Grab your honey and head to Quebec City for a romantic getaway that’ll make you feel like you’re miles away from home.
Here are Quebec City’s top 7 not-to-miss experiences:
Strolling the cobblestone streets
Forget the map and forget planning an itinerary. The best way to get lost in love is to get lost in the charming streets of Quebec City’s old town with that person you care about. The area isn’t huge, but you can literally spend hours strolling the streets, taking in the music from local street musicians, browsing the many shops, art studios, cafes and restaurants. A great place to stop is the Notre Dame de Victoires church in Place Royale, a historic Roman Catholic stone church built in the admirable colonial French style. Looking for a quick bite? Head to Le Petit Conchon Dingue. They make amazing sandwiches and to-die-for fresh desserts.
Browsing Le Petit Champlain
Strolling the quiet streets can be fun, but if you’re looking for a bit more buzz head to Quartier Petit Champlain, an area packed full with shops where 70% of the products are made in Quebec. This area is also the site of one of the many steep staircases in the city – the Breakneck stairs. Don’t let the name deter you from the mission, take a deep breath and climb to the top because you’ll be glad you did. Once you’ve caught your breath, take a look around and admire the great view of Petit Champlain below. There are some great spots to eat right on the stairs. But for a truly romantic (and truly French Canadian) experience, take a plate of poutine to go from Chez Ashton and head back to the top of the stairs after dark. The city will be lit up with a beautiful glow from the street lamps. I’m not quite sure which was more delicious – the uber-romantic night time scene or the squeaky fresh cheese curds on my poutine.
Visiting the Basilique Notre Dame
The Basilique Notre Dame, a primate church of Canada and seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Quebec, is the church of the oldest parish in North America. It is also the first church in North America to be granted the rank of minor basilica.The Neo-classic style facade of the church has been designed to resemble the church of Sainte-Geneviève in Paris, but the interior design has been modelled after St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City and includes rich gold leaf decoration with impressive art, stain glass windows, paintings and many other details including a chancel lamp given as a gift by Louis XIV.
Strolling through the garden at the Plains of Abraham
The Plains of Abraham are a historically significant site to Quebec city. Here, on September 13th, 1759 British troops defeated the French in a 30-minute late night battle which allowed the British to take control of the region and eventually of all of Canada. Walking around the area today, you would never guess that once a battle took place here. The grass is a lush green and with a walking track and plenty of benches around, the place looks more fit for a picnic than for warfare. You can plop yourself down anywhere on the grass but for a truly romantic experience, steal away to the little garden to the side of the grounds. With plenty of pretty lamp posts, flora and fauna all around you, here is a perfect place for a little kiss!
Spending a day at the Ile D’Orleans
Looking for an island getaway? You won’t find many sandy beaches here, but escaping to the Ile d’Orleans will make your stress level plummet down. Driving through the island with foliage all around you is beautiful at any time of the year. The island is packed full with local gems, so plan to stop along the way and take in the different areas of the island. If you like wine, head to Vignoble Ste-Petronille for an unforgettable wine experience. Choose any of their local specialties and sip on the patio with a view of the incredible Montmorency falls in the distance. For some great tasting apple cider and delectable maple butter, make a stop at Cidrerie Verger Bilodeau. You can admire the charcoal art on the ceiling as you take in your treats. And for an un-forgettable meal, head to Cassis Monna et Filles. Perched on the edge of a little hill, this little lunch spot has a great view from its patio. But you won’t be paying attention to that much once your food gets to the table. Fresh local ingredients comprise the menu with dishes like Warm goat-cheese salad with black currant. This was my most memorable meal of the whole trip! Looking for a place to sleep? Le Giron de L’Isle is a charming bed and breakfast located on a stunning waterfront setting.
Visiting the Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré
This church was originally built in 1876 to honour Saint Anne, the patron saint of Quebec, who is known to perform many miracles. The church received lots of visitors from around the world, and so the building was re-constructed a few times to accommodate the abundance of visitors. The present structure was completed in 1946 and is an architectural splendour. The Gothic inspired exterior, coupled with the opulent interior will take your breath away. Take a walk around and admire all the little details…from the floor mosaic, to the detailed design in the ceilings. You can feel the love and commitment that went into creating this breathtaking homage to a respected saint. The church is also the site of one of the few authorized, and perhaps the most accurate, replica of the Pieta sculpture originally carved by Michelangelo.
Spoil yourself with a stay at le Chateau Frontenac
The experience at the grand Chateau Frontenac starts the moment you walk through the doors – sparkling copper interior of the lobby, beautifully furnished sitting areas, and elegant wooden staircases will make you feel like you’ve entered a modern day castle. Take a tour around and you’ll be able to visit the stylish parlour and some of the formal dining rooms. There is also a rooftop herb garden where the hotel grows herbs for all their dishes and even a two-story copper chicken coop! And not to mention the splendid guest rooms containing the very finest chateau style furniture and loads of amenities including free ‘green’ parking for hybrid vehicles.
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