes
There are plenty of beautiful lakes in the Eastern Townships region, all offering stunning views. The most famous of them is the Memphremagog lake, located near the town of Magog.
You can walk along the lakes, drive around them or stop at a café or restaurant to enjoy the scenic and peaceful views.
If you are there in the summer you can also rent a boat or kayak, and some lakes also have boat cruises!
Check out the covered bridges
There used to be hundreds of covered bridges in the Eastern Townships, but now only 15 of them remain. These 19th-century structures are part of the region’s heritage and offer a glimpse into the past, when wooden bridges were covered to protect them against harsh weather.
Some of them are still in use but most of them are only there to be admired, and while they may seem all identical from outside, their structures vary!
Visit the Saint-Benoît-du-Lac abbey
One of the most fascinating things to see in the Eastern Townships is the Saint-Benoît-du-Lac abbey, a Benedictine monastery founded in the early 20th century, that overlooks the Memphremagog lake.
The visit is very interesting and you can also buy a lot of local products in the gift shop! The inside is of course beautiful but what I liked the most was the location: hidden between the trees, surrounded by nature and right on the lake.
Explore the Cherry River Marsh
The Cherry River Marsh (or Marais de la Rivière aux Cerises) is a protected area located next to Magog. It features many walking trails accessible in all seasons, and perfect for an easy walk in nature.
It is especially great when it is a bit rainy or wet as some trails are on wooden boardwalks, so that visitors can avoid the mud and slush but still enjoy being around nature.
Walk around cute towns
Any weekend in the Eastern Townships would not be complete without a drive around all the pretty little towns that just seem straight out of a movie set.
Sometimes there is a strong Sleepy Hollow vibe, especially at night or on a rainy and misty day. Other times, it feels like you just ended up in Stars Hollow (from the show Gilmore Girls), and you wouldn’t be surprised if you saw Luke’s Diner at the corner of a street.
When you are done with the wandering about in nature, you can definitely go to one of those towns and enjoy and warm and earthy meal in the many restaurants that there are.
Some of the nicest towns include: North Hatley, Magog, Sutton, Knowlton or Coaticook.
A Weekend in the Eastern Townships – Useful information
When is the best time to visit the Eastern Townships?
All seasons are great in the Eastern Townships as the outdoors activities they offer are very varied: skiing, kayaking, hiking, biking, etc.
For a perfect cosy weekend in the Eastern Townships, I would highly recommend going there in Fall, when the trees start to turn and the leaves get their golden and orange hues, because it is just magical!
Where to stay in the Eastern Townships?
There are plenty of pretty towns to stay at in the Eastern Townships. Sherbrooke is the biggest city so you’ll find lots of options there, but for the perfect fall vibes I would recommend staying in a smaller town or in a cabin.
Regarding the area, I really liked the area around Magog, as you have lots of towns, a large lake and the Mont Orford park really close!
| Pro tip: make sure to check out all the details when booking a cabin! Sometimes, you’ll have to bring your own bed sheets and towels or the accommodation doesn’t have heating or electricity! |
How long should you stay in the Eastern Townships?
The Eastern Townships are perfect both for short and long stays, as there are a lot of towns and parks to explore.
I think a weekend is the minimum amount of time to stay in the Eastern Townships, so that you can visit the abbey, explore some towns and go on 1-2 walks/hikes.
Longer stays are perfect if you want to rest more or do more outdoors activities like kayaking, skiing, etc.
You can also go on day trips in the Eastern Townships natural parks from Montreal, thanks to shuttle buses that offer round trips to the parks!
How to reach the Eastern Townships?
The Eastern Townships are easily accessible by bus from Montreal, the closest Canadian big city.
However, I do recommend going in the Eastern Townships with a car, as it will make things a lot easier for you and is also essential to get around with more flexibility. Many cabins are also not very accessible with public transport.
I absolutely loved my stay in the Eastern Townships in fall, and would come back in a heartbeat! There is something so special about nature at this time of year, when you are invited to slow down and admire all the beautiful colours of the trees.
