summer fun
bienvenue à Québec Do you believe in love at first sight? You will after a visit to magnifique Québec City By M.L. Ellen Percival; Photos courtesy of M.L. Ellen Percival (more photos online) Imagine the perfect summer holiday with historic charm, incredible cuisine, and the chance to experience a new culture – with the added appeal of being able to use Canadian currency, no border customs, no jet lag, and direct flights from Calgary International Airport (YYC)! Why not skip BC this summer and try Québec instead? Québec City and the surrounding towns and villages have European charm coupled with a rich history that is seldom experienced outside the continent. Wander down cobblestone streets and admire 400-year-old buildings that tell the city’s story; once representing the tensions between English and French control in their unique architectural styles, these same buildings are now occupied by charming boutiques and sidewalk cafes that are alive with French chatter. We planned a week to explore Québec City and the nearby beautiful Charlevoix region, but you could easily enjoy the area in four or five days. Air Canada’s brand new direct flight from YYC to Québec City’s Jean Lesage International Airport (YQB) made getting there quick and easy. With a gate-to-gate arrival of just over four hours, it would take you longer (and probably cost more, with gas prices) to get to the Okanagan! Navigating arrivals and departures at Québec City’s small, well-run airport was simple with plenty of car rental options right in the Arrivals area. Québec City While in Québec City, we stayed in the iconic jewel of the Fairmont crown, Le Château Frontenac. Steeped in history and exemplifying a timeless tradition of excellence and impeccable service, Le Château Frontenac has been a major landmark in the city since 1892 and is the world’s most photographed hotel. Recently renovated with over 600 rooms, a pool, spa, and many family-friendly and kid-approved activities, the whole family will love it. It’s a quick drive or taxi journey from the airport and is perfectly located within walking distance of everything you’ll want to see. The hotel offers many dining options from beautiful and unique spaces that feature cutting edge regional cuisine to elegant, thoughtfully designed lounges.The Place Dufferin restaurant offers an incredible buffet breakfast every morning that isn’t to be missed! With multiple options for every diner, you’ll be well fortified for your day exploring the city. On your first day in the city, we highly recommend a tour of Old Québec City. Tours Voir Québec
Old Québec City (toursvoirquebec.com) offer a variety of group, private and self-guided walking tours. This wonderful introduction to the Upper Town and Lower Town will help you get your bearings while you discover this UNESCO World Heritage Site’s culture, important landmarks, historic architecture and the major events that shaped Québec City’s early settlement. You’ll want to explore the many unique boutiques, shops and centuries-old buildings – including the Cathedral-Basilica of Notre-Dame de Québec. It was the first church in Canada, and one of the oldest in North America. Sister city to Calgary, Québec City is also rich with historic monuments, statues and plaques that honor the people who shaped the region’s history. For the history buff, the city is also home to a number of interpretive centers and museums, including the Musée de la civilisation (mcq.org/en). Located in the Lower Town of Old Québec, the museum is currently hosting Pompeii. The Immortal City until mid-September.
Bearspaw Aug 22 - 27
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This stunning installation includes over 120 artifacts and an unforgettable 360-degree experience that immerses guests in the daily life in Pompeii just before and during the moment of the volcanic eruption that buried the city beneath a blanket of ash and pumice. All that exploring will work up quite an appetite; we clocked over 20,000 steps the first day alone! Take a culinary journey through Québec City’s many neighborhood gourmet restaurants, bistros, cafes and craft breweries. You’ll discover traditional Québécois dishes rich with flavors from the region’s French and Indigenous roots and local farm-to-table options sure to satisfy the foodie. Here are a few of our favorites from this trip: • Located just a few blocks from Le Château Frontenac is Les Mordus (brasserielesmordus.com), a brasserie that specializes in a variety of fish and seafood dishes. It’s perfect for a light lunch, hearty dinner or weekend brunch. • We had an extraordinary dinner at Le Clan (restaurantleclan.com). There is a marked focus here on creating a place where you feel like family – an atmosphere that is comfortable and welcoming. The stunning small plates they create for their four- and six-course meals are fresh, complex and beautifully plated. Composed of fresh ingredients including salmon, walleye, scallops and highland beef, Le Clan creates a dining experience for the eyes as well as the taste buds. • You won’t want to miss enjoying a meal at La Bûche (restolabuche.com). This quirky restaurant offers a warm, welcoming and fun cabin-esque vibe. The ceilings are adorned with snowshoes and wood sleds; the picnic tables and raised family-style tables hint of a casual dining experience. They call themselves ‘the new sugar shack in Old Québec’, offering traditional cuisine with a modern twist. The menu is filled with pages of delicious offerings for diners of all ages. Hotel Musée Premières Nations We drove 25 minutes north from Québec City to visit Musée Huron-Wendat (museehuronwendat.ca) and were privileged to start our experience with a Wendat elder. She shared her expertise and time helping us create beautiful and meaningful beaded necklaces and interpreted our finished pieces for their deeper significance. From there, we spent time in the museum discovering and learning of the history of the Huron-Wendat
Capitol Hill July 11 - 15
Southwood July 25 - 29
Rutland Park Aug 8 - 12
