Tiny Tadoussac overlooks the Saguenay River at its confluence with the St. Lawrence. The village is located on the traditional lands of the Innu people, who once hunted seals in the region. Today, things to do in the small town include whale-watching tours, kayaking, and hiking, thanks to the region’s abundance of national and provincial parks. Tadoussac is charming. Hôtel Tadoussac, a grand, gracious building from the 1940s, is a red and white beacon, while the main street of Rue des Pionniers is lined with quaint boutiques and several cafés.
Summer is peak season in Tadoussac, and most whales visit the region from May to October. Minke whales, humpback whales, fin whales, and blue whales are all seasonal visitors, while you can spot belugas year-round. In autumn, the weather starts to cool, and it’s a gorgeous time of year to spend in the parks and nature reserves around Tadoussac—the leaves look as though they’ve been candied, and you won’t overheat while hiking.
Tadoussac itself is small and easily explored on foot, but you’ll want to have a car to check out nearby attractions. The nearest city is Saguenay, which lies 60 miles (100 kilometers) west. Nearby highlights include Les Dunes (towering sand dunes, which seem incongruous, placed along the St. Lawrence River) and Saguenay Fjord National Park, where towering cliffs plunge sharply into the fjord, and you'll be able to spot hundreds of migrating birds.
Ensure you make time to visit the incredible Marine Mammal Interpretation Centre to add context to your whale-watching adventures. Staffed by naturalists and home to a whole sperm whale skeleton, the attraction is an ideal way to learn about the many species of whales that visit the estuary. Listen to whale song, check out the whale-sighting map, and spend time wandering along the rocky shoreline and keeping an eye out for a waterspout.