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If there was ever a city that could be compared to an ugly duckling turned beautiful swan, Saguenay, PQ is it. The former mill town has shed its industrial image and emerged into a hip and happening place, earning it a coveted spot on cruise itineraries. Passengers from 60-plus ships visit the area each year, wowed by the ancient fjord carved into the landscape during the last ice age.
On dry land, a shiny new cruise terminal, freshly completed in the fall 2008, greets visitors. It's a fitting welcome for what's ahead, like the old port of Chicoutimi. It oozes French-Canadian charm. Families linger over lunch at picnic tables overlooking the river; couples ride bicycles along winding park paths; and artisans, ranging from jewelry makers to woodcarvers, display their creative wares. Saguenay gives cruise passengers ample excuses to skip the onboard buffet. It serves up the best in regional cuisine. You can nibble and sip your way through locally produced maple syrup, cheese curds, organic raspberries and micro-beers. The surrounding area is postcard perfect with covered bridges, quaint villages dotted with brightly painted houses and a handful of fascinating museums. One showcases Christmas mangers all year round, while another, Musée du Fjord, makes geography fun and has a mezzanine with a perfect view of Ha! Ha! Bay (its real name). 
Michele Sponagle (m.sponagle@sympatico.ca) is a travel writer based in Paris, ON, who has sampled hotel beds in more than 50 countries.
Transportation, visas, health, maps and temperature Airlines (Wikipedia): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_airlines Embassies/Consulates (Embassy World): http://www.embassyworld.com/ Health precautions (WHO): http://www.who.int/ith/en/ Google interactive map: http://maps.google.com/ Temperature (Temperature World): http://www.temperatureworld.com/ 
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