The town of Port-Cartier is located on the 50th parallel north, as indicated on Route 138, where the town and its surroundings are scarcely visible. Too often, visitors to the North Shore continue on their way. Yet, this place is full of treasures. Dare to leave the road and enter!
The comments from Quebec visitors during the summer of 2020, the only ones allowed to travel to the North Shore during the pandemic, are unanimous: Port-Cartier is one of the towns with the most to offer and is not yet fully explored. "People are surprised by the beauty of the town, with its curves, valleys, rivers, and two islands. With good shoes, you can explore the entire town," says Line Bordage, tourism and community relations advisor at the City of Port-Cartier. Her organization, Tourisme Port-Cartier, aims to promote the tourist attractions of its territory, including Rivière-Pentecôte and Pointe-aux-Anglais, and to manage the logistics. A Tourist Information Office is located in Port-Cartier, and a Welcome Office at the Louis-Langlois Museum in Pointe-aux-Anglais. Among these attractions are the Port-Cartier History Interpretation Center, the Graffiti Café-Theatre, the Rivière aux Rochers Park, and the Louis-Langlois Museum. Line Bordage likes to say the well-known phrase: "Small towns attract people because of their authenticity. Port-Cartier is a haven of peace, and it has all the essential services."
Nature, people, and history, so close to you
During the summer of 2021, banners at the entrance of Port-Cartier, illustrating what can be found there, will invite visitors to discover the town. "Our visitors experience proximity, which is our keyword, our inspiration. Proximity to the omnipresent nature: trails, the sea, beaches, a river, the forest. Proximity to history, as Port-Cartier played a major role in the development of the North Shore; there are remnants and an interpretation center that tells the story of the city's birth. With the people, we have an experience, with a close-knit aspect, which is our reputation, we like to be visited."
There are also secret places in Port-Cartier, like "the hidden bay" with breathtaking views of the sea, "but you need to be guided by someone local. Take your chances by making friends in Port-Cartier. Otherwise, all the beaches are beautiful. At the Les Goélands Outdoor Base beach, sometimes, a small clay spot forms, very pleasant with children."
New features: campgrounds and RV spots
Facilities have been created at the South Patterson Island municipal campground, discovered by adventurous RV travelers last year, which now has 17 paid sites. For RVs and self-sufficient recreational vehicles (RVs), seven spots are offered for free where they can park for one or two nights: two in Pointe-aux-Anglais, one in Rivière-Pentecôte, and four in Port-Cartier (they are indicated on the brand new RV Overnight Stop website).
Here, tourism is growing and will continue with other projects until Port-Cartier becomes a must-see destination on the North Shore.
Written by: Christine Gilliet (Words and Tides)
Click here to listen to the podcast episode "Bonjour Côte-Nord" on the town of Port-Cartier with Line Bordage:
