3 Best Sights in Gaspe, Quebec

Step back in time at this marvelously restored early-20th-century general store, where counters and shelves are loaded with bygone products such as old-fashioned tinctures, sewing machines, and period clothing. Hear an old telephone ring and see a fully equipped barber shop. Other rooms feature antique stoves and carriages. Curiosities fill every shelf and corner. Shopkeepers in costume lead guided tours, giving a feel of being in the store while it was in operation. They point out how some old devices worked.

Where raw cliffs and lush wilderness meet the vast Gulf of St. Lawrence and Bay of Gaspé, the mountains and boreal forest host bears and moose, among many other species. Along the shore, see harbor seals and thousands of water fowl. Camp, swim, hike, bike, wildlife watch, or soak in the park’s history, which begins with ancient native peoples and continues through traders, whalers, and wartime. All manner of outdoor activities await, as well as a recreation center with a heated outdoor pool, tennis courts, and team sport courts.

Stand anywhere in the town of Percé and its main attraction, the Rocher-Percé, will supply an amazing view. The gigantic sheer rock formation sits offshore on the Gulf of St. Lawrence and is part of L'Île-Bonaventure-et-du-Rocher-Percé National Park, in the care of Sépaq. Its reddish limestone and shale host dozens of fossil species, some of which date back more than 300 million years. Marvel at the massive wonder from shore or take a boat tour to get up close and pass through the huge natural archway that pierces the giant rock—hence the name. Private tours needn't be booked in advance and leave the Percé wharf on the hour and half hour from the end of May to mid-October. Admission is C$9. Car parking is an additional C$9.