Quebec City
After Acadia, we dropped Stella off in southern Maine to get repaired from the tire blowout and headed to Quebec City, Canada (QC) for a week of sightseeing in the Old City.
Le Château Frontenac
Old City
One of the main reasons for coming to Quebec City was to immerse ourselves in the city's rich history, experience its European charm, and admire its well-preserved architecture. The area is also home to numerous museums, churches, and art galleries, such as the Musée de la Civilisation, Notre-Dame de Québec Basilica-Cathedral, and the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec we thought to check out.
After getting in Friday night and stocking up on a weeks worth of groceries, and each taking turns starfishing in our Airbnb’s massive bed, we got up early Saturday to explore.
One of our first stops was a local bakery that specializes in pastries - Paillard. After gorging on local delicacies and topping off our caffeine levels we set out to see the historic sites.
St. Johns Gate
One of the most unique things about Quebec City are the old city walls still seen throughout. Aside from San Juan, Puerto Rico, this is one of the only cities in the Americas where the walls still remain, and they are incredibly impressive.
We spent countless hours walking the walls and reading about their history - even Guinness was impressed.
Manning (Dogging) the Cannons
After exploring the Citadel of Quebec and surrounding walls, we made our way over to one of the most famous landmarks in Canada (even Epcot in Disney models ‘Canada’ after this monument).
Le Château Frontenac
The Frontenac Hotel is an absolute spectacle and stands promptly at the entrance to the St. Lawrence river. We spent many days passing through this hotel, stopping to take pictures of it each time. It truly was spectacular.
After gawking over the hotel, it was time for lunch. We headed outside the walls and much to our amazement was one of the most endearing streets and plazas we’ve ever been to. This was up there with the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona and Piazzas of Rome. If you ever travel to Quebec City, take time to explore around Petit-Champlain. All of the little shops and restaurants are very reminiscent of Europe and it is jaw-dropping.
We walked aimlessly through the streets of Petit-Champlain, meandering in and out of stores. This area has shops with everything from freshly cooked kettle corn to mink coats. We were on a good streak so it was hard to imagine it getting any better, but we had reservations at a popular spot…
"With its country vibes in the city, a touch of madness in the mouth, you succumb to the rustic charm of this small neighborhood restaurant"
Rabbit was their specialty and I ordered it in a pie, Rabbit Pot Pie, and it was so good we came back later and ordered a second one.
Le Lapin Saute was just perfect. The food and outside courtyard couldn’t have been any better and were the cherry on top of a perfect day.
Montmorency Falls & Ile d'Orleans
After a sound nights’ sleep we had another fun-filled day Sunday. This time we headed out of the city to explore the nearby waterfalls that are taller than Niagara Falls (next blog spoiler alert, we can confirm), and the Island of Orleans.
Montmorency Falls
The falls were incredible and a very unique experience. Most of the land around QC is very mountainous, having been carved out by St. Lawrence, and the rivers flowing nearby quite literally fall into it. They have an amazing setup here where you can take a gondola to the top, walk around the top of the falls on the bridge, then hike down the other side for more amazing views.
After enjoying the views we stopped by the overlook restaurant for some overpriced and mediocre food (nothing compared to the rabbit pot pie) before heading on to Ile d'Orleans.
Overlook on the Island
The island is dotted with quaint villages, farms, orchards, vineyards, and local artisanal shops. We decided to do the "Circuits des Saveurs" or "Flavour Trail." A route that took us on a journey through the island's various communities, offering opportunities to explore farms, taste local products, and interact with the island's producers. We sampled fresh fruits, vegetables, cheeses, maple products, and even visited a winery. Shocking we know…
Strøm Spa Nordique
After a busy couple of days working from the Airbnb we got to enjoy the Strom Spa Nordique. There were hot and cold pools, multiple saunas and steam rooms, an exfoliation room, a lazy river, cozy places to relax by a fire, this place had it all. We spent 5 hours here and honestly it wasn’t enough.
Overall we had an excellent time in Quebec City and will definitely go back. It’s said the best time to visit is Christmas, with all the trees and decorations gives it a Hallmark feel.
For more pictures of Quebec City click here.
