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When
to Travel to southern Quebec:
Best: May-Sept. Skiing, Dec-March. OK: Skiing, Nov-May.
Worst: Oct-March unless for winter sports. As always, in
July/August crowds & prices will be up.
North
Quebec? Wild and icy!
Quebec is Canada's largest province and resolutely French. Some of Canada's
best wintersports can be found in Quebec and their cuisine, culture
and joie de vivre are famously rich and invigorating.
Montreal's old town [vielle ville], Quebec
[South] Quebec's main attractions:
Montreal:
The essence of Montreal is not specific attractions but a superbly
relaxed general ambience. Second only to Paris, France, in numbers
of French speaking people, Montreal is a lively, bilingual, multi-cultural
city surrounded by rivers but untouched by the narrow-minded nationalism
visible in Quebec City.
Canada's second largest city, Montreal is architecturally Europe
meets New York, especially in the old quarter, and littered with
European immigrants and their cuisine too.
North Americans seeking a quick and easy French experience would
do well to travel here or to Quebec City.
No, not everywhere in Canada has low-traffic roads. This is a Montreal rush-hour.
Activities in/around
Montreal:
Wintersports: lots of cross-country
ski areas, snowshoeing areas, toboggan runs and alpine ski slopes
not far away.
Skating: very big in this city of champion
ice hockey teams. There are around 200 open-air rinks in the city.
Walks/hikes: Plenty of these too when
weather permits.
Jogging: Many paved trails.
Biking: Montreal has a network of around
100 miles of dedicated bike trails. Rentals available.
In-line skaters [roller blades]: Popular,
especially in Vieux-Port area. Rental available.
Quebec City, overseen by Frontenac Castle
Quebec
City:
An historic walled city [founded in 1608] in a stunning cliff location,
Quebec City is the capital of the province and another fine European
substitute. The old town's cobbled streets, picturesque Frontenac Castle and ancient houses are
evocative of a distant Canada and eminently walkable, with charming
cafés and sophisticated, francophile locals.
Quebec City - Canada's most romantic urban destination?
Activities in/around
Quebec City:
Downhill and Cross-country skiing: numerous good slopes/trails less than one hour from Quebec City;
many skiers like to commute from the city.
Skating: many long circuits all around,
some free. Oct-March.
Biking: Excellent trails in and around
the city, some of the best in Canada. Rentals available.
Montreal has 400 miles of bike and skate paths.
Getting up close and personal with wildlife on Iles-de-la-Madeleine.
Iles-de-la-Madeleine:
a remote group of inhabited islands in eastern Canada's Gulf of
St Lawrence, good for fishing, bird watching in spring and autumn
and seal watching most of the time.
Montreal Festivals:
Some festivals are not yet confirmed, so please
check before you book.
Jan/Feb, weekends only, La Fete des Nieges [Snow Festival], Montreal,
dominated by a huge and labyrinthine snow castle.
June, Montreal Fringe Festival, a lively international theatre event.
June - July, Montreal International Jazz Festival.
July, Just For Laughs, Montreal, a world comedy festival.
Aug, Montreal Pride, a huge performing arts festival, gay, but not
exclusively so. Free concerts, shows, parties conferences and more.
Another fine day in Montreal, Quebec.
Quebec
City Festivals:
Jan - Feb, Quebec City, Carnaval de Québec, a vigorous 10
day celebration of parades, themed parties, ice sculptures and,
bien sur, winter sports of every description.
July, Festival d'Eté International, two weeks of all kinds
of music, much of it free.
End July-early Aug, Quebec Musical Firework Competition.
For
some more precise dates see: English
Speaking Festivals
BC
& Alberta
| Ontario | Manitoba/Saskatchewan /The North
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