Summer ending doesn’t mean that we should retreat back to our cocoons and mourn in silence. Fall is an amazing time to be on the East Coast with a beautiful mix of autumn foliage, crisp temperatures and amazing stylish options for everyone. Fall is also a time to stay outside the city by going for a road trip.

The following are fun road trips close to Montreal.

Vankleek Hill, ON

This ride takes you to 105km West of Montreal through the Victorian-era houses that are still in their original wooden gingerbread ornamentation that remind of the past.

Length: one and a half hours.

The Key Places

Visit Beau’s All-Natural Brewery for a taste tour.

Check out Beau’s Oktoberfest for some amazing music, food, and beer.

Stop by at Sunny Side Alpaca Ranch to see some Huacaya Alpacas.

Quebec City, QC

250k North of Montreal, this is one of the oldest North America settlements and the only walled city north of Mexico.

Length: two and a half hours.

The Key Places

Take a stroll down the cobblestone streets of Old Quebec. This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with museums, the Chateau Frontenac, and 17th-18th-century houses.

The 4.6km wall surrounding Montreal is worth a visit. The star-shaped Citadel, the cannons, the imposing gates and the Artillery Park are must-see destinations.

Go for a Gondola walk or ride to the apex point of Montmorency Falls which is higher than Niagara Falls by 30 meters.

Check out the neo-Roman Style basilica and the golden statue of Saint Anne at Sainte-Anne-de- Beaupré Shrine, the oldest pilgrimage site in North America.

Visit the lovely countryside and old-fashioned villages of Île d'Orléans.

Charlevoix, QC

This mountain and sea combined location is 350km of Montreal and has serene coves and fascinating settlements.

Length: four hours.

The Key Places

The Grands-Jardins National Park

The village of Les Éboulements, that sits on an extensive meteorite that supposedly fell to the earth 350 million years ago.

Jump on a ferry to Isle-aux-Coudres, a place with 19th-century windmills and watermills.

Go to the Train du Massif de Charlevoix to observe the 140km of coast.

Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, QC

This vast area is 480km of Montreal and is named after the huge Lac-Saint-Jean and the Rivière Saguenay.

Length: 5 Hours

The Key Places

Bagotville Air Defence Museum that’s the only army base open to the public.

Take the Saguenay Fjord and whale-watching cruises including a stop at Sainte-ROSE-du-Nord, an absolutely beautiful village.

Take the train ride through Zoo Sauvage de Saint-Félicien.

Get spooky at the ghost town of the Village Historique de Val-Jalbert.

Montmagny, QC

This road trip takes you 305km North-East of Montreal along the St-Laurence River. The Appalachians are to the south with a collection of scenic islands and villages by the riverside.

Length: 3 hours.

The Key Places

Go to Grosse-Île a place where many Irish immigrants were quarantined.

Check the Snow Goose Festival.

Check out the Parcours des Anses trail that is ideal for cycling and hiking.

Enjoy the activities at the surrounding villages.

Eastern Townships, QC

A place 80km South-East of Montreal with breathtaking sceneries, villages, restaurants, inns, sugar shacks, orchards, and vineyards.

Length: one and a half hours.

The Key Areas

Zoo de Granby is an amazing place to spend the day.

Get amazed by the cheese and cider making monks at Abbaye Saint-Benoît-du-Lac.

Go backpacking on the Sentiers de l'Estrie.

Visit the Parc de la Gorge-de-Coaticook, one of the longest suspension bridges in the world with a 169m suspension.

Vermont (USA)

180 km South-East of Montreal known for lush mountains and fall foliage.

Length: two and a half hours.

The Key Areas

Check out the Ben & Jerry Factory.

Take the Teddy Bear Factory tour.

Enjoy art, sculpture, photography, live music and food at the Stowe Foliage Art Festival.

Check Jay Peak’s immense Pump House indoor waterpark.

Maine (USA

A rocky and jagged coastline 460km East of Montreal.

Length: 5.75 hours

The Key Areas

Take in Acadia’s Oktoberfest Food and Crafts Festival.

Check out the Damariscotta Pumpkinfest & Regatta for a whole week of events.

The Fryeburg Fair – Maine's Blue Ribbon Classic is a nice place to check out different livestock on Saturday.

Massachusetts (USA)

A place with rolling hills and valleys with lots of rural hill-towns.

Length: 5 and a half hours.

The Key Places

Check out Oktoberfest at Harpoon Brewery.

Check the longest Renaissance Festival in New England, the King Richard’s Faire.

Discover the spooky Salem Haunted Happenings, which lasts for a whole month.

Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular at Roger Williams Park Zoo has thousands of illuminated pumpkins that make an amazing view.

New York City (USA)

Coming here is not about the drive but the destination, but you will make lots of engaging stops along the way.

Length: 6 Hours

The Key Areas

Catch a New York event.

Enjoy a Broadway show.

Take a stroll through Central Park and enjoy the colors courtesy of the season.

And many more….