Quebec Attractions & Tourist Hot Spots
Quebec Attractions & Tourist Hot Spots
Where “Bonjour” is More than a Hello!
Are you dying for fine textured paté with red wine but don’t want to travel six hours by plane to good old France? We have an exciting alternative. Just hit the road and head over to New France! Quebec is home to charming French Canadians who know a thing or two about food and drink. You’ll find that exquisite duck or liver paté with the red wine - straight from local bustling breweries that dot the fine slopes of this Canadian province.
The Quebec people are descended from the British, Irish, Scottish and French - this wallop of a combination explains why they are at once a mystery and an open book. A curious mix of identities has given rise to the best food and drink that the province has ever produced, along with a rich blend of arts and culture, thanks to the immigrant communities that have settled and have adopted the “joie de vivre” - the moniker this province has rightfully earned.
Profile Snippets
The province of Quebec has close to 8 million people - about 25% of Canada’s population. The capital is Quebec City, a two to three hour drive from Montreal. Quebec’s official language is French (bill 101 adopted in 1977), unlike the rest of the country which is officially bilingual, thanks to the zealous efforts of the late Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau.
In 1987, Quebec adopted the snowy owl as its official emblem – an appropriate choice considering that winter has a way of lingering much longer than usual. Before we settled in Quebec, we were warned that winter has this notorious habit of sticking around for as long six months. This is only a slight exaggeration because people have their winter tires installed in late October and have them taken out only in mid-May. That’s five and a half months so we’re close to six months. Residents can don their bermuda shorts, tank tops and flip-flops somewhere in June because the nights can get nippy even in summer time.
French is spoken by 82% of the people. Ten percent speak English and 1% is taken up by the various aboriginal communities. That leaves about 7% for other languages. A term has been coined to identify inhabitants who speak other languages: allophone – and they blend in harmoniously with both the francophones and anglophones.
Montreal
Montreal is where all the hustle and bustle happens, especially when the weather turns friendly. The downtown core is marked by shiny and imposing skyscrapers and is the heart of most of Montreal’s financial and banking activity. On Sherbrooke Street you’ll find McGill University, famous for its Law, Engineering and Medicine faculties. Just off Sherbrooke on Guy Street is Concordia University, another English speaking university. The city’s French university, Université de Montréal is located on Edouard Montpetit Avenue.
Montreal is an old city and this is what gives it the charm and dreamlike quality typically found in older European cities. In many ways it has been compared to Vienna, and is called a miniature Paris by some Parisians.
Getting Around in Montreal
If you’re a tourist who hates to drive, you’re in luck. Montreal has an efficient subway system that rolls on rubber wheels (you still hear the screeching of the tires even if they call it the silent subway) and has been the envy of Canadians living in other cities. One visitor from Toronto said, “your subway was much better planned than Toronto’s. With the Montreal subway, I can go practically anywhere in the city!” He’s right. You take either the orange, blue or green line depending on your destination.
Got three days? Aim for the peak of Mont-Royal which is Montreal’s most famous spot for walkers and runners. When you get to the top, you’ll get a good view of the city on a clear day. Then stroll down Avenue des Pins and McGill University which takes you right to downtown. If you love museums, plan on dropping by the Musée des Beaux-Arts; if you like the feel of old, historical cathedrals, walk over to St. Patrick’s Basilica.
Old Montreal is a must. Visit it on day 2 of your stay. You can spend the entire day walking along the port, visiting the science museum and lazing around Place Jacques Cartier where there’s plenty of singing and dancing in the summer as well as sidewalk cafes where people can refine their people-watching skills!
Day 3 should take you to the Olympic Park (Montreal hosted the 1966 Olympics). Spend the afternoon wandering along the Latin Quarter - where Rue St. Denis will cater to the avid shopper. If you decide to stay longer, there are the Botanical Gardens, Insectarium, St. Joseph’s Oratory and St Lawrence Boulevard – a funky boulevard by night that rivals Rue St. Denis.
Quebec City
Quebec City is where you get Europe duplicated many times over. Montreal and Quebec City are connected by Autoroute 20 – the French way of designating a highway. You take highway 20 if your’re coming from the south shore of the St. Lawrence River or highway 40 on the north shore. The car trip will cover 240 kilometers (149 miles) and takes two to three hours. If you’re coming directly from the US, take Interstate 87 in New York, Interstate 89 in Vermont or Interstate 91 in New Hampshire.
The best way to explore Quebec City is on foot – in some areas it’s the only way. Your best bets for hotels, hostels and restaurants are located in Old Quebec, a good and compact 11 square kilometers. Make sure you have comfortable shoes because some areas are hilly and many of the sidewalks are lined with pebbles.
Quebec City Attractions
Begin in Lower Town, the earliest proof of French civilization in North America. Meander through the Quartier Petit-Champlain and browse at handicraft stores. Then boogey over to the Place Royale where summer is celebrated with pomp – you’ll be guaranteed some kind of entertainment in the square.
Plan a leisurely walk to Upper Town and take in the breathtaking St. Lawrence River from the Terrasse Dufferin. Witness the changing of the guard at the Citadelle and buy your French bread (baguette), ham, cheese and beer and graze on the Plains of Abraham – the battleground where the French lost to the British. And if you’re curious about where Quebec politics is debated, take a tour of the National Assembly.
Other sites of interest: Montmorency Falls in Old Quebec (100 feet higher than Niagara Falls), St. Anne de Beaupré, Réserve Faunique du Cap Tourment (wildlife reserve), Le Château Frontenac, Old Port, and the Zoological Gardens.
A kind word of advice: Montreal should be no problem if you speak only English. If you have plans to visit Quebec City, a good phrasebook should come in handy. We assure you though that distractions are plentiful so you wouldn’t have to ask, quelle heure est-il, s’il vous plâit?
Where “Bonjour” is More than a Hello!
Are you dying for fine textured paté with red wine but don’t want to travel six hours by plane to good old France? We have an exciting alternative. Just hit the road and head over to New France! Quebec is home to charming French Canadians who know a thing or two about food and drink. You’ll find that exquisite duck or liver paté with the red wine - straight from local bustling breweries that dot the fine slopes of this Canadian province.
The Quebec people are descended from the British, Irish, Scottish and French - this wallop of a combination explains why they are at once a mystery and an open book. A curious mix of identities has given rise to the best food and drink that the province has ever produced, along with a rich blend of arts and culture, thanks to the immigrant communities that have settled and have adopted the “joie de vivre” - the moniker this province has rightfully earned.
Profile Snippets
The province of Quebec has close to 8 million people - about 25% of Canada’s population. The capital is Quebec City, a two to three hour drive from Montreal. Quebec’s official language is French (bill 101 adopted in 1977), unlike the rest of the country which is officially bilingual, thanks to the zealous efforts of the late Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau.
In 1987, Quebec adopted the snowy owl as its official emblem – an appropriate choice considering that winter has a way of lingering much longer than usual. Before we settled in Quebec, we were warned that winter has this notorious habit of sticking around for as long six months. This is only a slight exaggeration because people have their winter tires installed in late October and have them taken out only in mid-May. That’s five and a half months so we’re close to six months. Residents can don their bermuda shorts, tank tops and flip-flops somewhere in June because the nights can get nippy even in summer time.
French is spoken by 82% of the people. Ten percent speak English and 1% is taken up by the various aboriginal communities. That leaves about 7% for other languages. A term has been coined to identify inhabitants who speak other languages: allophone – and they blend in harmoniously with both the francophones and anglophones.
Montreal
Montreal is where all the hustle and bustle happens, especially when the weather turns friendly. The downtown core is marked by shiny and imposing skyscrapers and is the heart of most of Montreal’s financial and banking activity. On Sherbrooke Street you’ll find McGill University, famous for its Law, Engineering and Medicine faculties. Just off Sherbrooke on Guy Street is Concordia University, another English speaking university. The city’s French university, Université de Montréal is located on Edouard Montpetit Avenue.
Montreal is an old city and this is what gives it the charm and dreamlike quality typically found in older European cities. In many ways it has been compared to Vienna, and is called a miniature Paris by some Parisians.
Getting Around in Montreal
If you’re a tourist who hates to drive, you’re in luck. Montreal has an efficient subway system that rolls on rubber wheels (you still hear the screeching of the tires even if they call it the silent subway) and has been the envy of Canadians living in other cities. One visitor from Toronto said, “your subway was much better planned than Toronto’s. With the Montreal subway, I can go practically anywhere in the city!” He’s right. You take either the orange, blue or green line depending on your destination.
Got three days? Aim for the peak of Mont-Royal which is Montreal’s most famous spot for walkers and runners. When you get to the top, you’ll get a good view of the city on a clear day. Then stroll down Avenue des Pins and McGill University which takes you right to downtown. If you love museums, plan on dropping by the Musée des Beaux-Arts; if you like the feel of old, historical cathedrals, walk over to St. Patrick’s Basilica.
Old Montreal is a must. Visit it on day 2 of your stay. You can spend the entire day walking along the port, visiting the science museum and lazing around Place Jacques Cartier where there’s plenty of singing and dancing in the summer as well as sidewalk cafes where people can refine their people-watching skills!
Day 3 should take you to the Olympic Park (Montreal hosted the 1966 Olympics). Spend the afternoon wandering along the Latin Quarter - where Rue St. Denis will cater to the avid shopper. If you decide to stay longer, there are the Botanical Gardens, Insectarium, St. Joseph’s Oratory and St Lawrence Boulevard – a funky boulevard by night that rivals Rue St. Denis.
Quebec City
Quebec City is where you get Europe duplicated many times over. Montreal and Quebec City are connected by Autoroute 20 – the French way of designating a highway. You take highway 20 if your’re coming from the south shore of the St. Lawrence River or highway 40 on the north shore. The car trip will cover 240 kilometers (149 miles) and takes two to three hours. If you’re coming directly from the US, take Interstate 87 in New York, Interstate 89 in Vermont or Interstate 91 in New Hampshire.
The best way to explore Quebec City is on foot – in some areas it’s the only way. Your best bets for hotels, hostels and restaurants are located in Old Quebec, a good and compact 11 square kilometers. Make sure you have comfortable shoes because some areas are hilly and many of the sidewalks are lined with pebbles.
Quebec City Attractions
Begin in Lower Town, the earliest proof of French civilization in North America. Meander through the Quartier Petit-Champlain and browse at handicraft stores. Then boogey over to the Place Royale where summer is celebrated with pomp – you’ll be guaranteed some kind of entertainment in the square.
Plan a leisurely walk to Upper Town and take in the breathtaking St. Lawrence River from the Terrasse Dufferin. Witness the changing of the guard at the Citadelle and buy your French bread (baguette), ham, cheese and beer and graze on the Plains of Abraham – the battleground where the French lost to the British. And if you’re curious about where Quebec politics is debated, take a tour of the National Assembly.
Other sites of interest: Montmorency Falls in Old Quebec (100 feet higher than Niagara Falls), St. Anne de Beaupré, Réserve Faunique du Cap Tourment (wildlife reserve), Le Château Frontenac, Old Port, and the Zoological Gardens.
A kind word of advice: Montreal should be no problem if you speak only English. If you have plans to visit Quebec City, a good phrasebook should come in handy. We assure you though that distractions are plentiful so you wouldn’t have to ask, quelle heure est-il, s’il vous plâit?
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