Are you up for a whole week of adventure in Montreal and Quebec? Get ready for a wild ride exploring the lively streets, famous landmarks, and stunning natural beauty. Prepare to treat your taste buds on a food tour, admire the gorgeous Notre Dame Basilica, and discover the allure of Quebec City’s walled city. Come along as we soak up the best of Montreal and Quebec in just one week.
On our way from the New York area, we made a pit stop in Albany. We checked out the USS Slater, a WWII Destroyer Escort ship being restored to its former glory. We spent about 90 minutes marveling at its wartime history and grabbed a quick lunch at the Spinning Gyro in Albany, NY. On the way back, we swung by the Vermont Teddy Bear Factory in Shelburne, VT. The kids had a blast learning all about the bears and the process of making them.
Exploring the Bustling Streets of Montreal
After a quick check-in at Fairmont Queen Elizabeth in Montreal, we were all set for our first day in the city. To really get a feel for Montreal’s awesome vibe, you’ve gotta hit the streets and take in the mix of old-school charm and modern hustle. Whether you’re exploring the cool cafes and shops of Mile End or wandering down the historic cobblestone streets of Old Montreal, each neighborhood has its own special vibe. The colorful streets are decked out with awesome street art and are buzzing with locals and visitors – that’s when you know you’ve truly arrived in Montreal! We lucked out and found this amazing full-day city tour that showed us all the top spots and helped us figure out where we wanted to spend more time later on. We booked it through Viator, and it was the Full Day small-group Montreal with pick up and a local taste. The local taste part was super cool, with a stop for bagels and a maple syrup tasting at Jean-Talon Market. And after taking in all the sights and sounds of the lively streets, it’s time to treat your taste buds to the diverse and delicious food scene in the city. For dinner, we hit up The Keg – seriously good stuff! Swipe to see slideshow
Indulging in a delicious food tour in Montreal during an Eclipse
One of the best things about Montreal is the amazing food scene. You’ve got to try the poutine, smoked meat sandwiches, artisanal pastries, and fine dining experiences. The city has so much to offer for foodies. When I visited, I tried pastries, poutine, bagels, and other local foods to get a feel for the food scene. Oh, and we were at the cannoli stop during the eclipse, so we got to watch it with the locals! We booked the Montreal Private Walking Food tour with Secret Food Tours through Viator, our guide Eric was awesome. He knew so much about the history and made sure the kids had a blast too. For dinner, we went to La Cantina, a hip Mexican place with great tacos and ambience. Check out the slideshow below
After having a blast exploring the food scene in Montreal, the next day was all about checking out the awesome sights of Old Montreal and the Notre Dame Basilica. The basilica’s architecture is just stunning, and the history behind it is so fascinating. We also dropped by the Montreal Museum of Archaeology and History, where you can see the old Montreal foundations and even walk through a sewer tunnel – pretty neat for the kids and super educational. For lunch, we hit up Bevo Bar+Pizzeria, and for dessert, we couldn’t resist the dipped cones at Mlle Catherine. Wrapping up the day with a fantastic dinner at Modavie!
One of the coolest things to check out in Montreal is the famous Notre Dame Basilica. As soon as you walk into this old church, you can’t help but be blown away by how awesome the gothic architecture is and all the super detailed decorations inside. The colorful stained glass windows, the epic altar, and the huge organ make for a really chill and jaw-dropping vibe that you won’t forget. My crew and I snagged some tickets on Fever for the Aura lightshow in the basilica. It was a perfect combo of lights and tunes that totally brought the church to life. I totally recommend it. Pro tip: If you’ve got tickets for 6pm, get there by 5:30pm because they open the doors early and let everyone in. The stragglers had to scramble for seats!
After we soaked in the stunning Notre Dame Basilica, we hopped on the VIA Rail train lines from Gare Centrale in Montreal to Gare Palais in Quebec City, QB. The train ride lasted an easy 3 hours, and since we went business class, we got treated with drinks and a meal by the train crew. Our home for the stay was the fabulous Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac, which left us totally speechless with its amazing decor and exterior. Dinner was at the awesome D’Orsay.
Our First Full Day in Quebec City : St Anne de Beaupre and Montmorency Falls
Imagine you’re standing in front of these amazing stone towers, all decked out with fancy Gothic details, and you’re just hit with this overwhelming sense of awe. That’s the kind of experience you’re in for at St. Anne de Beaupre in Quebec City. This old basilica is nestled in the stunning landscapes of Canada’s oldest city and has been a pilgrimage site for over 350 years. But it’s not just some religious spot – St. Anne de Beaupre is a real symbol of faith, culture, and top-notch architecture. Oh, and get this, it’s a shrine because it has a holy relic – St. Anne’s forearm! We found that out when we visited, and it really added to the whole experience. The church itself is a stunner, and it’s only about a 25-minute drive from Quebec, so it’s a piece of cake to get to.
Montmorency Falls, just outside Quebec City, is a must-see natural wonder that’ll totally blow your mind with its amazing beauty. These falls stand at a whopping 83 meters, even taller than Niagara Falls, and they put on a stunning show of cascading water amidst lush greenery. Whether you check them out from the suspension bridge, hop on a panoramic gondola ride, or even zipline across the waterfall, it’s gonna be an experience you won’t forget. Get ready to be wowed by the power and beauty of Montmorency Falls, and soak in the peace and grandeur of nature. It’s an absolute must-stop on your Quebec journey! Don’t forget to swipe for the slideshow.
We had a blast on our Viator tour to the shrine and waterfalls! Isabella, our awesome driver, was super cool with the kids and gave us the lowdown on all the cool spots. She even hooked us up with a tour guide at St. Anne’s and made sure we saw everything without wasting any time. The tour we did was called the Private Half Day Montmorency Falls and Ste-Anne-De-Beaupre. For lunch, we hit up Baguette & Chocolat, and for dinner, we checked out Bistro Le Sam, in the hotel.
When it comes to exploring Quebec City and chowing down on their yummy eats, you’re in for a real treat! From cozy little bistros to fancy schmancy dining spots, there’s a ton of delicious food waiting to be devoured. You absolutely have to try poutine, it’s like the ultimate Quebecois comfort food. And don’t get me started on the maple syrup treats – they’re a maple lover’s dream! We went for the Old Quebec City Food and Drink Tour/Day Experience through Viator and we hit the jackpot with our guide, Pierre. This dude knows everything about Quebec and he had the most epic stories for all our food stops. He even made sure the kids got to join in on the drink stops with some awesome mocktails. Two big thumbs up from us!
After the food tour, we had some time to kill before our train back to Montreal so we walked the Breakneck Steps and Old Quebec tourist area along with the Dufferin terrace by the Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac Hotel.
After we got to Montreal’s Gare Centrale, we checked back into the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth. This time, we got a special suite for the kids (and maybe me too). We decided to go all out and booked the Barbie Suite for one night before leaving the next day. The kids went crazy for the super pink room and all the awesome Barbie decorations that the designers got just right. If you’ve got a Barbie fan, whether they’re young or just young at heart, this is the room you’ve gotta get. Check out the slideshow below!
In just one week, you can totally soak up the vibrant culture, history, and amazing food of Montreal and Quebec! From the lively streets of Montreal to the stunning sights like Montmorency Falls, every single moment will blow you away. Start planning your trip now and get ready for the best of these incredible Canadian spots. Remember, “Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer.” So toss your stuff in a bag and dive into this awesome adventure today!
