Before leaving Vermont, Brett and I decided we had to visit Quebec City. We had enjoyed Montreal but weren't as impressed as we had expected, mainly because it was so similar to many big US cities. However, we heard that Quebec City had a more European, historic, francophone flair and were eager to experience it for ourselves. We conveniently had a bedandbreakfast.com gift card. So, we looked up B&Bs that accepted the gift cards and planned a weekend getaway in Quebec City. Old QuebecThe place that all the tourists visit in Quebec City is Vieux Quebec, or Old Quebec, the historic, walled city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. So, Brett and I decided to explore VIeux Quebec as well. The streets were lined with adorable stone buildings and sidewalk cafes. Some of the shops in Old Quebec were more tourist-oriented, but Brett and I enjoyed walking through the streets, grabbing snacks, and looking at the various historic buildings. Sometimes, even though you know you're surrounded by tourists, it's fun to feel transported to a different time and place. Compared with Montreal, which felt more similar to large American cities, Quebec felt more like being in another country. Walking around the walled part of Old Quebec reminded me of being in a European city. We stumbled into a church-turned-library, and we climbed up the old wall, which provided a view of the old town. We wandered through the Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac, a beautiful and historic hotel on the top of the hill in Old Quebec, too luxurious for our budget but fun to see nonetheless. CantookOf course, Brett and I couldn't visit a new city without finding a coffee shop to try. We had looked up La Brulerie Cafe de Quebec, which had changed its name to Cantook Micro-Torrefaction literally days before we arrived. With the name change, we got a little lost, but ultimately found the small, cozy, wood-paneled shop in Old Quebec. It was on an adorable street of shops and restaurants though situated outside the historic city walls. Roasted coffee beans lined the wall behind the counter and big coffee roaster stood partially hidden in a back room. We ordered a Chemex for two and thoroughly enjoyed the coffee, as evidenced by the fact that we returned for coffee two more times on our trip (and bought a mug). Our experience at Cantook Micro-Torrefaction was a great example of why I love to visit coffee shops on our trips. As we traveled around the city, we had noticed buildings labeled CEGEP, and neither Brett nor I had any idea what CEGEP was. So, we started chatting with the baristas and asked them. They explained that CEGEP is part of the educational system, unique to Quebec, and is a college that students attend between high school and university. I enjoyed drinking my coffee while chatting with the baristas and learning more about the local customs and culture. Coffee shops in a city are a great way to explore the vibe of a city and interact with people who live and work in that place. Samuel-De Champlain PromenadeOn our way out of town, Brett and I drove along the St. Lawrence River and stopped for a lunch on the Samuel-de Champlain Promenade, a path that follows the river. All along the promenade, people were running, walking, biking, and taking advantage of this scenic path. On the pier is a cafe, an overlook, and a number of tables. We ordered food, then sat outside to enjoy the sunshine and views of the river. Auberge AmerikThe Bed and Breakfast that we found for our stay in Quebec was called Auberge Amerik, which we chose for the price and the fact that they accepted bedandbreakfast.com gift cards. The main pro of the B&B for us was the price, especially when compared with staying in a hotel closer to the old city. It wasn't as cheap as some hostels, but we were able to use our gift card, have money left over, and have a room to ourselves. The staff members that greeted us were extremely friendly and helpful, and our room was cute. However, the ceiling in our room had a leak, which caused a dripping sound all night that we tried to mask with towels on the floor. There was a gelato stand and a few restaurants within walking distance from Auberge Amerik. We definitely were not in a tourist bubble. The location made us feel like we were staying among people who actually lived and worked in Quebec City. We were also about 5 minutes by car from Third Avenue in La Cite-Limoilou, another neighborhood in Quebec featuring restaurants and old architecture. The major con of Auberge Amerik was our distance from the oldest, walled part of the city, meaning that we had to rely on our car and worry about paying for parking downtown. Still, since we had a car, this did not hinder our exploration of Quebec. One thing that we did not have time to take advantage of during our short weekend in Quebec City was the bike rental at Auberge Amerik. It is situated near multiple bike paths, and the hotel offers half and full-day bike rentals. We talked about renting bicycles and pedaling down to the Old Port along the St. Lawrence RIver, but we simply ran out of time during our visit. Brett and I both enjoyed visiting Quebec City, more so than our day-trip to Montreal. As I mentioned above, we enjoyed driving only 3.5 hours but feeling like we had entered a completely new place. There is much more to experience in the area - such as explore the quaint Ile d'Oleans, a mere 5 kilometers from Quebec City - but, for our quick weekend getaway, we stuck with the traditional Quebec City experiences. I was excited to have another opportunity to try out my rusty French, and we loved exploring this historic city, wandering through the twisted cobblestone streets at our leisure.
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AuthorMy name is Alyssa Good and I have a passion for travel, adventure, culture, and new experiences! I focus on budget friendly travel, trip planning resources, and seeking out new experiences. Archives
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