City Hike in Old Quebec

posted on : August 30, 2022 posted by : GNExplorer 0 Comment

Can exploring a hilly city count as exercise?

I recently planned a family trip to Quebec City that included my husband and I, our three adultish kids, one of their friends, a goldendoodle and two different vehicles. To be honest I had pre-trip jitters thinking about all the variables that could go wrong. Someone was bound to forget their passport. How was the goldendoodle going to do in the city? Would my rusty college French suffice? The last thing on my mind was fitting in exercise.

We arrived in Quebec City and checked into the Delta Hotel which is pet friendly for a $35 cleaning fee. The hotel seemed nice although maybe a little more geared to the business traveler but in a good location close to the old city and plenty of restaurants and bars. Eager to stretch our legs after the long car ride we took a big late afternoon walk around the area of our hotel and got our first glimpse of the old city and citadel.

That evening we strolled along Grande Allée and grabbed a casual bite at an outdoor restaurant patio that allowed our furry friend. After dinner we walked back towards Old Quebec to get a little night life despite being weary from the long car ride. Dufferin Terrace is where the action is with street performers and lots of ice cream shops.

The following morning, we took a short drive to Montmorency Falls. We pre-purchased tickets online for the tram to the top of the waterfall. Surprisingly, dogs are allowed on the tram, bridge and steps which was a perk. We could have taken the 487 steps up to the top of the falls, but we thought we would have too many objectors in our group especially on a hot, humid summer day. There are great views of the waterfall from the tram which drops you off at the top of the falls. We followed a short path to a suspension bridge that crossed directly over the falls which are 276 feet tall. The water was coursing rapidly over the falls, and we were all duly impressed.

The hike down the 487 steps allowed us to view the falls even more and marvel at the zipliners and rock climbers. It was an easy to moderate climb down, so we felt like we got in some exercise. The whole excursion took less than two hours which allowed us time to check out L’Ile d’Orleans, an easy drive from Montmorency.

Walking across the suspension bridge is a must do.

The best views of the falls are on the hike down.

L’Île d’Orléans is an island in the middle of the St. Lawrence River with stunning water views. We had a good lunch at a microbrewery. My husband was in heaven at the discovery of a smoked amber beer. We also checked out a vineyard that specialized in Cassis liqueurs and wines, and we sampled their sangria even getting the recipe. There are so many things to explore on this little island. Looking back, we stuck to mostly alcoholic places like microbreweries and vineyards, but there are all sorts of shops and farms to meander through. I would have liked to stop and pick berries at one of the many local places, but some heavy bands of thunder showers curtailed any such plan.

Our last full day in Quebec City we did a big old walking tour of Old Quebec. I would categorize this as a city hike. My Apple watch registered over 20,000 steps and the hills in Old Quebec are substantial, so in my book that day qualifies as an exercise win. Old Quebec is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for very good reason. Quebec is the only walled city to the north of Mexico. The walls, ramparts and gates take you back in time. The views from Dufferin Terrace of the Château Frontenac Hotel and the St. Lawrence River are magnificent. We enjoyed meandering through the streets of Petit-Champlain and stopping to take in Place Royale. The unique period architecture is a result of the French and British influences in Quebec City’s history. The Citadelle de Quebec is the biggest British fortress in North America. We skipped the museum in favor of exploring the walls and park area surrounding the Citadelle.

Petit-Champlain feels like you are in Europe.

Place Royale is an important slice of history and a beautiful spot in the city.

After so much walking we found a charming little French creperie near our hotel for dinner. We ordered a charcuterie board that included, meats, cheeses, smoked fish, olives, and cod croquettes; everything thing was delicious except one cheese was a little too stinky for some in our group. The crepes were all very inventive and filling; we toasted our last night in Quebec.

I am glad I was able to put my pre-trip jitters aside. Everything worked out and we had a terrific time exploring a place where none of us had been before. On our next trip to Canada, I would like to see some of the national parks and mountains that are plentiful, not to mention Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia. I’ll have to start planning again.

THINGS TO DO:

Montmorency Falls

https://www.sepaq.com/destinations/parc-chute-montmorency/

Old Quebec

https://www.quebec-cite.com/en/old-quebec-city

Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac- walk through the lobby and basement exhibits

https://www.fairmont.com/frontenac-quebec/?goto=fiche_hotel&code_hotel=A572&merchantid=seo-maps-FR-A572&sourceid=aw-cen&utm_medium=seo+maps&utm_source=google+Maps&utm_campaign=seo+maps%3Fgoto%3Dfiche_hotel&code_hotel=A572&merchantid=seo-maps-CA-A572&sourceid=aw-cen&utm_medium=seo+maps&utm_source=google+Maps&utm_campaign=seo+maps&y_source=1_MTIzNjE0MDAtNzE1LWxvY2F0aW9uLndlYnNpdGU%3D

RESTAURANTS:

Pub Le Mitan – Microbrewery on L’Ile d’Orleans with great views from their back deck