Less than 40 miles east of Montreal is a great place to start your tour. Here you’ll find The Laurentians, a pleasant introduction into the Canadian countryside with these rolling hills and mountains. Actually, with its highest peak topping out at just over 3,100 feet (Mont Tremblant), these hardly qualify as mountains, rather foothills similar to the Catskills in New York State. Although not as intimidating as the rocky formations in the western region of the continent, the Laurentians were formed more than a billion years ago, making them some of the oldest mountains in the entire world. The Laurentians offer many outdoor retreats and leisurely country drives, a perfect compliment to a colorful fall season.

Northwest of the Laurentians is the Trois-Rivieres region. As the Saint-Maurice River meets the St. Lawrence, the two rivers split into three branches that flow through the region. Once a booming logging area, the Trois-Rivieres is much like the Laurentians with its rolling hills and lush forest filled with Canadian wildlife. Here you’ll also find the 210-square-mile national park, Parc National de la Maurice. Established in 1970, the park safeguards this portion of the Canadian Shield, including the park’s wide variety of wildlife, several types of forest and more than 100 lakes.

The Lac Saint-Jean region is almost due north of Quebec City along the St. Lawrence River. Why stop here? How about the 520 square miles of popular summer resort areas for residents of Quebec City and the surrounding area. And with that comes a hotbed of leisure outdoor activities during the Canadian summer. The eastern part of the region, hugging the shores of the St. Lawrence River, offers a unique activity for this part of the continent: whale-watching. Although seemingly too far inland for whales to migrate, the chilly and deep St. Lawrence River welcomes several types of small whales to its water year-round. With a little effort, and a whale-watching excursion or two, one can sight the gorgeous white beluga or humpback whale. Blue whales, the largest creatures on earth, have also been known to slip into this section of the St. Lawrence River.

One of Canada’s most popular whale-watching spots is located near the picturesque Saguenay Fjord. Here the Saguenay River dumps into the salty water of the St. Lawrence, and whales of all types converge on the area to feast. Through whale-watching boat tours or one of the area’s many observation points, you may be able to catch glimpses of beluga, fin, minke or any of the other whale species that frequent the area.

Traveling up the northern shore of the St. Lawrence, the land becomes increasingly more remote as the environment becomes less forgiving. For the intrepid explorer these conditions only mean untouched natural wonders are waiting for them. A perfect example of a more remote natural wonder can be found in Côte Nord, a region once dominated by lumber towns, it would be considered rather isolated by most standards. Today, Côte Nord is a wonderful resource for hydroelectricity as several large and powerful rivers divide the land. But the real draw to the region is the Mingan Archipelago National Park. RVers will need to leave their rigs behind, but it’s well worth it. This series of 40 small islands offers some of the most unique and dramatic scenery in all of Canada. Dedicated as a national park reserve in 1984, Mingan Archipelago is home to a wide variety of plant and animal life, including puffins and seals. However, the area’s true attraction is the dramatic limestone structures that rise from the rocky shores. These natural monoliths seem like they stretch forever along the St. Lawrence shoreline.

In the middle of the widest part of the St. Lawrence River lies the series of connected islands known as Isles de la Madeleine. Another archepelago, several of these islands are connected by sandbars; some of which have remarkable cliff formations. The northern stretch of the islands marries bucolic farmland with sandy beaches, lush forests and miles of secluded hiking trails.

On the St. Lawrence’s southern shores, directly across from the Iles de la Madeleine, is the Gaspe Peninsula jutting out into the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Getting to the peninsula is a treat in itself. The drive along Highway 132, along the coastline of the St. Lawrence, is one of Canada’s most celebrated scenic routes. We’re talking A+ views here. Craggy cliffs drop off to sandy beaches to the north, while the southern scenery is green, rolling hills interspersed with quiet fishing villages. For a uniquely Canadian outdoor experience, visit the central part of the peninsula (the area’s highest elevation) where you’ll find the Parc de la Gaspe. Inhabitants such as moose, elk and caribou, don’t seem to mind the area’s harsh conditions. Along the peninsula’s northern shores is the Parc National Forillon. A national park since the 1970s, this 90-square-mile sanctuary reveals some of the peninsula’s best vistas as well as an abundance of native wildlife. It’s an ideal mountains-meet-the-sea environment, as pine covered hills become the rocky coastline.

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For a traditional skiing vacation at a great value, Quebec’s Mont Tremblant can’t be beat. With a wide variety of trails, a pretty, pedestrian-only village, and the tourist infrastructure of Whistler/Blackcomb (thanks to the same parent company) with a tenth of the crowds at a tenth of the costs, it’s definitely a contender for Canada’s best East Coast resort.

A close proximity to Montreal also makes it a cinch to combine a skiing vacation with some shopping and culture.

If you’re lucky enough to be near Quebec City around the beginning of February, be sure to make time for the city’s incredible Winter Carnival. Fun for travelers and locals of all ages and interests, this carnival offers ice sculptures, parades, canoe races across the frozen St. Lawrence, and an impressive castle of ice.

For a unique hotel experience, try the Ice Hotel (located outside Quebec City). Rebuilt every year out of snow and ice, it’s a beautiful beat of architecture and design… And you won’t soon forget a night spent in a crystal cave staying cozy in fur pelts.

Mush! Kids especially will love the chance to try dogsledding, a uniquely winter activity. In Quebec, dogsledding tours include the opportunity to explore a beautiful (and otherwise inaccessible) countryside, all the while mushing your own team of sled dogs. You can also choose to let a professional take the reins. Either way, it’s exhilarating!

However you choose to discover Quebec, enjoy the province’s beautiful nature, accessible culture, and unique and proud heritage. Bons voyages!

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Come up to be a great skier with an edifice of 65 km of groomed skiing trail. But, there are thousands of kilometres of marked skiing trails dotted across Quebec for cross country skiing, passing through provincial parks and wildlife reserves.

Enjoy the same luxury of travelling around on your vehicle as you do it in your normal days. But, this time the charm is exclusive for speeding on the snow in snowmobile. Despite of well defined majestic route covering Quebec, Charlevoix and Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean regions, the place has grand network of snowmobiling routes all over northern region. Actually snowmobiling is transformed into a normal roadways arrangement with traffic patrols, maps and safety codes.

Guiding your own team of dogs to ferry you around gorgeous and scenically stunning Quebec is an incomparable experience. Submitting you totally to view the exuberant beauty of nature by dogsledding through the forests and over the frozen lakes is an unexplainable charm.

Many people love to be on their own and walk down to extract every drop of beauty. Surely that is the best way to not miss even a little, but it will be enjoyable only with Snowshoeing. Enjoy the great outdoors of Tremblant and Laurentians wearing snowshoes. Discover the fresh air of these places and inhale it to your heart’s content under guided tours or venture out on solo hiking to explore the mountains.

Riding the sleigh pulled by the horses is something like a festive charm anytime during day or night. It offers a tour through the fields and forests giving a feeling to be in the fairy lands of snow. Tubing parks in Mont Tremblant is famous for its eight well laid out trails and two rope tows for thrilling long slips of snow tubing. You can have the tubing experience throughout the day with your family.

Horseback riding thorough snow covered landscape is an altogether different experience than normal horse riding in amusement parks. By no means should the experience be mixed with Sleigh riding. In reality this kind of riding offers completely different feeling to cross snow clad fields, the hilly slopes or even the flat lands. The pleasure trip becomes more enjoyable due to forest setting all around.

Quebec winter activities offer a lot of daring act of ice climbing if you love such adventure. Even if you are totally new and thinking of trying out this adventure, there is nothing to worry. You will get all the support of equipments and instructor.

Rental cottages in Quebec Canada. Visit more Canadian vacation travel publications.

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Walk the old city. Do not drive. The streets are very narrow. The old city, vieux Quebec, is surrounded by a wall with only a few gates to permit entry. Stop at the Jesuit Chapel built in 1817. This is a very simple chapel whose architect was a member of the Baillairge dynasty. They seem to have designed most of the churches in Provence Quebec.

Down the street, next to the fortifications, is Artillery Park, a National Historical Site of Canada. The park has buildings you can visit. The most interesting of them is the Dauphine Redoubt. The lowest two floors were built by the French in 1712. The British added a third floor, and the Canadians added a fourth floor when the complex was used as a munitions factory from 1902 until 1964. The park includes an officer’s quarters and a barracks, which is the longest building built by the French in North America. Until then the soldiers were quartered in the homes of civilians.

From Artillery Park walk the historic streets to the Cathedral of Notre Dame, the oldest parish North of Mexico. Bishop Laval, the diocese first bishop traveled most of the diocese, which extended from Newfoundland to New Orleans, LA. Remember that all of the land along the Mississippi once was claimed by France. Across the plaza is the City Hall and next door is the Seminary, which eventually became Laval University.

A short three block walk is the luxury hotel, Chateau Frontenac, which dominates the Quebec Skyline. The tower was not part of the original hotel. When a fire destroyed the old hotel the tower was built and the hotel surrounded it. This seems to be one of the focal points of the city. Many people congregate around the hotel, perhaps because of the numerous parks which surround it.

A walk down Rue St. Louis bring you to a tree with a canon ball in its roots, a souvenir from the fall of Quebec in 1759 under a hail of over 20,000 cannon balls.

Walking the streets is a real treat. Even though the sidewalks are narrow and the streets climb up and down the hills, the experience is one of being in an eighteenth century French town.

The changing of the guard at the Citadel is a must see event. The Citadel, erected on the original French site in 1820 to ward off attack from the USA, is the home of the 23rd Regiment of the Canadian Army. Formed during World War I, as the only French speaking Canadian regiment, they have also seen combat action during World War II and the Korean Conflict. At 10:00 A.M. daily they hold the traditional changing of the guard, complete with marching band and their goat mascot. Sixteen men, plus their officers are on guard duty for twenty-four hour periods. The ceremony takes thirty-five minutes and is then followed by an hour tour of the facilities.

The fortress is the largest fortification garrisoned by regular troops in North America. Star shaped in design, the main defense faced the river, the cannons having a two and a half mile range. While on the tour, the commandant’s wife waved from a second floor window to the group and showed off her two year old puppy, Chelsea. The Citadel overlooks the Plains of Abraham, where Montcalm lost the battle to Wolfe during the French and Indian War. During the battle, both lost their lives. There is free two hour parking inside the walls of the fortress. The entry is serpentine and the main gate is very narrow, the original structure from the fortifications.

Drive around the Plains of Abraham. Here too is free parking, the visitor’s center, the fine arts museum and beautiful views of the river. Here the cliffs protecting Old Quebec fall way to sloping access to the river, perfect entry for the army to attack.

Drive past the summit of Montmorency Falls. The falls have been dammed to harness electricity. A suspension bridge lets people look down from the summit and a cable car takes passengers from the bottom to the top and vice versa. Since the falls are higher than Niagara Falls, use of the cable car is better than climbing the steps.

John Pelley is a Geriatric Gypsy. He is retired from the rat race of working. He is a full-time RVer, who ran away from home. He began our travels on the East Coast and, like the migrating birds, seek the warmth of the seasons He has discovered volunteering with the National Park System. He has a CD he has recorded of Native American flute music., A Day with Kokopelli. For pictures, links, and more information visit http://www.jmpelley.org

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Quebec also offers a lot of discount room options in most of their hotels. Take a look at some of them.

The Hotel Le Voyageur

This is a hotel in Quebec that offers promotional rates like discount rooms. It is a three star hotel only 2 miles away from the old city, and 10 miles from the International Airport of Jean Lesage. This hotel is along the boulevard of Sainte -Anne between the Park of Montmorency Falls and Quebec City downtown. Guests are provided easy access to the Old Quebec City because it is just less than five minutes away using the highway. This hotel can let you enjoy the outskirts of the city.

Their rooms are newly renovated, with 60 double rooms and 4 suites in all. The suites have a very comfortable atmosphere and are fireproof. The suites can accommodate up to 8 persons.

The hotel can also organize events like corporate gatherings, family reunions and weddings. If you are having events like these, you only have to come to this hotel and they will arrange everything for you. Meeting facilities are also present.

Other hotel amenities and facilities are a private bathroom, mini bar and alarm clock with local AM/FM stations.

All their rooms are smoke free so you can be sure that you breathing only fresh air all the time.

The hotel also has bars where you can have party and cocktails. Even a whole day of partying or other activities can be done here. They also have a restaurant that serves a heart-warming breakfast. There are also other choices available if you are not used to breakfast meals.

Days Inn Quebec West

This is a hotel that offers no frills accommodations for all travelers, especially those who are on a tight budget. They have shuttle services for all their visitors. They have complimentary continental breakfast that includes coffee, fruit and donuts. This breakfast is already included to the room rates.

The Days Inn also offers your business needs. They have meeting spaces with the complete amenities that you need. Internet connection is at no cost. All their 52 rooms are non smoking.

Conference rooms are also provided that could serve as a venue for various functions. It is equipped with standard and modern facilities like audiovisual equipment. There are also business services at hand like a telephone, fax machine, and copier.

Other room amenities and facilities are a crib, rollaway beds, alarm clock radio, 4 sunbursts rating for cable TV, and large meeting rooms for various occasions.

The hotel also offers recreational activities like a tour to their amusement park, bowling, dancing exercise, fine dining, golfing, tour to a museum or gallery, sailing or boating, shopping, and daily shows in their theaters.

This Days Inn hotel has a dining option inside called Restaurant Dejeuner. They serve delectable cuisines that satisfy guests even without having to look for restaurants outside.

For more information on Quebec Cruises and Quebec Flights, please visit our website.

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If you enjoy traveling and learning about the places you are visiting then this is a place that you do not want to miss out, there is a lot of history here like the city of Montreal, some of the buildings go back 100 years, where I am from that is unheard of most building over 50 years old are replaced with something new. If you are the nature type there are the mountains that you ski or snowboard, there are many rivers and lakes that have great fishing and boating.

Quick facts about the province

-Largest city is Montreal

-Population is 7,568,640 2nd biggest Province in Canada

-5th province to become apart of Canada on July 1, 1867

This province has a lot of things to do, I can’t list them all but you need to visit this province to see a lot of Canada’s history. The province is unbelievable so you will need more then a week to see it all.

Feel free to reprint this article as long as you keep the article, this caption and author biography in tact with all hyperlinks.

Ashton Billesberger is the owner and operator of Quebec Canada Guide [http://www.quebec-canada-guide.com] – [http://www.quebec-canada-guide.com], which is the best site on the internet for all Quebec related information.

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Casual eats with great atmosphere:

More refined than your average pizza parlour, La Piazzetta (several locations, 63 rue St-Paul in the Vieux Port, 418.692.2962) offers up tasty, fresh pies in a casual and comfortable environment. The salads, sandwiches, and breakfasts are equally tasty.

Le Cochon Dingue (several locations, 1326 ave Maguire, 418.684.2013) is a popular Quebec chain, with reasonably-priced meat and pasta dishes in a lively (if sometimes noisy) atmosphere.

Discover the best sugar pie (Quebec’s favorite dessert), at Aux Anciens Canadiens (34 rue St-Louise, 418.692.1627). The entrees are good, but the real draw is the smooth maple sugar of this traditional treat.

For any night of the week:

In a city that specializes in the informal bistro tradition, L’Echaudé, (73 rue Sault-au-Matelot, 418.692.1299) is a star. Discover classic French Canadian dishes like steak frites and duck confit on a dining terrace on a pedestrian-only street.

For delicious and fresh seafood, discover the charming bistro of Le Marie-Clarisse (12 rue du Petit-Champlain, 418.692.0857). Just-off-the-boat seafood is personally selected by the chef and owner, and served in traditional and innovative ways in a charming space (choose between the fireplace inside or the terrace outside, depending on the weather)

Le Casse Crepe Breton (1136 rue St-Jean, 418.692.0438) is a great place to take a hungry family, with pizza-sized crepes on offer. Pack ‘em with your choice of meats, eggs, peppers, cheese, or, for a sweet treat, jams, fruits, and chocolate, and watch them come together before your eyes.

Fine dining for celebrations and the best of gourmet local fare:

Although the thought of an all-red design scheme may put some people off, Toast (17 rue Sault-au-Matelot, 418.692.4331) somehow makes it work. It’s small, it’s trendy, and the food is delicious.

Panache (8, Saint Antoine St, 418.692.2211) is chic, charming, and romantic. With stone walls, terrific views of the St Lawrence, and innovative twists on traditional French Canadian fare, this restaurant tucked away in the Auberge Saint-Antoine is great for a cozy dinner for two.

There is no better place for a romantic dinner than Le Saint-Amour (48 rue Ste-Ursule, 418.694.0667) with great French fare, a beautiful room illuminated by candlelight, and unobtrusive service.

Utopie (226 rue St-Joseph, 418.523.7878) may be new, but it stands out amongst many and promises to give established venues a run for their money. A few steps away from the Old Center, Utopie has an dining room that is at once sleek and warm, and offers a great four-course tasting menu.

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“The Jewish Aviation Museum?” queried the puzzled tourist guide.

“Yea, you know, the Planes of Abraham.” exclaimed the tourist.

The story is no doubt apocryphal, but it underscores the fact that Quebec boasts a different language and culture from the rest of North America.

And vive la difference. Quebec City is the cradle of French civilization in North America. Founded in 1608 by Samuel de Champlain, French soldier, navigator, geographer and explorer, it is the only walled city north of Mexico.

The name Quebec is derived from the Indian word “Kebec,” meaning “narrowing of the waters”. The city is perched on a 106 meter (350ft) cliff overlooking the St. Lawrence River and is divided into the Upper and Lower town. In colonial times the Upper Town was the domain of the military and the government. The Lower Town encompassed the port and trading district where supplies from Europe were unloaded to be replaced by the rich furs of “New France.”

Authentic restoration ensures that today’s Lower Town retains the ambience of early New France, including the thick stonewalls, dormer windows, wooden doors and shutters and bright tin roofs.

The art galleries, boutiques and quaint alfresco cafes that have replaced the old warehouses give Quebec that uniquely European look unknown in other North American cities.

The heart of the Lower Town was, and still is, Place Royale, named after Louis X1V whose bust stands in the square.

Hard by Place Royale is Quartier Petit-Champlain, the oldest district in North America, dating back to the city’s founding in 1608. Originally it was a busy port village with trading posts and elegant residences built of wood, then stone and brick. Towards the end of the 19th century Quartier Petit-Champlain deteriorated. Modern renovation, with strict adherence to authenticity, has again turned the quarter into a quaint riverside village where pedestrians can stroll the narrow streets enjoying the local color. Over 60 craftspeople and artists offer their wares here and visitors can enjoy the native entertainers and musicians while partaking of Quebec’s sumptuous French cuisine.

To get to the Upper Town from the Lower Town you can climb the aptly named “Break-neck Stairs” or take a small funicular railway.

Dominating the skyline up top is that majestic symbol of Quebec City, the Chateau Frontenac. The hotel was built in 1893 and its turrets and towers make it look more like a castle. It is on the site of Fort St. Louis, a governor’s residence in colonial times, and was named after Comte de Frontenac, an early governor of New France.

From the front of the Chateau Frontenac you can take the Promenade des Gouverneurs, a picturesque boardwalk, round to the famous Plains of Abraham or Battlefields Park. This 95-hectare (235 acres) park was the site of the pivotal battle between General Wolfe and General Montcalm in 1759 that irrevocably sealed the fate of New France as a British colony. The boardwalk itself is suspended 92 meters (280ft) above the St. Lawrence and offers spectacular views of the river and Quebec’s busy harbor.

Visitors arriving in Quebec City by car from Montreal are likely to drive down the Grande Allee. The road dates from colonial times when the indigenous people of the Sillery reserve took what was then the longest road in the colony into town to sell their furs. Today the road is lined with restaurants and small hotels all housed in Victorian buildings. It’s great fun to stroll this busy street at night reading the menus posted outside the restaurants. The quality of the restaurants in Quebec City is unequalled anywhere in North America, including New York and San Francisco. Meandering down the Grande Allee in the evening one regrets that one can eat only one dinner.

A visit to Quebec would be incomplete without a tour of ile d’Orleans, a 35 kilometer (21 miles) by nine-kilometer (five miles) island in the middle of the St. Lawrence River.

Quebec poet and folksinger, Felix Leclerc, describes the road that circumscribes the island as “quarante-deux milles de choses tranquilles …” (42 miles of tranquility). The island is certainly a living museum of colonial New France with houses, churches and mills that are centuries old.

Of particular interest in the village of Saint-Jean is the Manoir Mauvide-Genest. Built in 1734 for Mr. Mauvide, surgeon to Louis XV, it is a Norman-style manor and one of the most beautiful rural buildings in the province of Quebec. Today it houses a restaurant on the first floor and a museum on the second.

The bridge connecting the island with the mainland was built in 1935. Prior to this the only contact with the island was by boat in summer and ice-bridge in winter.

From the bridge one gets a superb view of Montmorency Falls on the mainland. With a height of 85 meters (274 ft) it is over 30 meters (100 ft) higher than Niagara Falls. On top of the cliff and to the left of the falls stands the Kent House, once the home of the Duke of Kent, father of Queen Victoria.

The uniqueness of Quebec was summed up by the English writer Rudyard Kipling in a letter home upon visiting the city in 1907. He wrote: “Quebec … ranks by herself among those Mother-cities of whom none can say, ‘This reminds me ….’”

Bruce Burnett, has won four Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Gold awards for travel journalism. Read more of Bruce Burnett’s writing on his websites:

1. http://www.globalramble.com/
2. http://www.bruceburnett.ca/
3. http://www.herbalcuisine.com/

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Of all the cities in Canada, Quebec City is most noted for its old world charm, colour and romanticism. Restoration in part of the city has returned some of the culture and ambience of the city as it existed 300 to 400 years ago. Throughout its history, Quebec City was controlled by English and French nationals, yet the French were most staunch about calling this city its own. It is considered the heart and soul of French culture in Canada and in North America.

Quebec City has been declared a UNESCO world heritage site and it is the only walled city in North America. The wall tells us much about the battles that too place here in centuries past, battles important to the formation of Canada as a nation and to the development of French civilization in the country. Quebec City was founded as a city 400 years ago, and the 400th anniversary celebrations are on. This summer has to be the perfect opportunity, although the anniversary will undoubtedly improve the city for tourists for coming years.

Quebec City stands on the shore of the might Saint Lawrence River, the main trade route for North Americans for probably a thousand years. That accessibility to the Atlantic Ocean has made it an attractive destination for immigrants from France and for commercial trade with Europe.

Today, Quebec City is considered a wonderful tourist destination offering something so unique that tourists from all over the world come to Quebec City. A taste of old world French culture is what tourists come for and with the restoration of the lower section of Quebec City they are finding it. Visitors stroll through the cobblestone streets and winding staircases with towering Victorian architecture all around them. This is Basse Ville the lower town, and the upper town or walled city looms above. Down at the waterfront, tour boats and cruise ships await their passengers.

Quebec City Attractions

The 400th Anniversary Celebration

IF you are in the city on July 3, you will want to see the show Rencontres/Encounters which musically commemorates the city’s founding by Samuel de Champlain in 1608. And in August, experience a magical evening of fire, water, acrobatics and music at the Baie de Beauport and the pop singer Céline Dion will be offering a concert performance on the Plains of Abraham. The Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec will also be showing the exhibit, Le Louvre à Québec: les arts et la vie, which will showaces more than 270 works from the collections of the prestigious French museum

There are plenty of old world buildings, forts and streetscapes to keep even the most disinterested tourists busy exploring. Chateau Frontenac is one of the largest Quebec City hotels with more than 600 rooms. It is the most obvious parts of the Quebec City landmarks. The views from the hotel are spectacular.

Other beautiful buildings include the Assemble Nationale which is the seat of Quebec’s provincial government. Holy Trinity Cathedral and the Seminaire de Quebec are two religiously significant structures with exquisitely detailed interiors. The Sainte Anne de Beaupre is one of Canada’s most sacred shrines and 1.5 million people come to see this medieval Basilica built in 1923.

Place Royale is a market square filled with boutiques, galleries, bistros, restaurants, and other retail shops all inside 18th century buildings. For scenic walking routes try the Terrasse Dufferin which sweeps along top of the Cap Diamant from the Chateau Frontenac. There are plenty of kiosks and benches where you can enjoy drinks and view the magnificent view of the St Lawrence and the Laurentian Mountains.

Skiing and Biking on the Laurentian Mountains

The Laurentian Mountains offer skiing and mountain biking activities for the active set. Just an hour drive north of Quebec City is Mont Sainte Anne, Quebec’s largest ski park area. Shuttle buses will take you from Quebec City. There are plenty of hotels so you can stay for a multiday adventure.

One last must see site is only a few miles from Quebec City. Montmorency Falls at Ile d’Orleans is Quebec’s most dramatic waterfalls. The falls is actually 100 feet higher than Niagara Falls. You can view the falls from an aerial tram, or suspension bridge, or you can climb the cliffs next to the falls for a great view.

Quebec City has its modern section too which includes hotels, restaurants, malls and movie theatres, so you won’t be denied the usual entertainment venues and activities. The richest and most memorable parts of your visit will be the fascinating architecture of the old city. Quebec City will certainly be a change from your usual vacation, perfect for couples seeking a romantic escape for families wanting experience Canada’s history and culture.

Gord Collins is a Canadian travel enthusiastic sharing the news about Canada’s best travel attractions, Quebec City hotels, and ski and mountain biking destinations in Quebec. Quebec City could be the top spot on your Atlantic Province vacation and you will want to check the fascinating history and culture of this old city, a big part of Canada’s heritage.

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Quebec is bordered by James Bay, Hudson Bay and Ontario to the west. It is surrounded by Ungava Bay and Hudson Strait to the north, the Gulf of Saint Lawrence as well as New Brunswick, Labrador and Newfoundland to the east; New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine are to its south. When it comes to maritime borders, Quebec shares it with Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Nunavut.

Following Ontario, Quebec is ranked as the second most populous province. In fact, most of its residents are situated along the Saint Lawrence River, which is in-between the capital, Quebec City, and Montreal. Along the northern half of Quebec, you will find Aborigines sparsely occupying it.

Quebec is noted for it natural resources which mainly contributes to its economy. Other contributing factors would be aerospace and communication technology knowledge, biotechnology and their pharmaceutical industries.

Going on a Trip to Quebec
When planning a leisure or business trip to Quebec, the oldest city in North America, you are in luck because 2008 happens to be its 400th year of the city. Throughout the year, a range of festivities and special events are carefully planned which includes a free summer concert of no less than their very own Celine Dion.

Quebec Attractions
Quebec boasts of many natural landscapes and historic sites. This would include the following:

The Citadelle de Quebec is a tourist attraction also noted as the “Gibraltar of the Americas.” It occupies Cap Diamant’s highest point, around 100m over the St. Lawrence River. It is not only part of the “Fortifications of Quebec,” it is also the home base of the French-speaking Canadian Forces regimen. As the official residence of Canada’s Governor General, it also acts as a military installation.

The Battlefields Park is a tourist attraction created in the year 1908, marking the 300th anniversary of the foundation of Quebec. This park occupies an area of about 108 hectares, having no less than 6,000 trees as well as shrubs that belong to more than 80 species. Aside from this, the park can be grouped with the Des Braves Park and the Plains of Abraham.

Also visit the magnificent Place Royale. It is considered as French America’s birthplace and the Palace Royale’s historical site which welcomes hundreds to thousands of guests every year. Its picturesque and narrow streets have actually witnessed 3 magnificent years if its history. Most of Place Royale’s buildings are components of the so-called “cultural complex” managed by Musee de la Civilisation. It is the one responsible for the interpretation and animation of the site.

Travel Guide to Quebec City
Whether you will be going to Quebec City by plane, car, bus or train, you should always be updated with the current news and recent events in the region. You really don’t need to bring a lot of money to go to Quebec. In fact, the most favorable attractions here are free. A good example would be the 3-day museum pass which includes 20 attractions and museums along with 2 days of convenient public transportation.

You can try walking around the UNESCO-designated wall surrounding Quebec City.

From the tourist office, secure a walking tour map. You can try walking at the well-signed, brand new VivaCite Stroll which features some very interesting landmarks. On the “Plains of Abraham”, you can attend an open-air free concert. Every Wednesday, you can check-out the Museum of Fine Arts for free. You can catch fascinating views of Quebec City when you ride a ferry to Levis. Join their numerous carnivals and street festivals.

In Rue St. Jaques, along Lower Town’s Saint Roch District, you can try having lunch on the delectable sidewalk hotdog place. Along Rue St. Jean’s main street, you will find Chez son Pere, you can listen to the traditional Quebecois Music for free. This is by the upper level bar.

You can go to Simon’s Department Store along Rue St. Jean for a new pair of cheap Quebecois designer wear. This institution has been existent and trusted for more than 100 years now. In Lower Downtown, look for the Farmer’s Market, where in, you can sample their tapenades, fruit wines and local cheeses.

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