Our bucket list of 10 ways to enjoy summer like a Scandinavian
We recently launched a Scandinavian-inspired line, but our enthusiasm for the region goes well beyond home décor.
We’ve put together a bucket list that serves up Scandinavian happiness—by the bucketful. Find joy the Scandinavian way with our list of things to do and places to go right here in Beauce and Les Etchemins!
Get back to basics and discover the charm and simplicity of new places and well-kept secrets.
1. HYGGE | Artisanal products
A feeling of coziness, contentment, and well-being that comes from simple things.
Where to go:
Douceurs des Appalaches. Treat yourself to unique soaps and, new this year, soy wax candles. Candlelight is so hygge!
2. FIKA | The art of the coffee break
Coffee and cake with friends is time well spent relaxing and reflecting on the good things in life.
Where to go:
La Ferme des Cent Acres. Exquisite sweet treats and premium coffee, served in the café or packaged for takeout.
3. LAGOM | Go fish
Being in perfect harmony. Doing or having just the right amount—not too much, not too little.
Where to go:
The La Chaudière outdoor recreation centre at Vallée-Jonction offers a wide range of activities, including river fishing. Musky, walleye, pike, smallmouth bass, brook trout, and brown trout are all plentiful here. See if you can hook one!
4. SISU | Mountain biking
Singular strength and unwavering determination to keep going in the face of adversity. Stoic determination, tenacity, bravery, and resilience.
What to do:
- Hit the bike trails at Mont-Orignal (SMO).
The official opening is July 2. Grab a Rocky Mountain bike, made right here in Beauce, and see where the trails lead you. - Experience an intro to climbing on July 2 and 9 at the new CEMA climbing facility in Saint-Léon-de-Standon.
5. KOSELIG | Finnish bowling
A feeling of utter contentment derived from a person, place, or ambiance. Experiencing joy and personal well-being by spending time outdoors with friends.
What to do:
Miniature Finnish bowling
A new global phenomenon, Finnish bowling is a game that can be played by anyone, anywhere. Physical fitness doesn’t matter, and neither does anything else.
6. MYSA | Read a book
Settling in to do something comforting and enjoyable, usually at home. Feeling content.
Recommended books by local authors:
- Laissez-les brûler. In this police novel the village of Saint-Odilon-de-Cranbourne, birthplace of author Dominic Bellavance, takes centre stage.
- Et si la vie c’était maintenant, a story brimming with emotion. Beauceville writer Anne Julien’s debut novel takes an intimate look at the life of a local family as they deal with the mother’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis.
- Debut novel by Saint-Martin author Vicky Poulin: La célèbre anonyme. Career or family? Which is more important? A difficult question to answer, especially for women, who are sometimes faced with agonizing decisions.
7. GÖKOTTA | Listen to the birds sing
The act of getting up early to hear the birds sing and enjoy nature. Literally, “early morning cuckoo.”
Where to go:
Domaine Taschereau in Sainte-Marie. Nature park in the centre of town, with 6.5 km of walking trails. Start your day the right way with a quick morning walk.
Les oiseaux qui nous entourent is a guide with photos of 135 bird species documented and photographed at Domaine Taschereau in Sainte-Marie over the last 10 years. Copies are available at the Domaine Taschereau gift shop inside the park.
8. SMULTRONSTÄLLE | Pick wild strawberries
A special place discovered, treasured, and returned to for solace and relaxation. Our own happy place where we experience joy and well-being. Literally, “wild strawberry.”
Where to go:
To pick wild strawberries, we suggest looking at the edge of a forest or along paths and berms.
Or you can pick your own farm-grown berries at Aux fruits de la colline in Sainte-Marie, complete with a splendid view over the Chaudière River.
9. FRILUFTSLIV | Picnic in the country
Living life among nature, spending time in the great outdoors for enhanced spiritual and physical well-being. Literally, “open-air living.”
Where to go:
Moulin des Fermes in Saint-Joseph is a public park for history and nature fanatics. It’s the perfect place to take the family for a picnic, relax by the waterfall, and capture it all in remarkable photos.
10. UTEPILS | Discoveries for your tastebuds (microbrews)
Sitting outside on a sunny day enjoying a beer. Literally, “outdoor lager.”
Where to go:
The Jarrets Noirs beer garden opened in summer 2021 to spectacular acclaim. More than 35,000 people visited that first year, which bodes well for the 2022 season!