At the edge of Quebec’s inhabited world lies the touristy Saguenay. Popular attraction number one is the Saguenay Fjord, a deep, impressive gorge that cuts through the landscape from the St Lawrence River to the west. The fjord, whose waters come from Lac St. Jean, stretches from Saguenay for a hundred kilometres to Tadoussac. Towering cliffs, some as high as 500 metres, rise from the dark waters.

Hike through the wild forests of Parc National du Fjord-du-Saguenay, kayak the calm waters of the Saguenay River, or go whale-watching in the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park, where vast numbers of these majestic ocean mammals come to feast on the vast quantities krill that are found here. In a recent survey, Saguenay’s residents were shown to have the highest life satisfaction in the country – unsurprising given the spectacular surrounds and the city’s laid-back pace.