ILE d’ORLEANS: Historic Quebec

For a quick day trip or a short getaway, the Ile D’Orleans is a 20 mile stretch of serene farmland that is just fifteen minutes from downtown Quebec City.  We boarded a tour bus to see the historic island starting with a visit to Guy Bel, a renowned artisan blacksmith whose work can be seen in Nova Scotia and around Quebec. His work might also be seen in golf resorts as his latest endeavor is a perfectly balanced golf club.

We enjoyed lunch at Moulin de St. Laurent, a restored mill that is now a family owned restaurant and inn (open May to October).  We wound up the excursion with a casiss tasting at Cassis Monna, & Filles, a family owned black currants vineyard run by two gorgeous sisters who give farming a good name.