Planning a Summer Getaway in Quebec, Canada
Quebec is a large province in eastern Canada with a varied topography, climate and wildlife. But the main attraction for many visitors to the province, its largest city, Montreal, and its capital, Quebec City is the touch of sophistication provided by the French language and culture here. Quebec offers history, food, culture and activities that transport visitors to another world. Summers in Canada can be warm and occasionally humid, but compared with the cold, snowy winters, summers are generally a comfortable time to visit and enjoy all Quebec has to offer.
Where to Go
Quebec features something for just about every type of vacationer. If you are interested in historic sites, cultural events, luxurious hotels and fine dining, visit Montreal or Quebec City. For swimming, boating and fishing, choose from Quebec's rivers, lakes and the Quebec Maritime area on the St. Lawrence River and Gulf of St. Lawrence, where you can also go whale-watching. If your ideal vacation involves getting back to nature, Quebec provides camping, hunting, fishing and hiking. Visit one or more of Quebec's 27 national parks, climb its mountains or explore the culture of Quebec's aboriginal people, including the Inuit.
Montreal and Quebec City offer historic and modern luxury hotels, charming bed-and-breakfast lodgings and, for the budget-minded, well-known chain hotels or youth hostels. In the villages and countryside, find inns, bed-and-breakfasts and cottages, or arrange a homestay with a local family.
For something a little different, try some agritourism at one of the farms that welcome visitors to stay; you can enjoy the rural ambiance or pitch in and help with chores. Go hiking, fishing, canoeing or kayaking in Quebec's national parks and find campgrounds and cabins; some, such as the Parc National du Mont-Tremblant, also have trailer-tents, huts and yurts available. To experience another culture, you can visit an Inuit village and stay in a traditional tepee.
In the walled city of Quebec City, visit the Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac, built as a luxury hotel in 1893 and still offering lodging. Guides in 19th-century garb give tours. At the highest point in the city sits La Citadelle, a multibuilding fortress housing troops -- you can watch the changing of the guard -- as well as the Musee Royal 22e Regiment, which hearkens back to La Citadelle's 17th century military history with displays of firearms and uniforms. Take a bike tour of the city or go kayaking on the St. Lawrence River.
In Montreal, visit the old city, with its 19th-century buildings. and the Old Port. Montreal's Olympic Park features the Biodome, with re-creations of four ecosystems, and the 180-acre Botanical Gardens. See the subterranean Underground City, more than 18 miles of interconnected shops, restaurants, movie theaters and other businesses tied together by the subway, train and bus systems.
In Granby, the Granby Zoo offers not only 1,000 animals to view but also rides and a water park.
In Gatineau, on the banks of the Ottawa River, visit the architecturally impressive Canadian Museum of Civilization and view the collection of totem poles; other permanent exhibits examine Canada's history from a Norse landing in Newfoundland in A.D. 1000 to the present. The Children's Museum offers toys, games and costumes, with replicas of some items available for interactive exploration.
Montreal is home to the world-famous Cirque du Soleil and performances of its various shows can be seen in Montreal and Quebec City on select dates. Summer in Montreal features a number of festivals, including a beer festival, a jazz festival and a comedy festival. Tam Tams is an outdoor drum festival that takes place at the base of Mont Royal Sunday afternoons during the summer.
Celebrate Quebec's national holiday on June 24 in Quebec City on the Plains of Abraham, site of a 1759 battle between the British and the French. The national holiday, held on the feast day of St. John the Baptist, is less a religious holiday and more a celebration of French culture with parades and concerts. For 11 days each July, Quebec City's summer festival features musical performances on stages around the city.
In Orford, east of Montreal, seven weeks each summer are devoted to jazz and classical music at the Orford Festival. In early August, spend four days in Montreal at the Fashion and Design Festival, or, for a completely different experience, visit Sainte-Perpetue, roughly halfway between Montreal and Quebec City, for the Festival du Cochon, a celebration of the pig, with tasty pork dishes, music, inflatable toys for the kids and booths with artisans' products for sale.
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