Saint-Joseph-du-Lac is a municipality of 6,200 people (2011) in the lower Laurentides in the province of Quebec, Canada.

Understand

The main agricultural activity in the region is the production of apples.

Get in

By car

Autoroute 640 runs through Saint-Joseph-du-Lac.

By public transit

• exo, ☏ +1 514-287-2464. Two an hourly train from Montreal's central station to Deux-Montagne station (37 min, $6-9), then take exit bus #70 (direction Oka, 6 times a day) to Parc Paul-Yvon Lauzon stop (30 min). (updated Jan 2019)
• Via Rail provides service to Montreal's central station from Quebec City, Ottawa, Toronto, Halifax and other cities.

By plane

The nearest airport is Montreal's Pierre-Elliot Trudeau International Airport.

See

• Maison et Jardins Chénier-Sauvé, 83 rue Chénier, Saint-Eustache, ☏ +1 450-473-0149, fax: +1 450-473-0149. Mid-June 17 to Aug: daily 10:00-17:00, Sep: Sa Su 10:00-17:00. In the immediately neighbouring town of Saint-Eustache, local flowers, perennials, trees, shrubs and beautiful riverside scenery within a 20th-century eclectic garden created by Thérèse Romer, a well-known Quebec conservationist. Free. (updated Aug 2019)

Do

• Les Vergers Lafrance, 1473, chemin Principal, ☏ +1 450-491-7859, fax: +1 450-491-7528, info@lesvergerslafrance.com. This is a very popular spot for apple picking in the autumn. There is a shop, cider house and coffee house onsite. Children's activities are available during the apple-picking season. It can get very busy at this time on weekends. 
• Centre d'Interpretation de la Courge du Quebec, 839, chemin Principal. Sep and Oct only: daily 09:00-17:00. Pumpkin-picking, squash-picking, live music on Sunday afternoons, tractor rides, a children's play area. Picnic tables available so you can bring your own lunch. Dogs welcome. The bistro offers counter service M-F 11:00-15:00 and table service Sa Su 11:00-17:00 for soups, squash chips, salads and hot dishes. The shop sells a variety of gourd-related products, and beer and wine produced by their own vineyard and microbrewery. (updated Jan 2019)
• Parc Régional Bois de Belle-Rivière, 9009 Arthur-Sauvé Boulevard, Mirabel (midway between Saint-Eustache and Lachute, on Highway 15 North take the exit 640 West, then take exit 148 North West (blvd. Arthur Sauve) until Parc de Bois de Belle-Riviere), ☏ +1 450-258-4924. Daily 09:00-17:00. 27 mi (43 km) long network of trails winds across the lawns and through the gardens and arboretum-style forest. (updated Aug 2019)

Buy

• Vineyard Les Vents d'Ange, 839, chemin Principal, ☏ +1 450-623-4894. Mid-May-July Nov Dec: Sa Su 10:00-17:00, Aug-Oct: daily 09:00-17:00. A vineyard that produces 50,000 bottles of wine a year. The microbrewery uses their own barley, and they run the only malting plant in Quebec that makes a handmade floor malt. The result is a beer that is 100% Saint-Joseph-du-Lac, from the field to the bottle. (updated Jan 2019)

Eat

• Resto-Pub de la Montagne, 1081, rue Principal, ☏ +1 450-491-1144. 07:00-22:00. Varied menu ranging from sandwiches, submarines to pizza, pasta and ribs. (updated Jan 2019)
• Chez Gerard Patates Frites, 3904, chemin d'Oka, ☏ +1 450-473-9555. Sa-W 10:00-21:00, Th F 10:00-22:00. Burgers, steamed dogs, fries, poutine, wings, pizza. (updated Jan 2019)
• Restaurant L'oasis, 3543, chemin d'Oka, ☏ +1 450-472-6612. Su 08:00-21:00, Th F 17:00-21:00, Sa 08:00-23:00. (updated Jan 2019)
• Domaine du Petit St Joseph, 1944 Rue du Domaine, ☏ +1 450-623-0687. March and April only: F evening, Sa Su lunch and dinner. A cabane-à-sucre, or sugar shack, that is open during the springtime sugaring-off. Traditional Quebecois country meals of pea soup, baked beans, ham, bacon, Cole slaw, omelettes, pancakes, and maple products. Tractor ride included with the meal. (updated Jan 2019)

Sleep

You will find accommodations in nearby Saint-Eustache, Oka and Laval.