QUEBEC, "THE BEAUTIFUL PROVINCE"

QUEBEC CITY, "La Vieille Capitale"

BY CLAY LARROY

Regardless of whether you are traveling to a nearby location for the weekend or taking a week-long destination vacation, you are always going to benefit from some tips and ideas on how to make the whole process, more fun and less stressful. Take time each day to alleviate stress while traveling or vacationing and you will thank yourself for it when you get back home. With all the chaos, jet-lag, partying and other excitement of travel comes a whole lot of stress on your mind and body. By the time most vacations are over, another one is needed to recover so taking a few minutes each day to rejuvenate will make it easier for you to resume your normal life when it's all over. When you want to plan a vacation contact me!

Quebec City - the 'cradle of New France' and a UNESCO World Heritage site - is the most charming city in North America.

This is thanks to a centuries-old city wall that encircles a thicket of spires and a web of cobblestoned streets, charming bistros and horse-drawn calèches and a grand copper-roofed hotel that overlooks an historic river.

The walled Upper Town sits atop strategic Cap Diamant, overlooking the spot where the St Lawrence River narrows. Those narrows - known as the kebec to the original Algonquin inhabitants - gave the city its name.

At the foot of Cap Diamant lies Lower Town, where Samuel de Champlain founded the city in 1608. Today, visitors strolling around the restored Place Royale can easily imagine they're back in the 1600s.

Although nearly all of the city's present residents are of French descent, nearly a third are bilingual, offering a friendly, warm welcome to visitors in English, as well as in French. Their joie de vivre is infectious and never more so than during the summer festivals, when the whole town seems to be one continuous stage.

Getting Around

Public Transport

Quebec City's public buses are run by the Réseau de Transport de la Capitale (RTC) (tel: (418) 627 2511; www.rtcquebec.ca). Express Métrobus services run more frequently and link the central area of the city (usually via Place D'Youville) to the university area of Ste-Foy and the northern suburbs. Upper Town is linked to Lower Town by a privately run funicular (www.funiculaire-quebec.com).

RTC bus tickets can be bought from the driver or from newsagents and other outlets (cheaper option). Commuters can transfer from one bus to another at no extra cost, provided a transfer slip is obtained upon boarding the first bus. One-day passes are available.

During ski season, the Dupont Tours ski shuttle (tel: (418) 664 0460; www.fun2ski.com) departs from Old Town and links the city with Stoneham and Mont Sainte-Anne.

Taxis

Metered taxis are available from taxi ranks at major hotels or can be hailed on the street in Old Quebec and in areas where bars and restaurants are clustered. Taxi Québec (tel: (418) 525 8123) and Taxi Coop Québec (tel: (418) 525 5191) are the main firms in the city. A tip of 15% is customary.

Driving

Walking is the best way to see the sights in Quebec City, as motorists not only have to contend with narrow, twisting streets filled with pedestrians but also have to wait while horse-drawn calèches amble along. Motorcycles are not allowed in Old Quebec.

The most convenient parking lots around Old Town are located near the tourist office on avenue Wilfrid-Laurier, the Grande Allée and Porte St-Louis. Within the Old Town itself, there is parking below the Hôtel de Ville (City Hall) at the end of rue Saint-Jean.

Car Hire

Drivers must be over 21 and possess a national driving license and third-party liability insurance for property damage. An International Driving Permit is recommended, though not legally required. Car hire companies include Avis (tel: (418) 523 1075; www.avis.com), Budget (tel: (418) 692 3660; www.budget.ca) and Discount (tel: (418) 529 2811;www.discountcar.com).

Bike Hire

As part of the province's 'Green Route' (www.routeverte.com), two long-distance cycling paths pass through Quebec City, in addition to shorter paths and bike lanes for regular commuters. One links the Old Port with the Montmorency Falls, while the other branches off to the west, eventually linking up with a longer trail to one of the provincial parks. A recommended bicycle hire company is Cyclo Services, 289 rue Saint-Paul (tel: (418) 692 4052; www.cycloservices.net).

REFERENCE SITES:

http://www.travelresearchonline.com/

My quality of life here in Quebec City is extraordinary. 

Patrick Roy

 

Travel to experience memories that will last a lifetime!