by Madelle Morgan
What if the best-ever experience happened before you even had a bucket list?
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| Image Credit: thedailyquotes.com |
Old Québec, a meticulously restored 400 year old walled district, is a UNESCO world heritage site.
Only after I traveled more widely in my twenties did I realize how lucky I was to grow up in Québec City:
*North America's most European city* *Shopping* *Fashion* *Music and art festivals* *Wonderful restaurants and cuisine* *Antiques* *Museums and heritage sites* *Skiing and snowboarding minutes away*
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| Inside the wall, Old Quebec |
Visitors don't need to speak French. In the tourist areas of the province of Québec the locals are bilingual. There's lots to see outside of the city as well. In summer an LRT train runs between Québec City and Charlevoix, along the shore of the St. Lawrence River. That trip is on my bucket list.
Québec City is a special vacation destination at any time of year, but twinkling lights and snowy nights make it truly magical. If you can tolerate the cold, that is...
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| Image Credit: Julia De Santis |
As a teenager I loved to shop, ski, dine in quaint restaurants and brasseries, visit the ice palace and watch the winter carnival parade. As kids my sisters and I threw snowballs off the top of the St. Louis Gate/Porte St. Louis below.
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| Image Credit: Old Quebec Information |
World-class Downhill Skiing
Hotel rooms are likely all reserved for the 2016 winter carnival/carnaval de Québec. I suggest booking a hotel at least four months in advance of a trip. Here are some websites to gather information on what is happening during the carnival and the rest of the year.
Quebec City website Winter Carnival website
Stay in a Castle
Is sleeping in a castle on your bucket list? The renovated Château Frontenac, originally a CP railway hotel, is in the heart of Old Québec and overlooks the St. Lawrence River. I attended a New Year's Eve dinner dance in the ballroom.
Have you already visited Québec City? What activities do you recommend?
Have a fun-filled 2016!
Madelle
About Madelle
Madelle writes romantic suspense and contemporary romance novels set in romantic, beautiful Canada.
Her debut romantic suspense, Diamond Hunter, is available in ebook format on Amazon and Kobo for $0.99 USD and 0.99 GBP.
Madelle tweets and posts about Hollywood, film-making, dogs, the settings for her stories, and, of course, writing. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter, or subscribe to her blog at MadelleMorgan.com
My family skied at Mont Sainte Anne and Stoneham before snowboarding became popular. Experts favor the famous Le Massif with the highest vertical drop east of the Rockies. Ski buses run between the city and the hills. The view from the top of Mont Sainte Anne is incredible.
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| Image Credit: The Canadian Encyclopedia |
Québec is a Fashion Mecca
Discover the latest fashions. For trendy clothing, some sourced from France, Simons is my favorite store. The original Simons is in Old Québec, and there's a larger store at the Place Ste. Foy shopping center, walking distance from my childhood home. Back then, Place Ste. Foy/Place Laurier comprised the largest indoor shopping complex in Canada. Their retail outlets continue to be the most fashion-forward in Canada.
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| Simons Image Credit: Ombrages.com |
Québec City Winter Carnival
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| Image Credit: Julia Pelish/Vacay.ca |
The carnival was always the highlight of the winter, but today the carnival is bigger and more exciting than ever for kids of all ages. Activities are spread over several weekends from the end of January to mid-February.
*Parades* Toboggan Slides* *Dogsled races* through the streets of the walled city. And much more.
See pictures of fun activities that make this the best winter carnival in Canada. Maine student Julie De Santis describes her great school trip to a recent winter carnival in her blog post.
Want to put Quebec City on your Bucket List?
Hotel rooms are likely all reserved for the 2016 winter carnival/carnaval de Québec. I suggest booking a hotel at least four months in advance of a trip. Here are some websites to gather information on what is happening during the carnival and the rest of the year.
Quebec City website Winter Carnival website
Stay in a Castle
Is sleeping in a castle on your bucket list? The renovated Château Frontenac, originally a CP railway hotel, is in the heart of Old Québec and overlooks the St. Lawrence River. I attended a New Year's Eve dinner dance in the ballroom.
Have you already visited Québec City? What activities do you recommend?
Have a fun-filled 2016!
Madelle
About Madelle
Madelle writes romantic suspense and contemporary romance novels set in romantic, beautiful Canada.
Her debut romantic suspense, Diamond Hunter, is available in ebook format on Amazon and Kobo for $0.99 USD and 0.99 GBP.
Madelle tweets and posts about Hollywood, film-making, dogs, the settings for her stories, and, of course, writing. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter, or subscribe to her blog at MadelleMorgan.com
3 comments:
I've been to Montreal and, living where I do in Oregon, Vancouver, B.C. but not Quebec City. I've stayed in a castle (Ashford Castle in Ireland) but Oh My! The Chateau Frontenac looks marvelous! Quebec City should hire you on their tourism board!
What an amazing place! You ARE lucky to have grown up there!I'm putting Quebec City on MY bucket List!
Don't forget your passport if you are coming from outside Canada! :)
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