Pick-your-own berries, cider houses, vineyards and Montmorency Falls by day; riverside evenings. Stay at La Petite École, a house to rent for up to 6.
★ 4.84/5 · 62 reviews · 15 min from Old Quebec · river view · high season: book early
Last updated June 9, 2026.
By Mathieu Villeneuve, owner of La Petite École — I personally answer your questions about the island, from the best time for strawberries to the cool riverside evenings.
Summer is the best time to discover Île d'Orléans: it's Quebec City's pantry, just 15 minutes from Old Quebec. Between strawberry picking, cider houses and the river view, it's the perfect summer escape — and La Petite École is the ideal base.
Looping the island in a day is nice — but staying 2 to 4 nights changes everything. You explore the local food without rushing, keep Old Quebec 15 minutes away for the evenings, and return to a peaceful house with a river view. Days are warm, riverside evenings cooler — the wood-burning fireplace is pleasant even in summer. If your dates fall at the very end of the season, the picking calendar has already moved on from strawberries to the first apples and the corn stands, and the July crowds are gone: that quieter window is the one we cover in our guide to the last week of summer with kids on Île d'Orléans.
Strawberry season usually runs from late June to mid-July, with pick-your-own at the island's farms. Summer also brings raspberries and blueberries.
Strawberry picking, cider houses (Verger Bilodeau), vineyards (Vignoble Sainte-Pétronille), blackcurrant (Cassis Monna), cheese makers, and Montmorency Falls at the island's entrance. The loop is about 67 km.
La Petite École, in Saint-Laurent, is a house to rent for up to 6 with a river view, fireplace and free parking, 15 minutes from Old Quebec — an ideal base to explore the island by day and the city in the evening.
Days are warm, but evenings by the river stay cool. At La Petite École, the wood-burning fireplace is pleasant even in summer, with the river view.
You can loop the island in a day, but 2 to 4 nights let you truly enjoy it: local food, cider houses, swimming, all while keeping Old Quebec 15 minutes away.
Book direct through the booking engine or at 581-999-1555 for the best rate. Summer is high season: book early for the best dates.
Book your summer on Île d'Orléans
La Petite École — house to rent for up to 6, river view, fireplace, free parking, 15 min from Quebec City.
La Petite École de l'Île d'Orléans · 6225 Chemin Royal, Saint-Laurent-de-l'Île-d'Orléans, QC G0A 3Z0 · CITQ 307404 · managed by Initial Location · Version française
First time renting on the island? Our book-direct guide explains the best-total-price route, and the Airbnb on Île d'Orléans guide shows how the house compares on the platforms.
Planning a stay on Île d’Orléans?
La Petite École is a house to rent on Île d’Orléans (sleeps 6, 15 min from Quebec City). Book direct (best rate) · or see availability on Airbnb or browse the island guide.