Quebec City is a picturesque city. The Vieux-Quebec area (Old Quebec) is a must go.
Our first visit to Old Quebec was in the late morning with the plan to start from near Rue du Petit Champlain and walk our way up to the Chateau Frontenac. The narrow streets, lined with cafes, restaurants, coffee shops and quaint shops, offered a lot for us to explore. Each street made an attraction on its own. We probably have repeated a few streets, and felt totally at ease of getting lost in the relaxing stroll. We felt a good vibe of art and culture. Lunch-time, we randomly picked a restaurant, along the street decorated with umbrellas above. Their onion soup, poutines and other dishes did not disappoint. It was as if there could be no bad restaurants in the area, only crowded and more crowded restaurants. The after-lunch coffee at La Maison Smith, a popular chain store in the area, tasted better than Starbuck coffee. There were a few hundred steps to climb to reach the Cap Diamant and more steps to reach the Chateau Frontenac. It was a good climb. We were tired but not exhausted. We could have made stops at coffee shops with mouth-watering bakeries, cafes, and ice cream (cream glacier) along the way. Uber was also convenient and cost less than 20 CAD between the more touristy areas. We ate at Chateau Frontenac for an early dinner. What could be more satisfying than the delicious dishes of mushroom ravioli, the goat cheese & spinach salad, the scallop and foie gras served at the magnificent Fairmont Chateau, alongside the sunset. It was also our daughter’s birthday. It felt perfect.
There is less crowd in the morning at Old Quebec. I started the next morning with the ferry ride from Quebec city to Levis. It was a 12-minute ferry ride. There was no need to fight the crowd. I could take as many pictures of Chateau Frontenac and Cap Diamant as I wish on the ferry. A quick disembarkation and embarkation, I was back to the same ferry heading back to Quebec city. Wandering around the street maze was more enjoyable in the early morning. If I were traveling alone, I could easily spend multiple days in Vieux-Quebec, starting the day on a ferry ride, wandering around the old town, checking out the arts and crafts, and then finding a quiet spot in a coffee shop to watch people and do some writing.
We joined a 90 minute cruise on the narrow channel of the Lawrence river to enjoy the Quebec City landscope. Most of the time, we were simply relaxing under the warm sun, on and off listening to the cruise guide telling some histories of the city. It was a nice way to learn more about the city. The cruise cost over 50 CAD, became rather expensive when compared to the 7.95 CAD round trip ferry ride between Quebec City and Levis. I would recommend fellow travelers to try the ferry ride.
Our airbnb was a few minutes from the Saint-Roch area. There are coffee shops, boutique shops, pubs and restaurants to hang out with friends. If you were around that area, it would be worth walking around.
Following our cruise guide’s recommendation, we took the 20 minute Uber ride to visit Montmorency falls in the morning before we left Quebec City. Our cruise guide told us that Montmorency Falls is 100 feet higher than Niagara Falls. Wasn’t it impressive? We arrived at the top of the Falls. Looking down and looking across, it was not that tall. After some Google searches, we discovered the Yosemite falls in California were ten times taller. A concrete-made suspension bridge provided a unique view of the top of the waterfall. I walked non-stop across the bridge with my acrophobia. I did not have the heart to watch the waterfall. There are 487 well constructed steps built along the hill with multiple pavilions providing an abundance of vista points to watch the waterfall at different heights. There is also the option of a cable car that takes you to the top and back. There are trains and buses taking groups of tourists. Nature may not have granted the grandeur to Montmorency Falls. The infrastructure and effort to make the fall accessible have shown admirable human prowess. The Montmorency made a great stop outside Quebec City.
Homelessness has become a global problem. It is a sad situation. In parks, on narrow alleys, or along main streets, we could find them. Quebec City is a beautiful city. It is safe. I recommend you stay in the bounds of the touristy areas. At night, it is more comfortable to spend time at your hotels or airbnb.
Next on the itinerary: New York City
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