1. Visit the Notre-Dame de Québec Basillica-Cathedral. Step inside this historic church, first built in 1647, and prepare to be overwhelmed by its grandeur, history and beauty. The parish of Notre-Dame is the oldest in North America, and the Cathedral itself has been destroyed by fire twice over the centuries. Today, it boasts an unbelievably ornate interior featuring many precious works of art, including a chancel lamp that was a gift from Louis XIV.
2. Cruise the St. Lawrence River. From a leisurely nighttime cruise to a quick ferry ride across the river to neighbouring Levis to admire the Quebec City skyline, there are so many options available when it comes to boating in this city. Groupe Dufour (dufour.ca) offers a variety of river excursions, the most romantic of which is the Love-Boat Evening Cruise that clocks in at four hours and includes dinner and dancing under the beautiful Quebec stars.
3. Explore the Plains of Abraham. Know as Battlefields Park since 1908, this expansive urban park was the site of two historic battles, in 1759 and 1760, between the English and French armies. Today, it is one of the best places in the city to play outdoors—you can walk, bicycle or even cross-country ski this 108-hectare site, stopping along the way to check out the monuments and plaques throughout, detailing the history of the spot. In the summer months, it’s a great place to enjoy a romantic picnic pour deux.
4. Visit the Musée National des Beaux-Arts du Québec. Located in Battlefields Park, this gallery showcases the works of Quebec’s greatest artists including Jean-Paul Riopelle and Jean-Paul Lemieux. It also houses a stellar collection of Canadian, international and Inuit art. Large, specialty exhibitions are also known to make tour stops—in 2007 the gallery hosted “De Cranach à Monet,” a display of more than 57 works from many of Europe’s greatest painters, part of a private collector’s personal compilation. For more info about what’s happening during your visit, visit mnba.qc.ca.
5. Eat poutine. A trip to Quebec just isn’t complete until you’ve indulged in this delicacy. As the locals will tell you, the best place to get it is at Ashton’s. This fast-food chain has been in biz since 1969 and has 25 locations in and around Quebec. What makes the poutine here so good? Locals cite a number of reasons. All ingredients are local and super-fresh, grown on the Isle d’Orléans. The chunky fries are cut by hand every morning and the cheese curds are made locally. As for the rich, sinfully good gravy, it’s a top-secret recipe—the only thing the owners of Ashton’s have been known to divulge is that it’s definitely not vegetarian. Find locations at chez-ashton.com.
6. Dine at Aux Anciens Canadiens. Traditional Quebec cuisine is the house specialty in this cozy, cottage (it’s the oldest home in Quebec, built in 1675-76!). Reservations here are a must as it’s extremely popular and fills up quickly with visitors wanting a taste of the restaurant’s famous Tourtière and sugar pie. 34, rue Saint-Louis, auxancienscanadiens.qc.ca.
7. Ride the funicular. Though Quebec City is very walkable, there are a lot of hills, especially when you are traveling from lower-town to upper-town. A quick and easy way to move from the bottom to the top of the city (and vice-versa) is to take the funicular. Think of it as a steep escalator ride in a see-through gondola that shuttles you between the two points of the city in less than three minutes. This quick ride also offers you a stellar view of the St. Lawrence River.
8. Meet Bonhomme. He’s the official mascot of the Carnaval de Québec, which is renowned as the world’s largest winter outdoor festival. For 2008, Carnaval runs from February 1 through 17, and promises to be one of the biggest celebrations of them all since it’s in honour of Quebec City’s 400th anniversary. For more info about the event, visit carnaval.qc.ca.
9. Discover the Parc Aquarium du Québec. Love sea creatures? This is the place for you, where you can meet nearly 10,000 specimens representing 300 species. Here you will find everything from mammals, fish, invertebrates and amphibians, to reptiles. There is even an outdoor park where you can get up close and personal with polar bears, walruses and seals! Learn more at sepaq.com/aquarium.
10. Stroll the Fairmont Chateau Frontenac boardwalk. This grand hotel is certainly one of the city’s iconic landmarks, perched high on a rocky cliff in upper-town, overlooking the St. Lawrence. Stroll the boardwalk in front of the hotel, pull up a bench and gaze at the breathtaking view. Day or night, this is certainly one of the city’s most romantic places and the perfect place to share a smooch or two.
* For more information about planning your honeymoon visit to Quebec City, visit quebecregion.com.
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