Bonjour! Did you know that Quebec City is one of the oldest European settlements in North America. While many of the major cities in Mexico date from the sixteenth century, among cities in Canada and the U.S.A., few were created earlier than Quebec City.
Quebec city holds so much history that is all pristinely kept and handed down for generations to come. They are very proud of their city, their heritage and this stands out in the way their city is showcased.
As part of our Motorhome tour around Eastern Canada, city tours on luxury buses are pre-arranged. It is great to sit back and relax and let someone else do the driving for the day. Our guide in Quebec is brilliant. She knows her history exceptionally well and is a joy to have on the bus. Not to mention her addictive personality and brilliant french accent.
We start our tour in the ‘old town’ of Quebec City where one of the most famous art pieces rests amongst cobblestoned streets and century old buildings.
We take in sights of summer but are constantly reminded that this city and the waterways around it provide one of the biggest ice skating rinks during winter.
The city of Quebec is alive with an abundance of culture, history, great shopping and fantastic eateries. During the afternoon we get to sample these shops and eateries as part of 2 hour free time but not before visiting the stunning Chateau Frontenac as she sits high a top the city of Quebec with her beauty radiating for the entire city to see. I have been here three times before, but each and every time her beauty knocks you, and you find yourself just standing and gazing in utter awe.
After hitting the road and bidding farewell to Quebec we stumble across an amazing Wildlife Park just before we arrive in Montreal, as we follow the enormous St Lawrence River down.
The Parc Omega is located in Montebello. This is like no other wildlife park I have ever been to! It is here that you drive your own Motorhome around the 12km track to see an amazing variety of native wild animals, in their natural habitat. Along the track are lakes, meadows, small valleys, forests and rocky hills. It is home to an enormous amount of local wildlife including deer, elk, goats, all coming to your motorhome window for a carrot! (Remember to grab a bag of carrots from reception as you enter)
The goats roam free and are very cunning and cheeky when it comes to getting their carrots! There are bison, moose, lots of black bears, arctic wolves, coyotes and moose. Keep your eyes peeled at all times, as the Caribou aren’t too fond of the carrots so they wont come to you. If you don’t want to take your Motorhome inside the grounds, there are also bus tours available but I would highly recommend taking yours in and doing the drive yourself. It is brilliant how you are able to get so close to these animals and of course take some fantastic photographs.
You can spend as little or as long as you like here, we took 3 hours but could have honestly stayed longer. You can not possibly get any closer to these animals!
Throughout our entire Eastern Canada trip we have stayed in the KOA Holiday Parks. They cater for absolutely everyone, especially the kids. They have all been in fantastic locations with all services and amenities you will need.
Next stop is Montreal! Montreal has an atmosphere all its own. Its super friendly people and the French romance that is constantly in the air is a lively blend of all things English and French, flavoured by the rich Canadian setting.
Nearly 3 million people call Montreal home. Montreal sits on an island roughly 40km long and 15km wide, where the Ottawa River flows into the mighty St Lawrence River.
The Notre Dame Basilica was the highlight of Montreal, built in 1829 it overflows with elegance and charm. It is big enough to hold 5000 people and has the most amazing interior. This again is a place that you can waste many hours reading all the information, lighting rememberance candles and taking a tour of both chapels.
From the Notre Dame Basilica to the horse drawn carriages, Montreal is a living breathing French metropolis and a city you will not forget anytime soon. It is high on my “sea change” list so lets see what the next few years bring us.
As in Quebec City, Montreal’s first language is French however everyone can speak English too. You really do feel as though you are in France! AuRevoir!
Travel Tips:
*Feel free to travel to Quebec City and Montreal in either Winter or Summer, as both times of year provide such a vast difference.
*Ensure you stay in each city at least 4 days to get a real feel for their French Metropolitan offerings.
Fast Facts:
- Quebec City is famous for their festivals especially with Winter Festival which has skiing, huge ice sculptures and even an ice castle!
- Montreal is holds an annual Jazz Festival and the Montreal International Fireworks Festival which are both the biggest of their kinds in the world!
- Montreal is the largest French speaking city in the world after Paris.
