Canada’s Eastern Townships in southern Quebec was featured in the New York Times prestigious list of 52 Places to go in 2023, described as “Canadian New England with a French Flair.”  This gem of a region has charming towns, bucolic countryside, pristine lakes, vineyards and exceptional cuisine as well as top resorts and spas. There are plenty of activities all year round in this nature wonderland or you can just turn off, get away from it all, relax and rejuvenate. And it’s easy to get to, just over the borders of New Hampshire, Vermont and Southern Maine or you can fly into Montreal and rent a car, stopping at wineries, quaint villages, fromageries and farmers’ markets.

One of Eastern Township’s enchanting resorts, the 5-star Ripplecove Hotel & Spa at the southern end of Lake Massawippi offers a glorious immersion in nature.  Cocktailing on the terrace while gazing at the sun’s golden reflection shimmering on the lake as ducks glided by was pure magic. And it’s pretty fantastic to wake up to birdsong.

Luxury meets serenity with various accommodation options including classic rooms in the original building, rooms in a nearby Pavilion and a cozy Log Cabin Cottage - all with unique décor, charm and comfort. Twenty-nine high-end suites built in the fall of 2021 outfitted as residences that hotel guests can rent, feature kitchens, fireplaces, heated floors, and terraces with lake views. Suite guests also get access to the scenic rooftop terrace replete with fire pits, Jacuzzis and loungers.

Le Riverain Restaurant, a local favorite, offers an impressive, gastronomic experience whether you sit on the scenic terrace overlooking the lake or inside by the fireplace with a piano serenade. Chef uses the finest seasonal, local ingredients for the tastiest refined cuisine that highlights local flavors. Some of the many standouts include suckling pig from Gaspor’s farm, spinach puree, brussel sprouts, calvados sauce, Saskatoon berry gel and seared flounder with scallop gyoza, fish consommé, grilled tatsoi, rice and mushroom crumble. And the wine cellar is exceptional.

The more casual The Cove delivers delectable dishes made with ingredients from the terroir. Options include luscious oysters, a mouth watering endive salad with blue cheese, pecans and green apples, salmon tartare, cucumber, radish and moules marinière.

With the hotel’s prime location on the beautiful lake, water activities abound. These include kayaking, paddle boarding, fishing and cruising on the resort’s pontoon, with options to stop for lunch at a restaurant or go to a beach. In winter, there’s an Ice skating rink on the lake.

Guests can play tennis and enjoy the outdoor heated pool in the warmer months. There are also bicycles for cycling and hiking trails as well as Jacuzzis and Sauna’s with lake views year round. Top off your stay with some well deserved pampering at the Spa Arborescence.

Another charmer, just 13 miles away on Lake Massawippi’s northern shores, the esteemed Relais & Chateaux Manoir Hovey, has been ranked #1 Resort in Canada for the fourth consecutive year in Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards. With its elegant aesthetic, idyllic lakeside locale surrounded by 30 acres of birch and pine forest, sumptuous English gardens, superb cuisine and new full service spa - it’s easy to see why. The historic residence has been a family enterprise for several generations and their pride in the property shines through.

The resort’s 52 beautifully designed accommodations done in refined, country-style decor include rooms and suites in the manor and private cottages by the lake along with the 12 new luxurious rooms and suites featuring scenic balconies and large bay windows in the Lakeside Pavilion that debuted this September.

Many guests never leave the property with its warm, inviting ambiance. The 5-star resort is very accessible to get to as well. In addition to driving, seaplane transfers can be arranged from numerous cities such as Montreal, Toronto, Boston, New York and Washington D.C.

Le Hatley, the resort’s gourmet restaurant delivers flavorful, elevated cuisine with a farm to table focus using seasonal, local products. The menu celebrates the bounty of Quebec with ingredients found in its rivers, lakes, fields and forests.

Dishes include perfectly executed lobster from Gaspé with tortellini, asparagus, lovage and gorria pepper, luscious lamb from the Bas-Saint-Laurent with tomato, marigold, garlic and lamb jus, and duck with beetroot, ligonberry, almond – along with a wine list par excellence.

Manoir Hovey’s bistro, the more casual Tap Room with a terrace overlooking the lake, uses products from the terroir to create the flavorful cuisine. The changing menu includes delectables like lobster rolls, salmon gravlax marinated in gin, and the famous Abenaki poutine.

Some of the many activities include an outdoor heated pool by the lake, 2 private beaches, clay tennis courts, bicycling and hiking on nearby trails, a notable library and equipment for both land and water activities year round. Not to mention lolling on your patio, taking in those gorgeous nature views.

Their new lakeside Spa features a Nordic indoor-outdoor thermal circuit of cold, hot and relaxation stations that can balance and reset your nervous system. Other amenities include a lakeside pool and adjoining hot tub and an array of revitalizing treatments such as the signature facial incorporating honey from the on site beehive and the bliss inducing Le Massawippi massage utilizing hemlock essential oil.

Nearby, the village of North Hatley founded in 1897 is known as one of the most beautiful small towns of Quebec. Here you’ll see more stunning landscapes with glorious views, distinct architecture and quaint old village ambiance. The Eastern Townships are a true treasure - slow travel at its best across Quebec’s rural landscape.