Pack your bags and take a trip through time by exploring one of Canada’s most historic cities for your next holiday.
Québec City is bursting at the seams with culture, food and history, making a visit to this city an immersion into a fascinating past.
Upon arriving, you’ll want to take a walk in the centre of the old town, Vieux Québec. Where an aroma of fries topped with cheese melting underneath drizzled gravy wafts through the air from the nearby renowned snack bar, Saint-Jean.
As your feet crunch in the packed snow atop Petit-Champlain, an iconic cobbled street in the centre of the city, the fairy light strands flicker in the eyes of fellow shoppers popping in and out of the quaint boutiques that line the street.
Strolling up the steps towards the grand Chateau Frontenac, deafening laughter causes your eyes to dart to a hill near the boardwalk. The sounds of joy escalate as families zip down the tobogganing hill. Intrigued, you decide to give it a try.
Anticipation builds as you await your turn at the top of the hill.
It’s your turn!
Knuckles white as you clutch your toboggan, you take off down the hill as a cool breeze combs your hair while you navigate your sled until you come to a gradual stop at the bottom.
With the adrenaline pumping through your veins, you're eager to have another go. The tobogganing hill has been unique to Québec City since 1884 and once you get to experience the thrill, you’ll be happy you made the trip from Kelowna.
As your adrenaline settles, you find yourself strolling back into the centre of the town taken aback by the stunning European architecture that flaunts itself from every street and alleyway.
Approaching the limits of the old town, you are faced with a vast open space of snow. Hidden under it all, is the Plains of Abraham, the historic battleground where French troops where defeated by the British in the 1760s.
Even though this area might remind one of a sombre past of battles and confrontation, it now celebrates music festivals, markets and most importantly, the Carnaval de Quebec.
When the afternoon sun starts to dip behind the horizon, setting towards the west, it meets everyone back home in Kelowna, but as you're here in Québec, you decide to continue strolling through the Plains of Abraham until you cross paths with a large Ferris wheel. While the pods rotate through the cool air, you see families and couples taking in the breathtaking views of this city.
If you decide to take your vacation here in February, you can experience traditional maple taffy being made, and a place nearby where various teams participate in the annual canoe race through the Saint Lawrence River, braving the frozen ice chunks that stand in their way!
Don't worry, these icebergs aren’t big enough to sink your canoe.
The Québec City Winter Carnival boasts a wide variety of activities for the public to enjoy annually from February 7th until the 16th. Snow sculptors are etched into magnificent statues next to an ice rink where a triple axel suddenly catches your attention.
The crowds cheer at the skater dancing on the ice while sleigh rides are offered for a romantic evening tour.
The vibrancy and culture of Québec City can be seen through its ambiance and architecture, but also through the people that live here.
As you take in the activities of the carnival, your stomach starts to rumble.
Thankfully, the city offers a wide variety of places to eat, a traditional crepe with fresh lemon and sugar, will it be the poutine you smelt earlier or a viande fumee smoked meat sandwich?
Next, you could head to the impressive Montmorency falls just 15 minutes from the city centre and 24 minutes from the airport. You'll be blown away as the falls tower an astonishing 83 meters high!
Visit Île d'Orléans, one of the first parts of the province to be colonized by the French. The island offers a great area for a scenic walk and along the way, you can stop at the Cidrerie Verger Bilodeau for a nice hydrating beverage.
As you head over to your winter accommodation Hotel De Glace, you’ll find yourself sleeping in a seasonal wonder built out of ice!
The public can book a room with a uniquely designed theme and breathtaking sculptures. To your surprise, Hotel De Glace has indoor hot tubs and saunas inside this ice palace!
Are you ready to vacate the Okanagan for a quick trip to this winter wonderland?
Hop, skip and jump to this piece of Canadian history with WestJet or Air Canada from YLW, otherwise known as the Kelowna International Airport.
Bon Voyage!
As the 10th busiest airport in Canada, YLW’s total economic impact is 4,545 jobs and $789 million in total economic output to the province of British Columbia. Serving over 2 million passengers in 2019, YLW offers more than 70 daily non-stop commercial flights with nine airline partners. For more information, visit ylw.kelowna.ca.
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