Visited the Plaines d'Abraham on a cold February afternoon and it truly felt like stepping into a…read morewinter postcard. The park was peaceful and quiet, with a few brave souls out cross‑country skiing and practicing their downhill skills--such a classic Québec winter scene. We took the stairs down toward the river, and the view from the top was absolutely worth it. The St. Lawrence River looks stunning framed by all that snow and open sky. For anyone interested in the historical side of the Plains, it's probably best to return once the snow has melted so you can explore the grounds more fully. But for a serene winter walk and beautiful scenery, this place is magical.

it might be a hidden gem for you- one of the most scenic panoramic views of the region and notable…read morelandmarks, such as the Château Frontenac, Dufferin Terrace, and St. Lawrence River. There are two ways to get to Pierre-Dugua-De Mons Terrace. The first is to walk across Dufferin Terrace to the end of the wooden slide runs. The second is to walk up from Avenue Saint-Denis. Any photo you take at the terrace, no matter the season or the time of day, would be as pretty as a postcard. Go for a stroll along the walls of the Citadel located next to the terrace. The view here encompasses many of Quebec's famous sites: On the left, there is the eminent Chateau Frontenac, a luxury hotel built to attract visitors from around the world; in the center, there is the historic Quebec old town, a UNESCO world heritage site; and on the right is the St Lawrence river, dominating the landscape and dotted with the occasional cruise ship to bring people from far-flung lands into the city.

The Fortifications de Québec National Historic Site is one of the most significant pieces of Québec…read moreCity's history. Walk through the gates and upon the ramparts and take in the gorgeous views of Old Québec. The only fortified city north of Mexico, one cannot visit Québec City without admiring the fortified walls and ramparts which were the city's defensive system built between 1608 and 1871. Today, the fortifications of Québec consist of 4 gates, 3 Martello towers, the Citadelle, and 4.6 km of ramparts, complete with cannons, which encircle Old Québec's upper town. In the more than 300 years of its history, Québec has come to possess a variety of fortifications, all of which can be explored on an hour-long circular walk. The bastions, walls, towers, gates, and countless old cannons show how well the former French colony was protected. the four and a half kilometers of defensive ramparts on the west flank of the Old City were constructed of granite and sand, the only fortifications of this kind in North America. Numerous pieces of weaponry are a constant reminder of Québec's troubled past. There are 4 gates in this fortification (enter /exit from upper Quebec) 1. St. Jean Gate 2. Kent Gate 3. Prescott Gate 4. St Louis Gate

THE FORTIFICATIONS OF QUEBEC NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE IS A PARKS CANADA WONDER…read more Old Quebec is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that traces its origins back to the 1600s settlement founded by Samuel de Champlain. The Fortifications of Quebec National Historic Site includes the city walls, stone arch gates and buildings that were constructed to protect the city and defend the narrow strait of the St. Lawrence River. Highlights of the Fortifications include the Citadelle de Quebec and Artillery Park. Even if you are not a military history buff, you may encounter parts of the Fortifications during your vacation - such as passing under the Saint Louis Gate on your way to the Parliament Building and the Plains of Abraham. Parks Canada oversees the Fortifications and other designated historic sites and offers tours at sites such as the Citadelle. Confirm hours and fees - some activities and tours are only held during the summer high season.

Great visit to the citadelle. Sunny day, good for unhurried exploration…read more The guides speak English and French. We joined an English tour. They take you through the parts of the grounds you can visit, which is largely everything not being used as an administrative or lodging building. We had plenty of time to cover it all with the guide. Everything is obviously pristine. This military post never saw a day of action. No combat. No scars or wear. Didn't have the gore or spectres you psychologically touch and tip toe through, say, the blood stained halls of the Tower of London. Fantastic views of Quebec City. It was worth admission alone to walk the exterior walls and look down on the waterfront. We spent too much time watching the band. They were very cute, though not great musicians, parading through a very length marching pattern in full costume. Bless them And we then spent too much time waiting in line to take a picture next to a goat, their mascot. Why did we do both? Because of herd mentality. Everybody else stayed. We were being polite. Then we spent too much time in the self-guided museum. Very few displays made sense to us. No baseline French comprehension We could have easily gained 2-3 hours of time back from the band, goat and museum visit. So if you're in a hurry, feel free to power walk through these. Spend the time on the beautiful promenade instead!

Tour of the grounds, led by a very nice and well informed kid, was fine. Main reason we came was…read morefor the changing of the guard though...there was a very slight drizzle so they cancelled it.

This is the top parking lot for the Montmorency Falls. You'll be able to access the bridge and the…read morestairs to the bottom of the falls if you want to take the challenge of walking back up the steps to the top. I think there's about 400 plus steps one way. I would recommend you come here after 5pm when the parking attendants are gone so that you don't have to pay to get in. We made the mistake of parking at the bottom lot, not knowing about this upper lot until later when I ddi some more digging on Yelp that this one existed. We had to pay about $13.50 pp. If you come here after 5pm, you'll have very nice sunset/night shots of the waterfall and anything below.

Review for the Montmorency Falls and park area. You can…read morespend as little as an hour to see the falls, browse the gift shop amd walk around a little. You can also spend a half day taking your time sitting to enjoy views, having lunch and experiencing cable car or zip line. Kind of nice depending on your schedule to have the flexibility without feeling FOMO. We stayed about 2 hours, plenty of time to explore the Manor, soak in some views and do about half of the big stair case. Late May the zip line and cable car was busy. Zip line looked fun but would eat up a lot of time, especially the back and forth from one side of the gorge to the other for equipment. Not the most efficient setup. Entry fee is super confusing, the info online is not consistent. We took an Uber to the gate and were charged an entry fee, like $20 per person. However others in the park and our Uber driver said it was always free. Not sure if it's a resident thing or admission changed over last year or so. Worth a visit, I'd recommend a couple hours and using the rest of your time at Quebec City depending on your timeline.

Excellent regional museum about the historic boat trade on the island. Good displays and a…read morewonderful row boat shop along with a charming audio tour available at the Boutique make this a wonderful stop.

A very pretty location with a rich history. I was able to find a manual band saw on display and…read moretook a photograph for my father who is a hobby carpenter. The little forest walk is peaceful. I am curious to know if there are further cultural artifacts in the lofted area of the workshop. The town should invest more funds to repair and preserve this site.

The museum exhibits themselves aren't anything to write home about, but the admission fee is worth…read moreit if you are able to join one of the tours. Only two other people joined the tour with me and sister, so it was essentially a private tour. Score! What makes the tour unique is that it takes you throughout the seminary grounds, rather than showing you stuff in the museum itself. The tour takes you to multiple buildings and up and down stairs, so if you have any accessibility requests, let the front desk know beforehand so they can check if the elevators in some of the older buildings are functioning. If you have an interest in architecture, history, or religion, you'll enjoy this tour! Definitely recommend this museum if you're able to make it on one of their tours. 3.75

Despite its location in a busy and touristy area, the museum was quite empty when I went on a…read moreweekday afternoon in the summer. I took a guided tour, where I had the chance to walk through the seminary of Quebec and other special access places that are typically closed to the public. Definitely take the guided tour if you'll be visiting this museum because it's pretty cool and a lot more fun than the exhibits inside the museum. Get your money's worth! :) Since there were only two other people besides me and my sister on the tour, it was basically like a private tour. Call the museum beforehand to check when the tour hours are. Each tour takes 1.5-2 hours since you'll be walking around to different sites. The tour ends back inside the museum, but not at the main entrance where the tour started, so I was confused and found myself lost when trying to exit the museum back into the busy streets. The exhibits inside the actual museum building are pretty standard and in my opinion somewhat dry. However, they are quite educational and the exhibit "On the Road" explains the migration of the francophones (French-speakers). There are other exhibits as well such as "Mutations" that show some interesting art pieces.

The National Assembly Square is a beautifully landscaped free public lawn and garden area…read moresurrounding the Parliament building. It's really well designed and maintained, with paths, places to sit, a fountain, flower beds, statues and monuments. In the summer Quebec has a huge outdoor music festival and bands perform on the stage here. At the end of the year bands give free concerts here for the Toboggan Festival. It's a lot of fun!

This is the tourist center in Québec, both for the history and the modern-day ambiance that comes…read morewith the restaurants, patios, and shops that now fill the historic structures. Place-Royale is widely considered to be the birthplace of the French colony and French North America. It stands on the site of Québec's actual foundation, the spot where, in 1608, Samuel de Champlain erected a fur trading post that soon grew into the capital of French America. Named in honor of Louis XIV whose bust adorns it, Place Royale is the largest surviving ensemble of 17th- and 18th-century buildings in North America. During the 17th and 18th centuries, this area of Old Québec acted as the French colony's center of business and industry, supporting a thriving marketplace and housing many wealthy merchants. While exploring this quaint area, you'll come across several notable tributes to its French Colonial past, like- - including a striking bust of Louis XIV (one of France's most famous kings), - the Église Notre-Dame-des-Victoires, the oldest stone church in North America, - as well as the Fresque des Québécois, which illustrates 400 years of the city's history. In summer, the area is home to outdoor dining areas. In winter, the snow transforms the old streets and stone buildings into a postcard-perfect scene. This is a beautiful area to wander through in the day or evening and at any time of year. Restroom: if you need one, there is a very clean and spacious restroom right there at the square. Just beside the cafe [Café La Maison Smith Notre-Dame], it's there. see attached photo.

CRADLE OF NORTH AMERICA…read more We visited Place Royale during our stroll through the Basse Ville section of Old Quebec. Known as the cradle of North America, Place Royale marks the location of the French settlement founded by Samuel de Champlain. The cobblestone square is surrounded by historic stone buildings that date back to the 1700 -1800s and were extensively restored in the 1980s. In the center of Place Royale is a bust of King Louis XIV - we later learned that the bust is a 1920s replacement of the original bust that was destroyed in a 1700s fire. Also marking Place Royale is Notre Dame des Victoires, one of the oldest stone churches in North America. We were surprised that the church was not open during our recent visit - we didn't know that after the Canada Labour Day weekend, visitor hours are shortened. We were also told that during the winter, the church is then only open on Sunday. Confirm hours before your visit. History is everywhere in Old Quebec and even plays a part in Café Maison Smith, a popular eatery next to Notre Dame des Victoires. Apparently a family named Smith owned the building for over 100 years and the bakery chain's name, Maison Smith, is a nod to the building's historical past. For a jolt forward to the present modern day, visit the EXMURO Public Art Area, a modern art gallery (free admission) that is also located on the square. The art gallery features thought-provoking installations that may push visitors out of their comfort zones. Movie Trivia: Place Royale was used as a movie location for the movie Catch Me If You Can. It stood in for a French town where Tom Hanks arrested Leonardo diCaprio.