Quebec City
Quebec City offers the history, culture and joy of life of Paris right here in North America. Its annual winter carnival, which will take place Jan. 28 to Feb. 13, has become the world's largest "frost fest" and has been turning the city into a winter wonderland since 1894. Each year the revelry includes a life-size ice castle, a Mardi Gras ball, evening float parades, fireworks and an open-air playground of snow and ice along the Plains of Abraham, the site of a battle pitting the French against the British in 1759. The brisk outdoor fun includes a snow sculpture show, miniature golf on ice, a canoe race along the St. Lawrence River, cross-country skiing, dogsled races, snowmobile and sleigh rides, and snow rafting. Founded in 1608 as a fur-trading post by Samuel Champlaine, the city is composed of a meandering old quarter with fortified walls, surrounded by a modern metropolis. The city rests majestically atop Diamant Peak, overlooking the St. Lawrence. Known for its fantastic views, the city was declared a World Heritage Site in 1985 for its tremendous historic and cultural merit. Since Quebec City is such a romantic locale, it appeals to honeymooners and other couples wanting to get away from the stresses of everyday life. Its picturesque beauty and plentiful cultural activities also make it a natural choice for families and history buffs. Quebec City boasts some of the most historically significant sites in the province, including the Royal Palace. From this vantage point, clients can admire a maze of winding narrow cobblestone streets, as well as the sloping rooftops of its colorful, gabled homes. Near St. John gate, one of the city's four archways, Artillery Park pays tribute to the days of the French regime. There are many museums within the city walls, two of which serve as cultural landmarks: the Museum of Civilization, with its striking architecture and perspectives on Quebec culture, and the Museum of Quebec, which houses the largest collection of Quebecois art from the 17th century to the present. The Notre Dame de Quebec Basilica features a wonderful art collection, as well as impressive sight-and-sound show. The Museum of French America, the oldest museum in Canada, is housed in a building that is part of the Quebec Seminary, founded by Bishop Laval in 1663. This museum features exhibits and activities devoted to tracing the settlement and development of French culture in North America. Clients can also make the climb to the Citadel, which dominates much of the area and features a daily changing of the guards, plus excellent views of Chateau Frontenac's medieval-style gables and turrets. This world-famous hotel features the Terrasse Dufferin, a boardwalk where locals can stroll for views of the St. Lawrence River.
Laurentides Wildlife Reserve provincial park
On the outskirts of the city, the park with its wooded hills and mountains is huge and has dozens of lakes and streams. Hiking & fishing can be enjoyed and the campgrounds at the roadside are plentiful.
Ile d'Orleans
Traditional rural life in Quecec can be found here, wooden or stone houses and cottages and great views make this island a must see. Some of the villages are over 300 years old. It is linked by a bridge to the mainland and there is a campsite in the middle of the south-side at Saint Jean
Charlevoix
Picturesque villages dotting in the countryside between the mountains and the sea, its friendly inhabitants, and the outstanding quality of its regional cuisine, make this a popular district. UNESCO classed it as a heritage cultural region. From the elegant casino in the Manoir Richelieu, overlooking the Saint Lawrence, to the quaint inns dotting the shoreline, your stay in Charlevoix will be captivating. At Baie-Saint-Paul, the coastline offers a panorama that hints at the stark immensity stretching out beyond the horizon. Home to fishers and a community of artists, this charming village is a living fresco with its quaint cafés and art galleries. Route 362 showcases the capes and bays along the Saint Lawrence, taking you through a series of villages with names that are steeped in meaning. La Malbaie, the cradle of vacation resorts in Canada, heads the list. Near Baie-Sainte-Catherine, where the Saguenay River flows into the Saint Lawrence, the seascape is beautiful beyond words. Nature lovers will be thrilled with the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park. Nestled in a fjord whose escarpments soar more than 400 meters, the park offers visitors an unrivalled experience with nature and marine life: whale-watching excursions, cruises, and breathtaking views on the Saint Lawrence. It's an adventure you won't want to miss and one you'll never forget! From the Seigneurie des Aulnaies to the Domaine Joly-De Lotbinière a jewel of the Romantic period this historic road runs through some of the most beautiful villages. Visit The Musée maritime du Québec (maritime museum), a heritage showcase then head over to Saint-Jean-Port-Joli, the wood-sculpture capital of the region. For three generations, local craftspeople there have kept this ancestral tradition alive. It's an excursion of rare beauty that tells the story of the daily life of the lords and sailors of New France. A sunny cruise along the Isle-aux-Grues archipelago, will almost inevitably lead you to Grosse-Île. Closed for many years, this mysterious island seems to echo with the passage of the tens of thousands of Irish who died or suffered there in internment. You can now experience the island's soulful beauty and learn some of its best-kept secrets.
The Gaspe Peninsula
The Gaspe peninsula pokes into the eastern side of the Gulf of St Lawrence. It has breathtaking mountain scenery and a rocky coastline, making it a popular summer holiday getaway. The fishing villages are ideal for strolling, relaxing and lying on the beach. Riviere du Loup with its hilly centre has attractive, broad streets and Victorian villas. The river with the same name, divides the town in two and crashes down a 30m (98ft) drop close to the centre. The town makes a good starting point for boat trips on the St Lawrence River. During the summer your chances are quite good to see beluga, minke and finback whales in these waters. Further along the St Lawrence lies Trois Pistoles. The town was named after a silver goblet worth three gold coins (pistoles), which a French sailor once lost here. The enormous church, Notre Dame des Neiges de Trois Pistoles, dominates the town. It was built in 1887, and from a distance it resembles something out of Disneyland (the roof with four pinnacles is painted silver). On the inside, huge marble columns with gilded capitals support the vaulted ceiling. The walls are decorated with 19th-century devotional paintings. Parc du Bic's rocky wooded shoreline is a paradise to naturalists. Here it is possible to see herds of grey seals. The park has various hiking trails, a beach, and a campground with an excellent location. About 20km (12 miles) northeast of the village Bic lies Rimouski, the administrative capital of eastern Quebec. The highlights in the town are the Jazz Festival (which is held at the end of August) and the Film Festival (held in late September). Apart from these, there isn't much to see or do here. Parc de la Gaspesie is mostly taken up by the snowcapped Chic-Choc Mountains. These mountains are the most northerly part of the Appalachian Ridge, extending deep into the United States. There is a series of villages framed by wooded slopes, culminating in the staggering ravine at the foot of Mont Albert. Virginia deer are abundant in the lowest zone of the mountains, while moose tend to hold to the boreal forest and caribou in the tundra at the peaks. This is the only area in Quebec where these three species live in such close proximity. The Parc National de Forillon is right at eastern the tip of the peninsula, wedged between the Gulf of St Lawrence and Baie de Gaspe. It marks the end of the long Appalachian Mountain Chain. The park has thick forests and mountains, with hiking trails criss-crossing throughout. The wildlife complement the splendour of the landscape: black bears, moose, beavers, porcupines and foxes are abundant. More than 200 species of birds have been spotted here, ranging from sea birds (such as gannets, cormorants and guillemots) to songbirds (like the skylark and chaffinch). Between May and October, whales and porpoises can be spotted from the coastal paths. Perce once a humble fishing village, is today renowned as a prime holiday destination. The Rocher Perce (pierced rock) is one of Canada's most celebrated natural phenomena - a gargantuan limestone rock rearing up from the sea, facing the reddish cliffs of the shore. The rock is almost 500m (1,640ft) long and 100m (328ft) high. At dawn it is an almost surreal sight, when it appears to be bathed in a golden light. At low tide you can walk around most of the rock. From the top of Mont St Anne, behind the town, is one of the most spectacular views of the rock. Another interesting site in Perce is the Great Crevasse. This volcanically formed crevice sits in a rocky outcrop. Although it is just a few millimetres wide, it reaches several hundred metres in depth. The archipelago of the Magdalen Islands lies in the middle of the Gulf of St Lawrence (southeast of Gaspe and northeast of Prince Edward Island), and consists of 12 main islands. The islands form a crescent-shaped series of green valleys, rolling dunes, lagoons, white beaches and rocky outcrops. The tiny villages on the islands are popular tourist destinations, mostly visited for its open landscapes and quiet life. Unusual rock formations are the archipelago's most distinctive attraction. Havre Aubert is the largest of the islands, and lies south of Cap aux Meules. La Grave is the old, but most lively section of the town. The main street is lined with interesting craft and gift shops, restaurants and cosy cafes. The aquarium has a pool where various maritime creatures can be handled. Havre aux Maisons is the town on Ile du Havre aux Maisons, probably the most scenic of the islands. A beautiful route is the south shore road (Chemin des Montants) from Pointe Basse up around Butte Ronde and into a splendid little valley. The route offers excellent views, traditional-style houses, smoke houses and a lighthouse. The strange shapes of the coastal rocks around Dune du Sud are worth a visit. La Grosse Ile is the main English section of the islands. Most of the inhabitants are of Scottish descent. Trinity Church is worth a visit. Its stained glass window depicts Jesus as the fisherman. Ile Brion, an ecological reserve, is about 16km (9.9 miles) away. It houses 140 species of birds and interesting vegetation. La Grosse and Grande Entree is linked by a wild region boasting the island's most impressive beach: La Grande Echouerie Beach extends from Pointe Old Harry down Ile de l'Est. The area around Grande Entree was once inhabited by walruses, but they were all slaughtered. Sea Cow Lane is the site of the former walrus landing. Visits here cannot be complete without trying the local seafood, Lobster being the main dish, scallops, mussels, perch, cod and snow crabs also available. The waters around the islands are warmed by the Gulf Stream, making it popular for swimming. Currents in the open sea can be strong, so caution is advised.


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