Don’t take it from us: Praise for Québec

Visiting the province of Québec is a unique experience as you can enjoy the perfect mix of French and Canadian cultures. It’s a province that is bursting with culture and history and is home to vibrant cities, lush countryside and other natural attractions like waterfalls and lakes.

At Canadian Affair we are experts when it comes to Canada and its provinces like Québec, knowing everything that they offer. That is why our team can help you to organise Canada motorhome holidays or another holiday type and create an itinerary that is perfect for you and your needs.

Although we can rave about Québec and share our reasons as to why you must book a holiday to visit the province, we have spoken to travel bloggers who have visited Québec before to tell us what they loved about the region.

What people love about Québec

•Québec City

•Québec’s natural attractions

•Montréal

•The food scene in Québec

•The outdoor activities in Québec

Québec City

With its Parisian-style eateries, cobbled streets and eye-catching architecture, it should come as little surprise that Québec City is one of the most popular cities to visit in Canada.

This unique city is unlike others around the country as its European influence is evident in its architecture, art and culture and this can be seen by strolling down the cobbled streets to the historic neighbourhoods in the city. The Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, a grand castle hotel with an excellent location in the heart of Old Québec, is one perfect example of this European influence.

Judy Freedman, the blogger behind A Boomers Life After 50, told us that visiting Québec City was one of the highlights of visiting Canada and she also recommended staying at the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac hotel.

“If you’re headed to Québec, I encourage you to visit Québec City to explore its history, culture, and food. Québec City is the oldest city in North America and a beautiful place to visit any time of the year.

“For lodging, I suggest splurging (or at least visiting) Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, one of the most iconic hotels in the world. Many a celebrity graced its lobby and ballrooms. Walking into the grand entrance you’ll feel like you are entering into a fairy tale. For a special occasion make reservations at the romantic Champlain Restaurant for modern cuisine or the hotel’s The 1608 which has a beautiful bar overlooking the St. Lawrence River. These were two of my favourites when I vacationed there.

“And finally, don’t forget to enjoy some of Quebec City’s fabulous restaurants and food establishments. Condé Nast Traveler ranked Québec City among the top 20 world’s best food cities.”

Judy added that she enjoyed lots of other activities when she was in Québec City such as taking a walk on the Boardwalk as you get extraordinary views of the St. Lawrence River and strolling around the downtown to see the stunning architecture in Old Québec.

Attractions to visit in Québec City

•Château Frontenac

•Plains of Abraham

•La Citadelle de Québec

•Parliament Building & Parliament Hill

•Fortifications of Quebec National Historic Site

•Carnaval de Québec (held in late January and early February)

READ MORE: How to spend 48 Hours in Québec City

Québec’s natural attractions

Québec’s is the second-largest province and territory behind Nunavut and with all this space it shouldn’t come as a surprise that it is home to some spectacular natural attractions.

There are vast evergreen forests, picturesque lakes, glacial-shaped fjords and snowy peaks that can be enjoyed on a trip here and the province is the perfect destination if you want to explore Canada’s world-famous wilderness.

Rhonda Krause, the travel writer and photographer behind Travel Yes Please, spoke to us about how the natural attractions in Québec were the highlight of her trip.

“I recommend that people go on a road trip to experience some of Québec’s natural attractions and lesser-known destinations. A great way to unwind and be immersed in nature is by staying at a wilderness lodge where you can be surrounded by forests and lakes. There are so many recreational opportunities for outdoor adventurers at these secluded lodges from canoeing, hiking, wildlife viewing, and more.

“My favourite thing about Québec is the vast wilderness. There are countless beautiful lakes and forests to enjoy.”

Kiersten, who is the founder of the award-winning travel blog, The Blonde Abroad, told us that she loved the natural beauty of Québec and Mont Tremblant.

“If you are looking for a gorgeous winter break, Mont Tremblant is the place to be. Just eighty miles outside of Montréal, this town is the perfect spot to play in the snow. With cobblestone streets, breathtaking views, and some of the best slopes on the continent, Mont Tremblant is always hopping. With skiing, dog sledding, beautiful trails, incredible restaurants, and ample activities, it’s the ultimate winter escape.”

“I was truly astounded by the natural beauty of Québec. Obviously, there are so many things to do in Montreal. But, what I didn’t realize is that Québec as a region has so much to offer between relaxing and living it up. Right outside of Montréal, you can fly through the forest on a zipline or relax in a boat out on the lake. I fell in love Lac Sacacomie, a beautiful lake just outside of the Mastigouche Wildlife Reserve between Québec City and Montréal.”

The best natural attractions in Québec

•Montmorency Falls

•The Mauricie region (Parc National de la Mauricie)

•Saguenay Fjord National Park

•Mont Tremblant National Park

READ MORE: Don’t take it from us: Praise for Canada

Montréal

Although not the official capital of Québec, Montréal certainly takes the crown in regards to the cultural capital as it plays host to a variety of festivals and has a diverse food scene.

Montréal has examples of the old and new worlds of Québec and its attractions, museums, urban parks and food scene are just some of the many reasons you should visit this iconic city.

Kiki, the travel blogger behind The Blonde Abroad, told us that she loved how the city offers both urban and nature adventures: “The thing that I love most about Montréal is that it offers the perfect blend of urban fun and adventures in nature. You can get the full ‘disconnected and enjoying wildlife’ experience without having to travel far into the countryside.

“Right outside of the city, you can fly through the forest on a zipline or relax out in a boat out on the lake. I fell in love with Lac Sacacomie, a beautiful lake just outside of the Mastigouche Wildlife Reserve between Québec City and Montréal.”

Attractions to visit in Montréal

•Notre-Dame Basilica

•Parc Jean Drapeau

•Pointe-à-Callière Museum

•Biodôme

•The streets of Old Montréal

•Old Port (Vieux-Port)

•Mont-Royal

•Jardin Botanique

READ MORE: 48 hours in Montréal

The food scene in Québec

Unsurprisingly with Québec being steeped in French culture that dates back four centuries, the province has a thriving food scene. So, after a day of wandering the cobblestone streets in Old Québec City or a day exploring one of its many natural parks, you can tuck into some hearty Québec food.

Something else that the province of Québec is famous for is its maple syrup as it produces more than 11 million gallons of it, which is 75% of the world’s entire maple syrup.

GW Willis-Brannigan, from Nomad Paradise, speaks about the cuisine on offer in the province: “A mouth-watering and tantalizing fusion of French, British, and American flavours, Québec foods are one of North America’s most underrated culinary delights.

“Responsible for nearly three-quarters of the country’s maple syrup production, this vast region is home to an array of unique, hearty, and exciting dishes, bringing into play wonderous, fresh ingredients from both the land and water.”

Traditional foods to try in Québec

•Poutine

•Tourtière

•Montréal Smoked Meat

•Maple Baked Beans

•Tarte au sucre

•Montréal -style Bagels

•Maple Syrup

READ MORE: Canadian food

The outdoor activities in Québec

In both the summer and winter, Québec is one giant playground that offers you the opportunity to try a whole host of outdoor activities. No matter if you want to take to the water, land or air there are so many different adventures that you can try.

Kraig Becker from The Adventure Blog says that he has been snowshoeing in lots of different places, but that Québec was his favourite.

He said: “Perhaps my favourite day while visiting Québec was when I had the chance to go snowshoeing in the unbelievably beautiful Valley of the Phantoms. I’ve been fortunate enough to snowshoe through some great environments in the past, but none of them came close to the Valley of Phantoms. This very special place is covered in a blanket of 5+ meters (16.4 feet) of snow each year, thanks in part to a unique microclimate that creates extra moisture in the air.”

Below are some other outdoor activities that you can try in Québec and what season you can try them in:

•Snowshoeing (winter)

•Cross-country skiing (winter)

•Fatbiking (winter)

•Snow tubing (winter)

•Dog sledding (winter)

•Ice skating (winter)

•Hiking (summer)

•Canoeing and kayaking (summer)

•White water rafting (summer)

•Canyoning

•Mountain biking (summer)

If you want to book a dream trip to Québec, whether it is one of our Canada fly drive holidays or our Canada train tours, our experts can tailor-make the perfect holiday for you. For more articles like this, check out the blog section of our website.