Québec by Road

Québec isn’t well advertised outside the region itself, but it’s definitely a road-tripper’s paradise as far as variety goes. The ultimate road-trip starts off from Québec City itself; hire a car from Discount Rentals and drive yourself down to the Charlevoix region. The drive itself is pretty straightforward, as there’s a motorway which literally runs straight along the length of Canada. Also, as Québec is so massive and sparse you really won’t hit much traffic which makes it all the easier for us Brits to drive on the right-hand side of the road. After driving for about 2 hours through rolling hills and forests (watch out for the moose!) you’ll hit Charlevoix and the highlight of eastern Québec: whale watching. Jumping on a zodiac is going to cost you about $45 but I promise it’s well worth the money. You’ll end up on essentially a rubber dingy, speeding along the Baie de Gaspé. Perhaps the most incredible thing about the entire experience is being able to see up to 7 species of whales in the wild, including belugas. I’d recommend doing this as a day trip from Québec City, as there’s

by Eleanor Williams

stunning views, and La Grand Allée for an authentic québécois night out. Just 15 minutes outside of the city centre, on the banks of the Saint-Lawrence lies Le Parc de la chute Montmorency. The park is ideal for experiencing the Canadian outdoors and is home to Québec’s tallest waterfall. Higher than Niagara Falls, Montmorency falls is really worth a visit. Park at the top of the falls and take the trail crossing the bridge down to the bottom for a leisurely walk or, for adrenaline seekers, there’s the option to zipline down. Either way you’ll get an incredible view of the falls. In my opinion, it’s worthwhile taking the $5 cable car back up to the top of the falls for another perspective.

definitely needs to be the ultimate fairy-tale city; Québec City itself. situated on the banks of the Saint Lawrence river, the Château de Frontenac hotel towers high above the city and it definitely makes you feel like you’ve been dropped into a Disney movie. It’s worthwhile walking down to the Vieux-Port and taking a stroll up the Petit Champlain which happens to be the most instagrammable street in the world. Obviously, when in Québec, poutine is also a must. Having spent most of my time in Canada meticulously trying every possible poutine joint, I can assure you that Frite Alors! just off l’Avenue Cartier is the best. Other things to do in the city itself include Les Plaines D’Abraham for some

The final stop on your road-trip should definitely be Québec’s most famous city: Montréal. Boasting the largest underground complex in the world, including the Eaton Centre, with over 175 shops, there really is something for everyone and it’s the perfect rainy-day plan. Above ground, the streets are somewhat reminiscent of Paris with an American twist, and the Notre-Dame Basilica is a perfect example of this. Just on the outskirts of Montréal are other highlights including La Ronde six flags theme park and the Biosphère museum.

This is by no means an exhaustive list of everything to do in Québec; there are always events and festivals going on, and new activities with each season, which gives you all the more reason to keep going back!