This summer, we’ll reconnect with nature—sprayed with bug repellent—and enjoy the Quebec summer with walks in the forest, swimming in the cool lake waters, picnics atop the mountains, and sunbathing on the beaches.
And, of course, we’ll enjoy the local produce and farmers, the flowers, the honey, and the hams.
Every Saturday morning, we’ll be able to go to the market in one of the region’s most beautiful villages, on the shores of a cool lake, in Ayer’s Cliff.
Ayer’s Cliff and the Eastern Townships
The Eastern Townships, or the Estrie (the region has two names depending on who you ask), is northeast of Montreal and stretches along part of the Canada-U.S. border with Vermont.
It’s in Quebec, where the official language is French, but many of its residents, especially those closest to the border, speak English, and the villages along Lake Massawippi and Lake Memphremagog—including Ayer’s Cliff, which is right on the water—are predominantly English-speaking.
The region is known for its agriculture and agritourism, as well as for its beauty and lifestyle in harmony with nature. In addition to fruit and vegetable growers and cattle and duck farmers, there are about fifteen cheese farms, some thirty vineyards, microbreweries, cideries, and a Relais Châteaux property—the Manoir Hovey (a 20-minute drive from Ayer’s Cliff).
Ayer’s Cliff, the largest village on the shores of Lake Massawippi, is the hub of water activities (kayaking in the morning and relaxing on a dock in the afternoon— it’s almost a religion here) and local agricultural activities. In addition to lakeside strolls, sunbathing at Massawippi Beach (the only beach on the lake with free lifeguard supervision), and hiking or biking in the surrounding area, there are two must-see events held there every summer.
Practical Information
Where? 977 Main Street, Ayer’s Cliff
When? June 20 to October 10, 2026, Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.