This morning, I set off on a road trip to Quebec City for the TBEX conference, but rather than heading straight there, I chose a more scenic route through the Eastern Townships of Quebec—an area I’d never explored before. It felt like the perfect opportunity to slow down and take in some of the province’s lesser-known charms.
For those unfamiliar, TBEX stands for Travel Bloggers Exchange. It’s a global conference held three times a year in different parts of the world, bringing together travel bloggers, content creators, and tourism boards to collaborate on marketing strategies, storytelling, and all things travel.
Joining me on this adventure was the lovely Paula Barreca Barnes, a travel blogger originally from Australia who now calls Singapore home. Though Paula had visited Toronto before, she was stunned by how much had changed in just one year—proof that cities, like people, are always evolving.
We began our journey in Vineland and made our way to Burlington, where I picked up our ride—a tiny Fiat 500—rented through TURO, the car-sharing platform often described as the “Airbnb of cars.” While compact, the Fiat turned out to be a fuel-sipping marvel—we made it all the way to Magog on just $35 worth of gas.
As we cruised along, however, we noticed the air conditioning wasn’t quite doing its job. A quick online search confirmed our suspicions: the 2013 Fiat 500 didn’t come equipped with AC. If the weather turned hot, we knew this would be a long, sticky journey.
That day’s drive would cover 762 kilometers and take more than seven and a half hours, mostly along Highway 401 and into the heart of Quebec. Navigating Toronto’s traffic was, in a word, atrocious. At one point, we found ourselves stuck in what appeared to be an 18-lane parking lot—lanes in both directions at a total standstill. Once we escaped the city’s grasp, we settled into a comfortable cruising speed of 115 km/h, the countryside flying by in a blur of green.
We purposely bypassed Montreal, which was in full Formula One chaos mode—an exciting time for the city, but not for our budget or patience. Instead, we pressed on toward the peaceful, green landscapes of the Eastern Townships.
As we drove, Paula and I entertained each other with travel tales from around the world. We had little choice, really—the Fiat’s radio offered no Bluetooth connection, and the local stations were a crackly, static-filled mess. With no soundtrack, our laughter became the rhythm of the road.
Just before reaching Laval, we exited the highway and crossed the St. Lawrence Seaway, passing through the town of Sorel-Tracy before diving into the Eastern Townships. The landscape shifted dramatically—dense forests gave way to rolling farmland, and granite cliffs towered over stretches of winding road. Along the way, we encountered an amusing pattern: for every three deer crossing signs, there was one for moose. We started keeping count, just to pass the time.
We eventually reached Magog, a small town set along the northern edge of Lake Memphrémagog. The lake itself is long and narrow, fed by glacial waters, and stretches south across the U.S. border into Vermont. Its geography makes it one of those quietly unusual lakes that belong to two countries at once.
Tucked into the Eastern Townships of Quebec, Magog is a town shaped by its seasons. In winter, the surrounding landscape draws skiers to nearby resorts like Owl’s Head, Bromont, Mont Orford, and Mount Sutton. When the snow melts, the focus shifts to Lake Memphremagog, where boating and watersports take centre stage.
Home to around 30,000 residents in the greater area, Magog’s roots reach back to the late 18th century. For much of the 20th century, the town revolved around the textile industry, with Dominion Textiles serving as a key employer until its closure in 1998. Since then, Magog has gradually reoriented itself around tourism, welcoming visitors who come to experience both its natural surroundings and evolving cultural landscape.
Our accommodation for the night was at the Auberge de Jeunesse Magog-Orford, a hostel set in a charming converted farmhouse beside a towering church. The check-in was smooth, and the staff gave us a quick tour of the facilities. Paula booked a private room, while I opted for the dorm—though I had only one roommate that night. The hostel was impressively clean and offered fantastic value for budget-conscious travelers.
Inside, there was a sprawling kitchen, ample common areas, and everything a weary traveler could hope for: strong Wi-Fi, hot showers with good water pressure, and—crucially—a bug-free environment. My personal holy trinity of hostel living also includes a working coffee station, and I was relieved to find one ready for the morning.
That evening, we wandered down Magog’s charming main street and stumbled upon a cozy Tex-Mex spot called Tequila & Guacamole. We wrapped up the day with tacos and a well-earned margarita, the perfect way to toast the first leg of our journey
