Quebec City, Quebec
To visit Québec is to experience France without crossing the Atlantic. The architecture, the ambience, and the animated conversation on the street confirm the impression that a bit of France has been permanently imbedded in North America. Stroll along the streets of the atmospheric Latin Quarter and explore the historic stone and brick houses of Old Québec, the only remaining walled city north of Mexico. Visit the Place Royale and Notre Dame des Victoires, the oldest stone church in North America, and marvel at the turreted Château de Frontenac.
We splurged on an all day tour of Quebec City. There is so much to see and we have not been her before and we don't expect to be here again. We needed to make the most of our day and an organized tour seemed to be the best answer.
Tour Overview
Your tour begins as you board your transportation for a scenic drive to Ile d'Orleans just opposite Montmorency Falls. You'll drive to the bottom of the falls for a photo stop and then make your way to the top of this 272-foot high waterfall. You'll marvel at the breathtaking views and witness the powerful forces of natures as the water of the Montmorency River roars down the cliff to eventually meet with the St. Lawrence River. You're free to walk the path set in the surrounding park and browse in nearby boutiques before continuing on to the village of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré.
Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré is home to the Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré shrine, a landmark temple that stands near the St. Lawrence River. Sailors in colonial times prayed to Sainte Anne, the patron saint of sailors, and were spared from death. Today, the basilica attracts more than half a million visitors each year. You'll stroll among the grounds and see the church, then depart for a local Baker's Inn restaurant for a French lunch, including chicken or salmon and dessert.
Next you'll continue to Cap-Diamant (Cape Diamond), the official name of the promontory on which the Upper Town of Québec City is located. Jacques Cartier, the French explorer who found glittering stones in on this great rock formation, thought the stones contained diamonds. After he brought samples of these stones back in France in 1542, experts concluded that these "diamonds" were actually quartz, hence the proverb, "As fake as a Canadian diamond."
En route you'll pass through Parc des Champs de Bataille, the site where the French surrendered to the British in 1759. Today, the park features 267 acres of grassy hills, sunken gardens, monuments, artillery artifacts, fountains, and trees.
Next on your itinerary is Château Frontenac, a palatial hotel built in 1893 by the Canadian Pacific Railway, and host to Franklin Roosevelt, Winston Churchill and MacKenzie King when they met to discuss strategy during World War II. Located in front of the château is Place d'Armes, one of the most important intersections in the old city, filled with café-goers, street performers and musicians. You'll walk through Artist Alley and browse in nearby boutiques before departing for Dufferin Terrace, the landscaped promenade and boardwalk facing the château. Here you'll enjoy panoramic views of the St. Lawrence River, the town of Levis on the opposite bank, Ile d'Orleans, and the Laurentian Mountains.
Your tour concludes with a drive to Place Royale, a handsomely restored square in the heart of Lower Town boasting 17th and 18th-century stone architecture. The site of Samuel de Champlain's first settlement, the square is home to Notre Dame des Victoires, the oldest stone church still standing in North America.
Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré is home to the Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré shrine, a landmark temple that stands near the St. Lawrence River. Sailors in colonial times prayed to Sainte Anne, the patron saint of sailors, and were spared from death. Today, the basilica attracts more than half a million visitors each year. You'll stroll among the grounds and see the church, then depart for a local Baker's Inn restaurant for a French lunch, including chicken or salmon and dessert.
Next you'll continue to Cap-Diamant (Cape Diamond), the official name of the promontory on which the Upper Town of Québec City is located. Jacques Cartier, the French explorer who found glittering stones in on this great rock formation, thought the stones contained diamonds. After he brought samples of these stones back in France in 1542, experts concluded that these "diamonds" were actually quartz, hence the proverb, "As fake as a Canadian diamond."
En route you'll pass through Parc des Champs de Bataille, the site where the French surrendered to the British in 1759. Today, the park features 267 acres of grassy hills, sunken gardens, monuments, artillery artifacts, fountains, and trees.
Next on your itinerary is Château Frontenac, a palatial hotel built in 1893 by the Canadian Pacific Railway, and host to Franklin Roosevelt, Winston Churchill and MacKenzie King when they met to discuss strategy during World War II. Located in front of the château is Place d'Armes, one of the most important intersections in the old city, filled with café-goers, street performers and musicians. You'll walk through Artist Alley and browse in nearby boutiques before departing for Dufferin Terrace, the landscaped promenade and boardwalk facing the château. Here you'll enjoy panoramic views of the St. Lawrence River, the town of Levis on the opposite bank, Ile d'Orleans, and the Laurentian Mountains.
Your tour concludes with a drive to Place Royale, a handsomely restored square in the heart of Lower Town boasting 17th and 18th-century stone architecture. The site of Samuel de Champlain's first settlement, the square is home to Notre Dame des Victoires, the oldest stone church still standing in North America.
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