Voila Quebec - December 2000

For a truly picture perfect Christmas, try Quebec City, Canada. Snow, horse drawn carriages, wandering minstrels, live nativity plays, you just can’t miss the Joyeaux Noel.

Founded in 1608 by Samuel de Champlain and also known as the cradle of French Civilization, Quebec City was proclaimed a "World Heritage Site" by UNESCO in 1985. The Capital of the province of Quebec, in Canada, Quebec City is a delightful destination any time of year.

One of the safest regions in North America, Quebec is a healthy environment, with clean air and plenty of green space. Quebec has over 4 million visitors per year traveling from 43 different countries. It is ranked 16^th among destination cities (Conde Nast 1997) and 8^th among favorite North American city and state destinations.

Click on each picture for a larger view.
Chateau Frontenac	Wonderful Bistro Restaurant	Dog Sledding	Typical Quebec Street

No trip to Quebec City would be complete without a visit (better yet, book a room ) to the world’s most photographed hotel - the Chateau Frontenac. It is like visiting Paris and not seeing the Eiffel Tower. Gourmet Magazine and Conde Nast rated the Chateau as the best hotel in Canada. And restaurants, oh where do you start !!! Small and intimate, fine dining, charming atmosphere, it is such fun looking forward to every lunch and dinner. In the summer, the outdoor cafes line the streets and people watching is a major activity.

Winter or summer, there are so many activities to interest all types of travelers. History buffs, museums, sports, shopping, eating, outdoors, religions pilgrimages, you name it you will find it, and you don’t have to travel for hours to enjoy it.

Only a short 30 minutes from the city is Mont St. Anne, with double diamond downhill ski runs, meandering blue and green runs, Mont St. Anne has the longest ski season and the highest vertical drop east of the Canadian Rockies. You can also find snow shoeing, cross country, try your skill at dog-sledding and of course snow-mobiling. Did you know the Quebecquois invented the snowmobile?

January 2001 came with an exciting project, The Ice Hotel Quebec-Canada. Fashioned after the Ice Hotel in Sweden, it is found behind the Manior Montmorency at Montmorency Falls Park, just outside the city. Imagine spending the night in a glacial palace, wrapped-up all nice and cozy in a uniquely carved designer suites. There is a reception room, complete with furniture carved in ice, a cinema, and two art galleries exhibiting finely chiseled works of are made of the purest natural resources, then unwind at the hotel’s Absolute Bar.

If you want to try this unique experience plan very far is advance because the hotel is sold out for the rest of 2001 and well into 2002. Ray and I spent Christmas 2000 in Quebec and had a wonderful time.