The sap is running! Here’s 5 shacks worth the drive

Katharine Fletcher knows kids of all ages love getting out and about to savour the maple goodness as the promise of spring beckons. Ottawans can stay in the city itself and go to North America’s only urban sugar bush — and celebrate Vanier Museopark’s Sug

CABANE À SUCRE CHEZ TI-MOUSSE 442 St-Charles Rang, Papineauville, QC cheztimousse. com

What’s special?: Storyteller and owner Ti-Mousse enjoys explaining how sap was gathered in pioneer days. An on-site museum resembles a home where religious paraphernalia (like a wooden cross from the Père Blancs of the Vanier Museopark estate), join antique sugar bush equipment, utensils and furniture. Peek in through the doorway to see what you recognize. What should I expect?: A sign “Bienvenue La Bouillotte de Chez Ti-Mousse” welcomes you to where sap is boiled (and where the museum is). Enter to see long stainless steel tanks reducing the sap to syrup. It’ll be a fragrant spot in the midst of the sugaringoff season. Is there a restaurant on-site?: Yes, and it serves a “lumberman” style of hearty fare including some lesser-known, traditional French Canadian specialties such as “Oreilles de crisses.” I asked Ti-Mousse what this is, and he said, “Deep-fried pork cheeks.” What else is there to do?: “We have a team of horses and they pull a couple of wagons for us, through the bush. People love to see how the sap is collected: it’s a way to reconnect with the past.”

Although most sap here is collected in buckets the old-fashioned way, on other woodlots he owns, sap is gathered by plastic tubing which is more functional and less labour intensive. Details, details: Head to Chez Ti-Mousse via Highway 50 and stay on it to exit 197 north. In 500 metres turn right onto Côte des Cascades; continue one kilometre to turn right onto Côte St. Charles. Ti-Mousse is about three kilometres south, on your left. Parking is free. Tip: Ti-Mousse advises go for brunch in early afternoon, avoiding the earlier morning lineup.