Quebec

Canada’s largest province Quebec, offers a Gallic charm all of its own, as its two main cities of Quebec City and Montreal amply demonstrate.

Québec is a wonderful year round destination, with breathtaking scenery. Visitors can enjoy long, warm summer months, stunning autumn colours and crisp snowy winters. With an abundance of wildlife, summers welcomes the whales of St Lawrence, whilst the snow geese gather near Québec City during Spring and Autumn.

During a holiday to Québec, you can also see bears and UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and experience Québec specialties such as maple syrup.

Québec is full of delightful hotels, excellent restaurants (with very good wine lists), and there a wide range of accommodation options to suit every taste and pocket.

You may like to plan your holiday around one of the many annual festivals in Québec - the Montreal Jazz Festival and Just for Laughs take place during the summer, and the Québec Carnival happens every February.

Quebec is a fantastic destination for city breaks, escorted tours, scenic rail journeys and self-drive trips, as Quebec City and Montreal are located just 150 miles apart, with most other areas of interest within a few hour's drive.

Montreal

Montreal is the largest city of the Quebec province and the second largest French speaking city in the world after Paris. It offers visitors everything they have come to expect from a big city, whilst also maintaining small and cosy neighbourhoods.
Montreal is also a unique, multicultural city that combines its French accent with over 80 ethnic communities, and charms visitors with its Euro-American vibe.

Downtown Montreal buzzes with action at the bottom of Mont Royal – the mountain which gave this city its name. With a constant party atmosphere, there is always a festival taking place here – jazz, comedy, cinema, fireworks, burlesque and much more. 

Montreal offers over 18 miles of indoor pedestrian walkways, complete with fashionable boutiques and lively casinos. In fine weather, neighbourhoods such as Le Plateau, with vintage shops, boutiques and Victorian houses are wonderful for a rummage and a wander.

There are many trips and tours available from Montreal, including day trips to Quebec City where you will be introduced to a wealth of historical treasures.

A sightseeing tour of Montreal can be arranged to include various spectacular photo stops, including Old Montreal, Notre Dame Basilica, Olympic Park, Mount Royal Park, and St Joseph’s Oratory.

Some visitors prefer to explore this city by bike, led by a professional tour guide who are very well informed about Montreal’s history, its architecture and its famous joie de vivre.

River rafting on the St Lawrence River, 15 minutes from downtown, offers a range of trips between May and September, varying from leisurely rides on tranquil waters, to thrilling rollercoaster rides on high tides.

For those considering a visit to Montreal in June 2012, we can also assist in arranging tickets to the Formula One Grand Prix. The track is situated on an island in the St Lawrence River, with the skyline of Montreal City in the backdrop.

Quebec City

The only walled city on the North American continent, Quebec City is smaller and more compact than Montreal, and is best explored on foot or in a horse-drawn carriage.
As you explore the winding side streets, you will be struck by the romance of this historical city. Petit Champlain, Place-Royale and the Old Port are amongst Quebec City’s oldest neighbourhoods.

On the contrary to Quebec City’s steep history, the capital city’s year-round activities are completely up-to-date, and include world-class winter carnivals, summer festivals, theatre and exhibitions, not to mention the first-class accommodation and dining options.

A few moments outside of the city, you will find enchanting countryside. The Chute Montmorency is a spectacular waterfall that stands at 83 meters high – one and a half times taller than Niagara Falls. You can take in the view from cable car or from the lookout points on the stairs which climb up the side.

Travel through three centuries of history along the King’s Road, the oldest roadway in Canada, and take in picturesque villages perched upon cliff tops. We offer a range of self-drive and escorted itineraries that take in a journey along the King’s Road, and you can also cycle the route, as several sections are part of the Green Route Bikeway.

For an unforgettable winter experience when visiting between the beginning of January and the end of March, spend a night or two at the Hotel de Glace – a hotel made completely from snow and ice. The hotel has 36 rooms and suites, spas and a sauna, the Ice Cafe, a chapel, a majestic chandelier, a Nordic relaxation area, a huge ice slide, and the Ice Bar, famous for serving cocktails in glasses made of ice. The Hotel de Glace is rebuilt every year close to Lac Saint-Joseph.

Opening in late September is the new scenic train service from Quebec City to Le Massif de Charlevoix, a base for activities such as horse riding, whale watching and also skiing.

Activities and excursions available from Quebec City including bear and wildlife viewing, kayaking, canoeing and hiking at Duchesnay Ecotourist Resort, a ride above Quebec City in a Cessna 172, whale watching cruises, and dog sledding during the winter months.

Festival Dates to Remember

January - February
Quebec City Winter Carnaval

February
Montreal Highlight Festival
Dogsled Race in the Charlevoix Region
Winterlude Festival in Gatineau
Canadian Ski Marathon (Laurentians/Outaouais regions)

June
Canada Formula 1 Grand Prix (Montreal)

June - July
Montreal International
Jazz Festival

July
Just For Laughs Comedy Festival (Montreal)
Quebec City Summer Festival 

Image credits to Bonjour Quebec www.bonjourquebec.com