Québec City
QUEBEC
LOCATION
MUST DO
- Québec Winter Carnival
- Take the elevator up to the top of the City’s Observatory for great views
- Tour the Ice Hotel
- Dog sledding, snow tubing
- Hiking around Montmorency Falls
- Exploring the quaint Petit Champlain neighborhood
Trip Details
When: February 2011 & February 2012
Where: Québec City, Montmorency Falls
How: Road Trip with friends
TRAVEL TIPS
- Best time to visit: during the Quebec Winter Carnival
- Don’t leave without trying poutine and Queues de castor (beavertail) pastries.
- If you go in the winter, pack wool socks, snow pants, and warm boots. Trust me, it’s freeezing coooold.
- Dine: Aux Anciens Canadiens (upscale Quebec meals) or La Grolla for hearty swiss fare–fondue and raclette!
- Stay: Auberge Michel Doyon (budget accommodations)
NOTES
I loved the Quebec Winter Carnival so much that I decided to go again the next year. I love how Canadians don’t complain too much about the cold winters. They embrace it and celebrate everything about winter and winter sports. Everyone was walking around the city in all their ski/snowboard gear because it was -10 degrees F.
We stayed in a quaint Bed & Breakfast, and our hosts were this cute older couple who barely spoke a word of English! It was a great opportunity to practice my french. During our short stay, I felt like they and the other guests were our old friends.
The carnival: parade, snow sculpting competition, walking around in “old” town (so european and quaint!) We also got to go dog sledding and snow tubing! So fun! We ended one evening at a huge dance party inside a giant igloo. The next day, we visited the Montmorency waterfall and Ice Hotel, which is completely made out of snow and ice–even all the furniture. I’d love to be a guest in the hotel next time.