Québec is more than just a capital city – or a province – it’s a world apart.
It’s the home of poutine, Bonhomme Carnaval, the Montréal Canadiens hockey team, Céline Dion (when she’s not hanging out in Vegas), and Cirque du Soleil. So it’s no wonder that much of the world thinks of Québec when they think of Canadian culture.
As one of Canada’s oldest and most storied provinces, Québec is a place that is steeped in history, architecture, heritage and French-Canadian traditions that go back 375 years. Its capital city, Québec City, reflects its European roots with an historic centre surrounded by stone walls, narrow cobbled streets, and the castle-like appearance of the Chateau Frontenac, (arguably one of the most photographed hotels in the world.)
Certainly the residents of Québec (les Québécois) are proud of their uniqueness and heritage, and you’ll want to polish up your French, especially if you are travelling to some of the charming smaller communities. But it would be wrong to think that this province lives in its past. Modern culture is alive and well here, and no matter when you visit, you’re sure to find a festival celebrating music, comedy, food, sport, or the season itself.
Visitors to cosmopolitan Montréal will find a vibrant city with world-class gastronomy, fashion, boutique hotels, and a stunning geographic setting. Mont Tremblant is home to world-class ski hills and a hopping après-ski scene. And Gatineau, which sits across the river from the nation’s capital, Ottawa, boasts the architecturally impressive Canadian Museum of Civilization.
And if you are looking for nature and the great outdoors, Québec has more than enough to satisfy the most intrepid traveller with 1.6 million square kilometres to explore – and adventures to help fill every bucket list, from whale-watching excursions in the St. Lawrence river to salmon fishing at a remote fly-in lodge.
But the one thing that truly sets les Québécois apart from many of their more conservative countrymen is their joie de vivre. This passion for life may be the real reason why visitors to La Belle Province, including other Canadians, feel like they’ve experienced a world apart.
READ MORE ARTICLES ON WHAT TO SEE AND DO IN QUÉBEC:
A Grownup Getaway at Chalets Prunella in Outaouais, Québec
Getting out into the great outdoors seems to be a part of Canadians’ DNA. Yet not everyone has access to a summer home on a lake, and not everyone loves the idea of pitching a tent after a long road trip. This is why Chalets Prunella, in Outaouais, Québec, are the perfect solution. If a tiny home and a cottage had a baby, it would be one of these perfect little A-Frames, nestled in the trees on 75 acres of forest near Lac Johnson in Thorne, Québec, about an hour’s drive northwest of Ottawa. Even better than glamping, these little structures offer all of the comforts of a private cabin in the woods with boutique hotel luxuries, plus waterfront access to a beautiful lake only a short walk away. Better still, nature is right outside your door and slowing down isn’t just encouraged here, it’s practically mandatory.
Off the Beaten Path: 3 Quirky Places to Stay in Québec’s Eastern Townships
*Updated May 2022 to include new property* One of the benefits of exploring beyond the tourist hotspots is the opportunity to discover not just places that are authentic and less trafficked, but the chance to find unique or quirky places to stay. Québec’s Eastern Townships region prides itself on being ‘off the beaten path’, and what Henk and I discovered on a recent visit was that they offer accommodations that promise the same. And 3 of the places where we stayed gave us the opportunity to get close to nature, too.
Gaspé Road Trip: 12-day Itinerary Around the Peninsula
The Gaspé Peninsula is one of the best road trips you can take in Canada, not just for its impressive scenery and varied landscapes, but because this part of maritime Québec has a small-town charm and character all its own. But planning a Gaspé road trip can be daunting, especially if you want to see, well, everything! Here’s our 12-day Itinerary for a Gaspé road trip that starts in Rimouski and takes in all the major must-see stops as well as a few off-the-beaten-track gems as well.
