So far our stay in Québec City has been absolutely wonderful. It really is amazing to be in an area that makes Christmas time feel so magical.
The Christmas stalls, the way every doorway seems to be decorated, the really, really nice shops. {And I’m not even much of a shopper!} It’s all so perfect.
I want to take a picture of every store front… They’re all decorated so differently. This Christmas shop has probably been my favorite so far.
I could totally live here, or at least come for an extended vacation every year. I feel like we have barely scratched the surface since we’ve been here.
We parked the car at the hotel and haven’t taken it out once. And why would we? Everything is within walking distance.
More window pictures.
I could take pictures of window box ideas all day long.
I could also survive on tea and pastries. 😉 Check out this lemon tart with a crust on both the top and bottom. That’s a first. {It was delicious in case you were wondering.}
I think moccasins might be making a comeback. Did you have a pair of those when you were a teenager? I did. I had pink ones.
The HH and I have noticed nice shoe shops seem to be very popular here. They are so different from the ones in the US. Lot’s of colored leather. I almost bought a pair of mustard colored boots yesterday.
I resisted though, I have enough boots.
I haven’t found a souvenir to bring back yet.
There was a pretty pink scalloped plate I saw in a shop called 3 Poules yesterday that I wanted to buy… I thought it would make a nice “cookie” plate. But who buys just one plate?
Maybe I’ll go back. I’ve got to come home with more than a suitcase full of cheese, right?
We also visited the Cathedral-Basilica of Notre-Dame de Québec. It was gorgeous. And probably my favorite cathedral in recent memory. Very peaceful. Very calm.
The funicular. It’s on our list for today. It’s pretty hilly around here, but in a way that has been a good thing. You know, walking off all the food, so we can eat more. 😉
At $5 CAD per person each way I think it’s sort of a deal for those that don’t want to make the icy walk down the hill {and back up again!}.
The one thing I feel like we’re missing out on though, is the toboggan slide. It doesn’t open until Friday. I told the HH we should come back a little later in the season and go for a ride. 😉
He thinks I’m crazy.
I am in LOVE with Québec City!!! This has been a wonderful trip!!!
If you haven’t been and are thinking about it… GO!!! You’ll be so glad you did!
Have a great day everyone,
~Mavis
Connie Lewis says
Magical. Have you been to Lake Louise/Banff National Park?
Heard it is wonderful and great hotel.
Peg says
Lake Louise/Banff/Columbia Ice Fields are wonderful! Many years ago, an older couple basically adopted our 2 young children (almost 3 and 10 months) as their grandchildren because they didn’t live anywhere near theirs. Those same young children are now 38 and almost 36. We took many wonderful trips together, and one of them was to Lake Louise/Banff/Columbia Ice Fields.
Mary G says
It looks lovely! You’ve convinced me that my husband and I must visit. I’m not sure what time of year would be best, though maybe not summer. I think it would make a nice anniversary trip. Thanks for taking time out of your trip to share!
Cathy D says
We were there in October and wish we were there for Christmas. We stayed at the Clarendon, such a lovely hotel. They took our car and we didn’t see it again until we left, it is such an easy walking village. I loved window shopping beautiful the clothes!
It is 5 hours for us from Central NH I would love to figure out if we could take the train in some how.
PS I was in Maine last weekend for the prelude with a friend and went by your house. It looked very festive!
Sue R. says
RE: souvenir to bring back–when we travel, the souvenir we bring back is a watercolor print of the area. Small, flat and easy to transport. We’ve found them in various places (book shop, gift shop) or even online after we return. We have a lovely “travel wall” that brings back memories and sparks lots of great conversations with guests. My favorite may be when our son was working in Mongolia and a young person he knew painted a Mongolian countryside scene for us!
Andrea says
Lovely idea!
Melissa A Schulze says
My oldest grandson lived in Mongolia for 2 years and their whole family went this summer. What an amazing country.
Sue R. says
We thoroughly enjoyed our visit there. Our son and family were in Mongolia for almost seven years and have wonderful memories.
Lori says
That does look like a wonderful place to visit.
Andrea says
Thank you for sharing your trip with us – I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it!
sandy says
A bit out of town is an Ice Hotel. Quite fun, and an adventure. But Quebec City is a destination all of its own. I hope the carolers are preforming at the hotel, and hot drinks in the lobby. Such a treat. Awe-I miss it-but it is brutally cold!
sandy says
PS: Davids Tea brand is sold there and has a good cream Earl Grey
Bon Appetit’
James Rancourt says
I love Quebec. Joseph Rancourt immigrated there from Rancourt, France in 1641. All the Rancourt’s in North America are descended from him. 😀
Elisabeth says
Fantastic place! I’ve been in June & September, and both were gorgeous. You might want to get in the car to visit Ile d’Orlean, just across the bridge. It might be closed up for the winter, but it was idyllic in summer & fall. Enjoy!
GrannyB says
You have had some amazing looking pastries. Does a box full of them count as a souvenir? Haha
Carrie Valentin says
How wonderful looking for the Christmas season! I am looking for vacation destinations for next summer and Quebec made it on the list. So glad you had fun and I loved the vicarious vacation I got to take!
PA grandmother says
The museum is very interesting and worthwhile. Some of the exhibits kept talking about “the conquest” (which I would identify as the Norman Conquest in 1066), But no — they meant what I would call the French and Indian War or the Seven Years War. So the conquest was by the English over the French. This is a time that still lives in infamy for the Quebecois.
Also take the ferry across the St. Lawrence River and then back for water views of the city.
Cecile says
So when you come in the summer you must take a trip to the Beaupre’ coast if you like cathedrals. St Anne’s is there and while the cathedral is gorgeous the basement chapel is STUNNING!! It would make the movie Frozen look pittiful! It’s done in white and blue 1″ tile work! Many of the tiles have pearlescent effects which catch the light and just make the place enchanting! You should also see if you can get into an English speaking tour of Old Quebec, the one photo you took where you’re looking down the street from the second level I believe was the street used for taking cattle to the market on the lower level. It was easier to take them there alive but once they got to the stairs they would ‘encourage’ the cattle over the stairs for meat sales. Lots of history there…just don’t waste your time at the Plains of Abraham, it’s a soccer field/park! lol Glad you took the funicular, specially at night!