A Family Reunion Chalet for 12 in the Eastern Townships

A reunion works when there is room to be together and room to get away from each other. La Villa Foresta, near Coaticook, sleeps twelve in five bedrooms, and the region around it has things a seven-year-old and a seventy-year-old can do on the same afternoon.

The numbers, honestly

Five bedrooms. Two bathrooms. Twelve guests. Read the middle one again, because it is the one that shapes your mornings.

Two bathrooms for twelve people is fine for a family that already shares a life: grandparents, two sets of parents, a pile of cousins. You agree on a shower order and nobody minds. It is a harder fit for twelve adults who each expect a private bathroom. If that is your group, a block of hotel rooms in Magog or Sherbrooke will keep more people happy.

Check the bed layout and the house rules on the Airbnb listing. It does not describe step-free access, so if someone in your group avoids stairs, ask the host before booking. Jillian, the host, is an Airbnb Superhost who answers within the hour. If your plan includes relatives dropping in for the day on top of the twelve sleeping over, that is a question for her too.

What the house gives a group

The listing says "This is a place for doing things", and the inventory backs that up:

• A modern kitchen with an island, which is where a group ends up anyway.
• A covered deck, so rain does not send all twelve of you indoors at once.
• A fire pit with s'mores supplies.
• New and retro board games, puzzles and books, a popcorn maker for movie nights, and a fondue set.
• Picnic gear, walking sticks, beach cruiser bikes and binoculars for watching the woods.
• A coffee and tea station, robes, and a space to get in a workout while everyone else sleeps in.

Dogs are welcome too, with their own beds and treats. We cover that in the dog-friendly guide.

Things that work across ages

All drive times are approximate and from Coaticook. Winter roads and border waits change the math.

Parc de la Gorge de Coaticook, in town. 19 km of trails, the long suspended footbridge over the canyon, and a small farm (Margaret's Farmhouse) included with trail access. There are stairs, so it is not for every knee, and the footbridge closes in winter.

Foresta Lumina, same park, after dark. A 2.6 km illuminated night walk through the forest. The park says it is not recommended for people with reduced mobility because of stairs and the footbridge, and that even children five and under need a reservation.

Laiterie de Coaticook. Ice cream from a dairy founded in 1940. It requires no planning and no one will object.

Lac Lyster beach, Baldwin Mills. The City of Coaticook's page (in French) says the beach and parking are free, with a playground, picnic tables and washrooms. In 2026, lifeguards were on duty daily from June 20 to August 16, from 10 am to 6 pm, and the city prohibits swimming outside supervised hours.

Parc Découverte Nature, less than 15 minutes from the Gorge. Pond fishing with the gear provided, and Acoatica, an indoor and outdoor interactive game about fish survival. The site is certified accessible by Kéroul, which makes it a good pick when mobility varies.

Compton, about 15 minutes (15 km, 9 miles). Apple picking at Verger Le Gros Pierre into late October. In summer, Parks Canada opens the Louis S. St. Laurent National Historic Site, the boyhood home and general store of a former prime minister. Its 2026 season ran from June 20 to September 7.

Feeding twelve

Restaurants that can seat twelve on a Saturday night are rare in small towns. Plan to cook most suppers and eat lunch out in smaller groups. For the shopping there is cheese from the farm and cider from Compton: our local food guide has the addresses.

Getting everyone there

Coaticook is about two hours by car from Montréal (roughly 165 km, 103 miles) and a little under three from Québec City. From Boston, count about four hours in good conditions.

Relatives coming up from New England cross an international border. Everyone in the car needs valid travel documents, the rules differ by citizenship, and there are separate rules for pets, food and alcohol. We cannot advise on any of that. The official sources are the Canada Border Services Agency and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

The exact address is shared with confirmed guests, and booking is through Airbnb only for now.

A loose schedule that works

Do one thing together each day and leave the rest open: a morning at the Gorge, a beach afternoon, a fire. Keep the last evening for the fondue and the board games. For how the house changes through the year, see the seasons.

Useful links

• Parc de la Gorge de Coaticook
• Foresta Lumina
• Laiterie de Coaticook: dairy bar
• City of Coaticook: Baldwin park and Lac Lyster beach (in French)
• Parc Découverte Nature
• Louis S. St. Laurent National Historic Site (Parks Canada)
• Verger Le Gros Pierre
• CBSA: travellers
• U.S. Customs and Border Protection: travel