Magog, Quebec - July 7, 2008
Just north of the U.S.-Canadian border, about 40 minutes from Vermont, awaits a vacation with an international flair: a cruise on beautiful Lake Memphremagog.
"I've been a captain 3 years now. This boat was built in 1960. It's a 60-foot-long boat and has a capacity of 100 passengers," says cruise captain Jean Lacosse.
Memphremagog Cruises begin in Magog, Quebec and never leave the province. You start at the north end of the 33 mile long lake and venture south. At one point you are just nine miles from Vermont.
During the two and a half hour cruise, the boat's bilingual captains share interesting tidbits about the multi-million dollar mansions along the shore and delve into lake lore about the life lurking just beneath the water's surface.
"There's a monster here. His name is Memphre. I've never seen him," says Lacosse.
On rainy days, it's difficult to see many of the mountains that tower over the water. However, the shoreline is never far away. The lake is very narrow in Quebec, much wider in Vermont. The lake is home to 22 islands. Several are privately owned. But the highlight of the trip is perhaps the view of the St. Benoit Benedictine monastery. The monastery is one of the smallest municipalities in all of Quebec, and it also has the lowest birth rate. That's because it's home to 50 celibate monks.
Tourists first began visiting Memphremagog in the 1800s, many touring the lake on steamboats. The biggest of the boats was called Lady of the Lake, with a capacity of up to 700 passengers. Most of the resorts and grand hotels that once lined the shore are gone. But the lake remains a popular destination, a sweet getaway for anyone looking for some R and R on international waters.
Keagan Harsha - WCAX News
Click here for more on the Lake Memphremagog cruises and for more on visiting the Magog, Quebec area.
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