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The Adventure Zone

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Photo: Jérome Roy

Come April, most Canadians are looking ahead to the coming warm temperatures and the chance to enjoy the outdoors in something other than a snowsuit and toque.

But depending on the region, April can also be a time to enjoy the outdoors with activities that celebrate the last vestiges of winter. Saint-Quentin, New Brunswick, the maple syrup capital of Atlantic Canada, is a great place to do just that with their annual Maple Festival.

The six-day event celebrates the spring maple syrup season that has been a staple of northeastern North America for centuries, back to the days when the Ojibwa called this six-week period the "maple moon" or "sugar month". New Brunswick is the third-largest Canadian maker of the sweet, gooey garnish, behind Quebec and Ontario.

Saint-Quentin and its 2200 residents, largely francophone, are located in the Appalachian Mountains in northwestern New Brunswick, nearly 300 kilometres north of Fredericton. Given the mountainous terrain that makes for great skiing and hiking, there are plenty of outdoor adventures in the area to explore between sweet tooth indulgences.

The town's title as the maple syrup capital of Atlantic Canada is well-earned. Despite its modest population, the Saint-Quentin area is home to over 10 per cent of New Brunswick's maple syrup producers. And that does not account for the two dozen or so traditional sugar shacks.

Between visits to sugar shacks in the bush, festival-goers can choose from a variety of specialty meals that feature maple syrup-laced dishes, as well as treats especially geared towards children, like maple syrup chilled on snow and rolled onto a stick. It is a tasty taffy snack for kids, and even kids-at-heart, to enjoy while getting fresh air and exploring a new part of the country.

The Maple Festival in Saint-Quentin takes place April 3-8th.
Visit www.tourismnewbrunswick.ca for more information.