Where do I even begin? Quebec City, Canada still is at the top of our list of favorite destinations traveled thus far. It was not a must-see place on our list initially, but now we tell everyone it’s a must go! We visited in January, 2018 in celebration of Tyler’s 30th birthday (for those wondering, yes before our little Hudson). It is known as the Worlds Snow Capital!
Often, a key difference between our destination picks is that I will typically always shoot for something “tropical”, while Tyler absolutely loves the snow and anywhere freezing. The colder the better. It’s was a surprise trip and we both couldn’t have been more excited to venture off! We took off work about 3 days and tacked on to a weekend, so we were in Quebec roughly 5 days with travel included.
At the time we were living in San Jose, California, so we took a flight from SFO to JFK, then a flight from JFK to Quebec City. We flew with United. The airport is very small in Quebec City, so it is very rare to find a direct flight unless you are coming directly from the east coast. I used Google Flights to track pricing on tickets. Tickets fluctuate depending on time of year, but we paid roughly $350 per ticket at the time. With the weather being between a high of 20 degrees and a low of 6 degrees, most people steer clear.
Quebec, Canada definitely delivered the cold weather, but also the most winter-wonderland magic! The most important thing to do when traveling to a cold destination is to have the right apparel. If you do, you can enjoy your time; however, without it you are destined to be miserable. (To learn more about our favorite winter gear, stay tuned for an upcoming post!)
I purposely planed our trip during Carnaval de Quebec, which is one of the oldest carnival’s in the world. It started in 1894! It is known for it’s incredible ice sculptures throughout the city, slides made out of ice, delicious maple syrup dessert and the famous Bonhomme character. What is so crazy is that unlike most festivals in the United States, the Carnaval de Quebec only cost about $15 per person! The city comes to life during this special occasion, with ice bars filling the streets (serving a local favorite Caribou), special programs/competitions throughout the city and families everywhere! To view the 2020 program line-up, click here.
I splurged a bit and we stayed at the Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac. It was an absolute dream of a hotel. It was the eye-catching, statement landmark of the city. It is known as one of the most picturesque hotels in the world. With its location being right in the heart of the city, it was easy to walk everywhere and it had the most beautiful views in every direction. The horse-drawn carriages also stop right outside the main entrance, so no need for a car! The rooms were quaint and charming, with most rooms offering views of the Lawrence river or downtown cityscape. The hotel offers a tour which is a must (even if you aren’t staying), because there is so much history throughout the hotel including a special room where WWII allies met for the Québec Conference(s). To learn more, click here.
Also, I can’t forget to highlight the FOOD. I mean, what an incredible foodie city. We heard from a local that there are more restaurants per capita in Quebec City than New York City! What?! Did I also mention they are known for Poutine….Tyler’s absolute favorite! It is a local favorite with a base of fries, coated in brown gravy and finished with cheese curds on the top. Heaven in a dish. If you have had it outside of Canada, particularly Quebec….I wouldn’t trust it. Since this trip we have tried lots of places (in some of the biggest US foodie cities) and can’t find a true authentic experience. If you know of a place, please let us know!
Favorite Local Restaurants:
- Queues de Castor Vieux Quebec | We tried dozens of places for poutine. This was hands-down our absolute favorite place! It is nothing fancy of a restaurant inside, more grab-and-go, but perfect to pick up and walk around Old Town.
- Charbon Steakhouse | If you are looking for a nice dinner during your stay, this is your place! Incredible food, I say food because everything from the bread to the steak was divine, and the ambiance was truly one-of-a-kind. It was not over-priced in the least bit, worth every penny…a must-go!
- Casse-Crepe Breton | The best crepes walking distance to the hotel. They make them right in front of you at the counter! Tight restaurant, so it would be difficult to maneuver a stroller…but totally worth checking out!
- Pub L’Oncle Antoine | Oldest pub in Quebec City, dating back to 17th Century. You feel you are in a wine cellar, with a cozy fireplace adding to the ambiance. Local beers and great French onion soup!
- 1608 Bar | This bar is located inside the hotel and has views overlooking the Lawrence river. Perfect place to enjoy a drink and charcuterie board after your hotel tour!
Favorite Local Attractions:
- Hotel de Glacé | One of two ice hotels in the world. A must-see! Incredible masterpiece, made entirely out of ice. You can stay overnight, but personally I wouldn’t want to stay in a sleeping bag in the freezing cold….but you can take a tour, enjoy an adult beverage at the ice bar and be on your way! We booked a package through the hotel to have a bus pick us up and take us. We opted for the smaller package, only 1.5hrs in length and I’m glad we did. Staying beyond that would be a bit much unless you were headed to the massive waterpark next door! (Side note: If you are looking for a destination wedding venue and the cold is your jam…every year they reconstruct a different wedding chapel design!)
- Old Town Quebec City | Words can not begin to describe how picturesque this area is. Buildings dating back to the 1600’s, with a beautiful stone church from 1688 right at the heart of the town square. Throughout the month of Carnaval de Quebec, the storefronts are elaborately decorated and have ice sculptures, life garland, etc. You feel you stepped into a dream! Don’t miss the opportunity to take the Funiculaire du Vieux Quebec from the upper part of the city down to Old Town. Not only is it a novelty, but offers incredible views of the Lawrence river and Old Town.
Crist Adventures 