Enjoy the holidays in the most charming city-by-the-sea, Quebec. Visit Notre Dame Cathedral for the famous light show, stroll through the Baie-Saint-Paul and sample all the galleries, boutiques and cafes. Gazing at the lovely Fairmont Château Frontenac, adorned with lights, this Canadian winter wonderland will simply cast a spell on you.
Day 1: Arrive Montreal, Quebec
Your tour begins in the second largest French-speaking city in the world, Montreal. Arrive at the lovely Fairmont Queen Elizabeth, your home while in Montreal.
Day 2: Montreal
Today enjoy a fantastic sightseeing tour of Montreal, highlighting Notre Dame Cathedral, St. Joseph’s Oratory, Jacques Cartier Square and McGill University. The city tour concludes with a stop high atop Mount Royal to behold the panoramic view of the city. Enjoy some time to explore some of the local arts and crafts at the popular marketplace, Bonaventure. This evening you will be treated to dinner in one of the restaurants for which this great city is famous. Afterwards, visit Notre Dame Cathedral for the famous light show where you will learn about the cathedral's history and the impact it has made on the city.
Today breakfast and dinner are included.
Day 3: Montréal - Charlevoix
Leave Montreal behind and travel north through the province of Quebec to view Montmorency Falls, the highest falls in Eastern Canada. Next, visit the shrine of St. Anne de Beaupre and take some time to stroll the beautiful grounds. Quebec province is known for its agricultural history and rich culinary heritage. Begin your own exploration with a visit to Musee de l'abeille, the ECONOMUSEUM of honey. An exhibition shows you how people from early times gathered and used honey, and how beekeeping has changed through the ages. See bees at work in glass enclosed hives, and sample mead produced on-site. Continue your journey to the Charlevoix region, passing mountains rolling into verdant valleys along the banks of the mighty St. Lawrence River. Arrive at the incomparable Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu which is beautifully decorated for the holidays! Tonight you may want to try your luck at the Casino adjacent to your hotel.
Today breakfast and dinner are included.
Day 4: Charlevoix
Awake to the stunning panorama of your hotel. From the summit of Pointe-au-Pic cliff, Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu towers majestically over the estuary of the St. Lawrence River. After breakfast, depart your hotel for a day of exploration in the Charlevoix region, renowned as much for its hospitality as for the landscapes which have won the hearts of painters, poets, writers and musicians for hundreds of years. A visit to the ECONOMUSEUM Laiterie Charlevoix shows you first hand how they turn milk into cheese, and teaches you the steps and secrets of cheese making! You even get to sample some of their products, among the best in the region, at a special cheese tasting! Next, visit Baie-Saint-Paul, nestled along the banks of the St. Lawrence. One of the oldest towns in Quebec, it boasts two-hundred-year-old houses in the traditional Quebec style, countless art galleries and fascinating craft boutiques, interspersed with quaint terraces and pleasant cafes. Time at leisure allows you to explore this absolutely charming town at your own pace. A short ferry ride brings you to L'isle-aux-Coudres, an island in the St. Lawrence with a rich history and friendly inhabitants. A visit to the ECONOMUSEUM Verger Pedneault teaches you about the history of apples and techniques of harvesting and production that result in the unique products at this award-winning orchard, including apple butter, jams, hard cider and iced wines. Yet another ECONOMUSEUM on the island boasts an 1825 watermill and an 1836 windmill, both beautifully restored. While at Les Moulins de l'isle-aux-Coudres visit the mills, the miller's house, and see up-close the old way of grinding wheat with authentic grindstones. Return to the mainland and Manoir Richelieu where the evening is yours to do as you please. Perhaps you will try your luck at the fabulous Casino de Charlevoix, right on the grounds of your hotel!
Today breakfast is included.
Day 5: Charlevoix - Quebec City
Today you travel to the charming, European-style city of Quebec. Upon arrival experience the beauty and history of both Old and New Quebec with a fascinating sightseeing tour. Your tour includes the parliament, the St. Louis Arch and ends at Place Royale, the site of the original settlement of the city of Quebec, set inside the old walled city. Later, arrive for your stay at the famous Fairmont Château Frontenac, set high on a bluff overlooking the mighty St. Lawrence River in historic Old Quebec, a UNESCO world heritage site! This breathtaking hotel is even more magnificent this time of year, as holiday lights and decorations set it off at its absolute best!
Today breakfast is included.
Day 6: Quebec City This morning enjoy breakfast at a local sugar shack nestled in the Quebec countryside. Learn about the traditions of maple syrup making and enjoy sampling many delicious traditional foods made with local maple syrup. Before leaving, try a favorite regional treat - maple taffy in the snow!! Later, enjoy some leisure time to explore this beautiful city on our own. Enjoy walking along the narrow cobblestone streets of Old Quebec and looking through the many quaint shops and galleries around your hotel, or perhaps take one of the horse drawn carriage rides the city is famous for. Tonight's dinner is included at a quintessential restaurant in Quebec.
Today breakfast and dinner are included.
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Day 7: Quebec City - Montreal - Tour Ends
Depart the province of Quebec with fond memories of your holiday vacation. Your tour ends at the Montreal airport.
Today breakfast is included.
Includes:
9 Meals:
6 Breakfasts, 0 Lunches, 3 Dinners.
Hotel Information:
Fairmont Queen Elizabeth, Montreal
Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu, Charlevoix
Fairmont Chateau Frontenac, Quebec City
On some dates alternate hotels may be used.
Departure Date:
November 30, 2007
Price
From approx $1,149 US per person based on double occupancy
