Things To Do in Ile d'Orleans

Économuseums: A Local (Tourism) Tradition

The province of Québec is enamored of minimuseums, especially museums of food products. Called économusées or interpretation centers, they're often simply a room or two attached to a store. Usually, they display tools used in production and feature photographs and explanatory text in French and (usually) English. Examples include, on Île d'Orléans, Chocolaterie de l'Île d'Orléans in Ste-Pétronille and Cassis Monna et Filles in St-Pierre ; and in Québec City, Canadian Maple Delights and Choco-Musée Érico. Designed both to educate and provide tourist oomph, they're rarely worth a visit on their own but usually provide a few minutes of interesting reading if you've stopped to shop. Many are listed at www.economusee.com.