French Culture | Historic Cities | Whale Watching | River Cruising

Old Quebec

Walking around beautiful Old Québec is the best way to get introduced to the city. Join a walking tour around the area and you’ll learn about the history of the city’s oldest quarter and hear stories not even the locals know.

The UNESCO World Heritage Site really is alive with history. Make sure you head to the Fortifications of Québec and the Citadel, the city’s two main historical defences. There’s also the Notre-Dame-de-Québec Basilica-Cathedral and the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity that are certainly worth visiting because of their stunning architecture.

There are lots of museums in the old town if you want to learn more about the history of Québec or you could even go on a horse-drawn carriage ride to get a feel for the historic district. Round off your trip with some fine dining at the area’s world-class restaurants.

Old Montréal

Old Montréal boasts First Nations encampments and artefacts that date as far back as 1,000 years. The European aspect of the city is believed to have been founded in 1642.

Old Montréal is the closest resemblance you will get to Europe this side of the Atlantic and a great example of this is the Notre-Dame Basilica, arguably the most beautiful church in the whole of Canada.

If you’re looking for more things to do in the area, then you should visit the museums, catch a festival or eat at the luxurious restaurants. Other attractions you should try to visit include the Victorian warehouses of Cours Le Royer, the shops and restaurants of St-Paul Street, Place Jacques-Cartier Square, City Hall, Champ de Mars park, Bonsecours Street and its chapel, the Bonsecours Market, Place D’Armes Square and St-Jacques Street.

The Canadian Museum of History

The most visited museum in Canada with more than 1.2 million visitors every year, the Canadian Museum of History displays 20,000 years of human history.

It is one of Canada’s oldest public institutions and a respected centre of musicological excellence, sharing its expertise in history, archaeology, ethnology and cultural studies both within Canada and abroad.

Its permanent exhibitions like the Grand Hall and First Peoples Hall are accompanied every year with new displays that look at Canada’s, and the world’s, history. Inside the museum, you will be able to go to the Canadian Children’s Museum, a 500-seat theatre, and the CINÉ+, a 295-seat movie theatre equipped with a giant 3D screen.

This fascinating museum is home to four million artefacts, works of art, written documents and sound and visual recordings.

Mont-Tremblant

Mont Tremblant is a serial winner of the ‘Best Resort in Eastern North America’ by the Ski Magazine, and deservedly so. No other resort in the area rivals this famous ski area.

The ski-in, ski-out resort in the Laurentian mountains is pedestrian only and its reliable snowfall ensures you will have the opportunity to spend more time on the slopes. Its slopes are family-friendly but there are plenty of options for indulging in après too.

Put simply, Mont-Tremblant is Québec’s premier ski resort and its combination of great cuisine and superb skiing conditions make it a perfect destination for winter enthusiasts.

St. Lawrence River

Gateway to the Great Lakes and the North American heartland, the St. Lawrence River is one of the world’s longest rivers.

The Saguenay-St Lawrence Marine Park, at the eastern end of the St. Lawrence River where the Saguenay Fjord joins it, is recognised as one of the best places in the world to watch whales. In fact, around 13 species of whales and porpoises visit the nutrient-rich feeding grounds, including fin, minke, beluga and humpback whales.

At the western end of the St. Lawrence River, close to where it exits Lake Ontario, the 1000 Islands National Park is a yachter’s dream.

Pronounced “thousand islands” and home of the eponymous salad dressing, the region is characterised by stunning little islands and islets. Enjoy a cruise and keep an eye out for millionaires’ summer houses on the islands!

There’s plenty of activities you can do along the river such as taking photographs from the Québec-Lévis Ferry or trying windsurfing, sailing catamarans, kayaking, stand-up paddling and kite surfing at Baie de Beauport. There are also lots of cruises and river excursions you can go on.

Is Québec sounding too good to miss? To find out which holidays you can choose from in the province, call our Canada Experts on (306) 850-6997