Visiting Quebec

[sixwings]

I'm visiting Quebec in July, I have a conference in Montreal so my wife and I decided to make a trip of it. We are planning on flying in to Ottawa, spend a few days there (she really wants to tour the SC as she's a lawyer), then go to Montreal, and then go to Quebec City and fly home from there. The amount of time is flexible but considering 2-3 weeks. Any recommendations for the cities or surrounding areas? I'm looking at the eastern township cheese route, which seems awesome. I've been to QC before and LOVED it but it was for work so I only got to see a little bit of the city.

I'm really really excited about the trip!

[Metalcat]

I'm visiting Quebec in July, I have a conference in Montreal so my wife and I decided to make a trip of it. We are planning on flying in to Ottawa, spend a few days there (she really wants to tour the SC as she's a lawyer), then go to Montreal, and then go to Quebec City and fly home from there. The amount of time is flexible but considering 2-3 weeks. Any recommendations for the cities or surrounding areas? I'm looking at the eastern township cheese route, which seems awesome. I've been to QC before and LOVED it but it was for work so I only got to see a little bit of the city.

I'm really really excited about the trip!

The eastern townships are fantastic. I'm a huge fan of Au Diable Vert, and if you can get in for a tour, the St Agnes vineyard down the road is phenomenal to tour. The Saint Benoit monastery isn't far from there, and it's another favourite of mine.

[sixwings]

I'm visiting Quebec in July, I have a conference in Montreal so my wife and I decided to make a trip of it. We are planning on flying in to Ottawa, spend a few days there (she really wants to tour the SC as she's a lawyer), then go to Montreal, and then go to Quebec City and fly home from there. The amount of time is flexible but considering 2-3 weeks. Any recommendations for the cities or surrounding areas? I'm looking at the eastern township cheese route, which seems awesome. I've been to QC before and LOVED it but it was for work so I only got to see a little bit of the city.

I'm really really excited about the trip!

The eastern townships are fantastic. I'm a huge fan of Au Diable Vert, and if you can get in for a tour, the St Agnes vineyard down the road is phenomenal to tour. The Saint Benoit monastery isn't far from there, and it's another favourite of mine.

Awesome I've heard the monastery is awesome! I think a cheese tour is definitely needed. I was planning on taking the train from Montreal to QC but I may have to rent a car instead and spend a couple days eating cheese.

[Metalcat]

I'm visiting Quebec in July, I have a conference in Montreal so my wife and I decided to make a trip of it. We are planning on flying in to Ottawa, spend a few days there (she really wants to tour the SC as she's a lawyer), then go to Montreal, and then go to Quebec City and fly home from there. The amount of time is flexible but considering 2-3 weeks. Any recommendations for the cities or surrounding areas? I'm looking at the eastern township cheese route, which seems awesome. I've been to QC before and LOVED it but it was for work so I only got to see a little bit of the city.

I'm really really excited about the trip!

The eastern townships are fantastic. I'm a huge fan of Au Diable Vert, and if you can get in for a tour, the St Agnes vineyard down the road is phenomenal to tour. The Saint Benoit monastery isn't far from there, and it's another favourite of mine.

Awesome I've heard the monastery is awesome! I think a cheese tour is definitely needed. I was planning on taking the train from Montreal to QC but I may have to rent a car instead and spend a couple days eating cheese.

If you go out there, I STRONGLY recommend staying at Au Diable Vert, it's fucking spectacular.

[sixwings]

Oh their tree houses look so cool!

[Metalcat]

Oh their tree houses look so cool!

The whole place is amazing, and the VeloVolant is the only one on this continent, and it's so fucking cool, basically recumbent biking through the tree tops.

The Coaticook gorge is also worth checking out, the gorge itself is a beautiful short hike, but at night it's a whole hike through a light/art installation. Very, very cool. It's a good trek from Diable Vert, but if you want to tour around, it's worth the trip.

We did the eastern townships for our honeymoon and went back every anniversary for years until we bought our summer home in Newfoundland.

[Dee]

What great timing to come to Ottawa and see the Supreme Court of Canada. It's the 150th anniversary of the Court, and the building is slated for modernization soon (https://www.canada.ca/en/public-services-procurement/services/infrastructure-buildings/construction/supreme-court-canada-building-rehabilitation.html) so your timing for visiting couldn't be better.

Will you be renting a car?

Driving from Ottawa to Montreal is only about 2 hrs on the 417, but you could take a bit longer and get a scenic drive along the Ottawa River instead. A good stop if you want some cheese comparisons would be in Oka. Or head south from Ottawa and come on down to the St. Lawrence and drive along highway 2 to Montreal, and take in the visitors centre in Cornwall, Ont., if you're into feats of modern engineering, or transportation or waterways.

And once you're into the Eastern Townships, Douglass beach on lac Brome is extraordinary for a day at the beach.

As for Quebec City, yes, wonderful. I'm told it's worthwhile to go a little beyond and explore the Charlevoix region. Can't report directly because I haven't been yet but maybe I'll bump into you there this summer, because it's also on my travel list. 

[PoutineLover]

The old touristy parts of Montreal and Quebec are really beautiful to visit but super crowded and expensive to eat in. The plateau is a scenic neighbourhood to walk around and has lots of great restaurants.

Walking up Mont Royal is a must. Get bagels at Fairmont and st viateur and pick your favourite. Check festival schedules for your dates, there are often lots of free outdoor shows around place des arts.

Near Quebec city, Montmorency falls are pretty spectacular.
You probably don't need a car in Montreal itself, transit is pretty efficient and parking and traffic suck. People will generally be nicer to you if you try to greet them in French.

[uniwelder]

After Montmorency Falls, you can drive a little further east and do a short hike at Canyon Sainte Anne. It’s quite spectacular, with 3 suspension bridges that cross over the gorge at various areas.

[FLBiker]

Thank you all for this thread!  We did a short trip through Quebec last year (on our way to meet family in Niagara) and want to go back for a longer stay.

[Freedomin5]

Posting to follow. We are planning a trip to Montreal to cycle the “P’tit Train du Nord”. I’ve heard whale watching in the St. Lawrence River and also catching a Cirque du Soleil performance are also worthwhile.