Choose Your Pace: Hiking and Walking Classics in Québec & Vermont

Oh my gosh, such a beautiful and wonderful experience. I had a previous injury that did limit me, but with that said, it was gorgeous, exhilarating and the people, both at the lodge and the participants, were so much fun and interesting. The Lodge: absolutely wonderful, and the most delicious food, the staff couldn't be more welcoming and sweet. I know that, at this point, the owners Steven and Joy, were taking at least a year off for retirement....such great people. The staff who cooked, OMG, such amazing food, stories and fun. The participants: this is my second RS trip, and the people were amazing. I love the wonderful conversations, hearing about their trips and their professions and amazing life experiences. Finally the area. So absolutely gorgeous....nothing compares to mother nature. RS, thank you for the wonderful experience.

The Outdoor Lodge is a great venue, historic and charming. The meals were excellent, the best of any Road Scholar trip we have been on. The Lodge owners were welcoming, the hiking leaders fun and knowledgeable, and the hikes sufficiently challenging.

This was the best vacation. So very relaxing yet challenging in the hikes. The weather was good, the people lovely, and the food was fantastic! I just loved this trip!

My husband and I wanted to visit rural Quebec near the Vermont border for a number of years. The villages and countryside are so similar to what we have loved in France. We were delighted to combine a hiking trip with the opportunity to see this region. Our hosts, Stephen and Joy, provided us with a perfect experience. Stephen and other expert guides gave everyone a hike or walk tailored to their abilities and interests. We learned about history, plants and animals of the area. Joy and her friendly staff made spectacularly beautiful dinners, large and healthy breakfasts and a delicious sack lunch to accompany us on our daily travels. We relaxed on the large porch at the end of the day, grateful to Stephen and Joy for sharing their home and experience with us.

This is my second time taking this trip. Steve and Joy are excellent hosts, the main building remains comfortable and perfect for social group gatherings/ presentations. The speakers we had in the evenings were very interesting, the naturalist provided a beautiful presentation of animal activity and narrative of their behaviors, I enjoyed the history of Quebec and the presentation/slide show detailing a couples walk across France. The highlight of all my RS trips has certainly been the fellow travelers' you meet and get to know, spend time with, etc. The food and dining experience was wonderful, the ladies in the kitchen were exceptionally helpful and accomodating. A heartfelt thank you to them all. The hiking trip leader Stefan was knowledgeable and helpful, on one of the days I decided to join the walkers' it was a walk around the main lodge and followed a local road. In the afternoon Steve offered to take us to a cider place or winery and it was enjoyable followed by a bakery visit. Those of us who went had a fine time. One area that I feel needs to be addressed is the accomodations, the description of the lodging doesn't describe the off site building, however upcoming trips do make a note of lodging options, nominal price difference, but no photos~which would be helpful in making a decision. On arrival we were advised we'd be in the pool house off site, it was set up like an efficiency hotel room, with "kitchen" It had no TV, minimal outlets and lighting, very small shower. The beds were "box platforms" with thin mattresses and very uncomfortable. We were advised we could use a shuttle in am to get to the house and pm shuttle to return and/or walk, thankfully we drove so had a vehicle to use. The areas we stayed in and visited were beautiful and the staff/hosts are wonderful.

I can't say enough about the hiking trip in Quebec and Vermont! This was my first Road Scholar trip, but it certainly won't be the last! Our hosts, Stephen and Joy, were attentive, generous, and welcoming in every way. The guides, Stefan, Richard, Julie, and Bev, were great in meeting everyone's needs for different hiking speeds and abilities, as well as being knowledgeable about the area and just plane fun to hike with! The food was superb and the portions were (too) generous--there were lots of calories to burn off the next day! The ladies (Ann, Veronique, Jennifer, and Amber) did everything to meet everyone's dietary needs and every meal was a culinary delight! Lastly, the nightly "talks" were informative and entertaining. I'm not a huge hiker, I maybe get to hike once or twice a week at most, but I love being outside and the encouragement and comradery of the other hikers, guides and hosts made me realize my potential on all the hikes. I came as a "solo" guest, not knowing anyone, but felt right at home and welcome as soon as we were met at the airport (and thanks for the free shuttle from Burlington, that made it so easy!) I met lots of wonderful people, and left knowing that I will continue hiking and going on future Road Scholar trips. I'm already planning on returning next year to Glen Sutton to attend Joy and Stephen's pickleball week! Sometimes when you read a review that is over-the-top positive, you wonder what the person got in return for the review. Sorry everyone, the only thing I got for this review was the reminder of an awesome vacation!! Stephen, Joy, and everyone at Glen Sutton -- thank you! See you next year! Sue from Arizona :*)

I loved the chance to experience the different culture and language of Quebec on this trip.

I enjoyed this program and especially liked the choices of hikes.

Hiking trips don’t always go to plan. The leaders of a well-run group know this, and when faced with adversity, they have backup plans ready to go, and ensure that everyone gets the most out of the trip. The key word there being “well-run.” Red flags on this trip started popping up almost immediately. When we were shown to our rooms, the lady informed us that it was their policy to not provide keys to guests, and that our rooms and the building would remain unlocked while we were gone. When we expressed our concern about this, she nonchalantly replied “Nobody’s had anything stolen in the past.” During the initial group briefing, the Canadian group leader, for no apparent reason, talked for several minutes about Republicans, crazy Christians, and how awful the United States’ policy at the southern border was. There’s nothing inherently wrong with discussing controversial topics if they are related to the trip. But spouting off about completely unrelated things and attacking people for their beliefs is completely unprofessional. Due to thunderstorms, there were going to be days in the trip where we would not be able to do our planned hikes. Instead of having an alternate plan in place, the group leader asked the group on the first morning what we wanted to do. Someone suggested that we could go for a walk along the road outside the lodge. So that’s what we did. During the unplanned walk, the leader pointed out how much the nearby river had risen due to the rain and mentioned that the road we were walking on occasionally floods. The building we had been put in was on the riverside next to that road. At this point, we informed the group leader that we would be leaving, got back in the car, and got out of there as fast as we could. We have been on more than 10 different trips with Road Scholar. In the past, their guides have been friendly and professional, and if asked about the trip, we would have easily recommended it to others. We would not recommend this trip.

The trip to Glen Sutton was fabulous! Food was top-notch, hosts and guides were excellent, lodging was very comfortable. Be prepared for some weather (we were there during historic flooding in Vermont), but we were still able to get out every day and walk/hike. I highly recommend this trip!

Great trip. Beautiful part of the country. Options for multiple degrees of activity.

This program was wonderful with beautiful hikes, caring and knowledgeable hosts and guides, a lovely lodge, and exceptional food. We were fortunate to have great weather and an especially congenial group of participants. We thoroughly enjoyed this program and highly recommend it.

Wonderful trip! Stephen and Joy were the best hosts and all the guides were wonderful as well. The food was healthy and tasty and the trails and accommodations were wonderful! I would highly recommend this trip.

This is an exceptional program both for the experience and the helpful and congenial hosts. It happens we were blessed with very good weather and had a marvelous week.

Meeting the other people on the trip was a highlight of my experience. I felt extremely welcome as a solo traveller. I learned so much about the history and the wildlife of Quebec. This was my first Road Scholar tour and I will definitely travel with Road Scholar again!

Everything exceeded our expectations. The hiking food and lodging were outstanding. Would highly recommend.

Another wonderful Road Scholar trip! I enjoyed the hiking while being surrounded by Fall colors and perfect weather. Our hosts and guides were top-notch providing daily options for a walk or hike. The Glen Sutton Lodge provides comfortable accommodations with a large dining area and meeting space for us to relax and enjoy the evening entertainment. The food was excellent. Many of us took photos of the recipes!! Thank you Glen Sutton Lodge!!

Great program for people who want some rigorous exercise!

The choose your pace option is great for people who may have variations in their physical capabilities on a given day. If you like hiking and lovely views, this program is one to definitely check out.

This program is a perfect blend of activity, education and relaxing time. The meals are the best I have had on any Road Scholar trip. I enjoyed the camaraderie of the participants, guides and staff. I would recommend this trip to anyone who enjoys hiking in and learning about Eastern Quebec Province.

The ‘Choose Your Own Pace’ Walking/Hiking in Quebec and Vermont was a very worthwhile adventure. The Providers were very welcoming, informative, and flexible. I was comforted in knowing that I was never out of my comfort zone, yet free to accept a new challenge if desired. The lectures were informative; the hikes/walks inspiring; and the accommodations/meals were impressive! I highly recommend this program.

A wonderful hiking/walking trip at a beautiful Inn with gourmet food--what could be better?