The best family picnic spots in Abitibi-Témiscamingue

Sandwiches, sun and not too many mosquitoes, please.

Because Summer in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, it’s a delight. Ideally, a checkered blanket, with the kids running around and chips flying away with the wind. Whether you are team Forest or team Downtown, Stéphanie, our senior graphic designer has prepared a short list of perfect spots where to go for a picnic with the family (or just to relax outdoors)!

Summer, in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, it’s short, it’s hot (sometimes) and most of all, it’s perfect to unfold your tablecloth, get the sandwiches out and savor good times with your family. Whether it is between two dips into a lake at the beach, at the heart of an lively neighborhood or in the middle of Nature, the region overflows with inviting parks. Here are some of the best spots to go to for a picnic with (or without) the kids.

La Sarre

Sentier multifonctionnel (Multi-Use trail)

This trail in the middle of the town is perfect for a stroll before or after the picnic. We can walk, run, or roll on a bike to your own pace on an asphalt covered trail of over 4 km. You still have energy left after your eggs sandwiches? Stop by the Beattie Golf Club to hit some balls!

Participarc

Families enjoy this location for its playground modules, its open spaces and its waterplay games. There are also baseball and soccer fields, as well as beach volleyball courts where to run around. The dream… or nightmare, depending on your caffeine levels.

Preissac

Tancrède Park

A park by the water, quiet, and inviting. Perfect for a relaxing day, for a picnic and to enjoy the landscape. On the contrary, if you feel more for some sport, there is a workout circuit, a basketball court, a tennis court, playground modules and swings… To resume, it has everything to entertain both the smaller and the older kids!

"The dream… or nightmare, depending on your caffeine levels."
Stéphanie Cloutier

Amos

Lions Park

Located at the city’s entrance, it’s an urban park well designed with a great ambiance. Easy to access and perfect for a picnic that we stretch over the whole afternoon. There are even toilets and shadowed areas, which the smaller ones will enjoy!

Brunet Park

Stretching along the Harricana River side, you can have a stroll to get to the Brunet park with its playground modules and its waterplay games. You can even get to the natural Agora to enjoy the view, or pass onto the Ulrick-Chérubin bridge. It’s a charming place where to stop by, eat and let the kids play freely.

Rotary Park

Located near the Maison Hector-Authier and the Sainte-Thérèse-d’Avila Cathedral, this park marries green spaces and architectural heritage. It’s a dream location for a contemplative picnic with a view on one of the architectural gems of the area. You can also take a short walk to the Centre d’Exposition d’Amos or to Code César Jeu d’Évasion if the kids are being overexcited!

Val-d’Or

Lemoine Park

That’s a must-see! It has everything: modules for all ages, spectacular waterplay games and a neighbourhood ambiance. It’s a well equipped family park with bathrooms. You can add up to the fun by stopping by Les Becs Sucrés-Salés to pick up some snacks for your picnic and thus ensuring many pleasing hours to your people.

Park of the Water Castle (Sullivan)

Newly setup, this pretty park in the Sullivan area has everything for the families: playground modules, baseball fields, hockey cosom rinks, sensory activities as well as a pump track for bikes, scooters or skateboards. It’s quiet, well designed and there is just enough space to have a peaceful picnic while the kids come and go without really staying in place.

Belvedere Park and the Rotary Tower

You climb, you look at the city, you say “Wow!” and you get back down to eat your picnic. Climbing the Rotary Tower is always a small challenge well appreciated by kids. Simple, efficient and it allows for pretty pictures for Instagram. The park also offers resting spaces and trails. Then, after all of these adventures, you can stop by the Choco-Mango to enjoy their excellent ice creams. Win-win situation for everyone!

Forêt récréative de Val-d’Or (Recreational Forest)

Quite a gem for the active families. There are hiking trails, cycling paths, hebertism trails where the little ones (and the older ones too) can climb, jump and push themselves like ninjas. You can even rent many different equipment if you wish to try a new activity. That’s the perfect spot for a picnic after effort.

Malartic

Park of the Belvedere

You wish to see a giant open pit mine in the background of your picnic? That’s where you have to go! A surprising and educational halt while discovering the mining industry imprinted on the city’s landscape. It’s a well equipped space that allows you to spend some energy with your family. To do so, there is a skateboard area, a baseball field, a volleyball court, playground modules and waterplay games. You can double the fun by visiting the Musée Minéralogique de l’Abitibi-Témiscamingue (Mineralogical Museum of Abitibi-Témiscamingue) nearby and the Canadian Malartic Mine.

Ville-Marie

Parc des Clubs (Clubs’ Park)

A big multi-use park that combines sports fields, playground modules and a lot of space to run, jump or play hide-and-seek (the marathon version). Sports equipment can be borrowed for free at the Coop de l’Arrière-Pays, nearby.

Parc du Centenaire / Plage municipale de Ville-Marie

Floating toys and games for the most daring of us, and a beach area to relax. That’s a perfect location for the hotter days and for the amazing view on Lake Temiskaming. The place is well designed for the families and we can spend many hours there easily. You can even succumb to the temptation at the Chocolats Martine (Martine Chocolate Factory), the Caféier-Boustifo or even at the Snack-Bar La Fringale to add to your picnic experience.

Rouyn-Noranda

St-Luc Park

A great family classic with its football and soccer fields to run as much as you want, a small waterplay games area, playground modules for all ages and - important detail - on-site bathrooms. Many picnic tables allow one to keep an eye on the whole place, which makes it an ideal location for the organized families (or those aspiring to be so). We can even get there by bicycle on the cycling path if you seek a bigger adventure.

Kiwanis Beach and Agnico-Eagle Waterplay Games

A must-see Summer spot. Soft sand, refreshing bathing into the lake, modern waterplay games: everything is in place to entertain the kids while the adults savor their lunch under the Sun. The place is lively and active, well-designed, and a couple minutes away from downtown. To complete your adventure, a short 2 km hike around Lake Kiwanis becomes a must - the trails have many surprising little detours to explore.

Chadbourne Park

Chadbourne Park is loved for its vast space, its greenery and its playground modules pleasing to kids of all ages. The ambiance is peaceful, perfect to relax while the younger ones play freely. To complete the experience, stop by the Bar-Librairie Livresse and pick up a good book, then go to Freshii Abitibi or Habaneros Grill Mexicain to get a flavorful bowl.

Granada Park

Located at the heart of the eponymous sector, this park impresses with its huge playground modules and its waterplay games that will please many kids as soon as the Sun shows up. There is a little shade, but a lot of action so remember to bring the sunscreen along! A small cycling path circles around the infrastructures (bathroom included!) - perfect for the younger ones on scooters or bicycles so they can practice sharp turns securely.

Trémoy Park

A pretty location to picnic after a stroll around Lake Osiski. You can rent a bicycle at RécréOsisko and complete the 8 km loop which passes in front of the Magasin Général Dumulon, and make a detour to go eat a soft serve ice cream at Glåss Tåkoss (the apogee of happiness!). The kids will sleep in the car on your way back home. Victory.

À Fleur d’Eau Botanical Park and Geological Garden

The À Fleur d’Eau Botanical Park and Geological Garden is a quiet and inspiring place. Filled with a beautiful variety of plants, flowers and rocks. Ideal for a picnic in tranquility, with the option to wander around on the trails, complete a loop around Lake Edouard (closer to a swamp than an actual lake, to be honest!) and to cross a wooden bridge, all while frogs are performing a soft concert. The children will even have the pleasure to play in the playground modules nearby to digest their crustless sandwiches.