WingsGal

Hi folks,

It felt like it would never get here...but finally, our trip is rapidly approaching! Yay!!

Normally when I travel I have just about every minute planned out. But all of the reading I've done has given me the notion that I will want to relax, wander, and take in the lovely architecture, enjoy an afternoon snack at a cafe or sit in a park and enjoy nature. Truly a different pace than most of my vacations but I'm game!

How has the weather been for you folks? It's been a soggy wet mess here in Michigan for the last week. We leave next Thursday - I'm hoping for a bit of blue and sunshine for at least part of the trip! Here's a very loose outline of what I hope to see and do - your feedback is appreciated!

We are leaving Detroit on Thursday afternoon/evening and are driving to just outside of Toronto and will spend the night.

Friday we drive to Quebec City to check in at Hotel 71
Dinner - ?? (suggestions for a nice place after driving all day??)
St. Laurent Bar at Le Chateau Frontenac – Jazz at 9:00

Saturday
Marché Du Vieux Port (Farmers Market)
Grand tour (Tours Voir Québec) – 11:00 or 1:30 (lasts 2 hrs)
Morrin Center -tours at 3, 4, 5 pm
Levis ferry – views of Quebec (get ice cream at Chocolats Favoris)

Sunday
Sainte-Anne de Beaupré Basilica
Montmorency Falls and ile de Orleans and Beaupre, mont-sainte Anne

Monday
Explore - go to Erico Chocolate and JA Moisan
Parliament Bldg tour (9:00 to 4:30)
Lunch reservations at Parliament restaurant – 1:30

Tuesday
Head for Montreal - will take scenic route part of the way
Check in at hotel - Montreal Marriott Chateau Champlain
Dinner at Europea at 6:30

Wednesday:
Free walking tour at 10:30
Boat tour – 12:30 (90 min) or 2:30 (60 min)
Notre-Dame Basiilica
McCord Museum? – open late on Wednesday or until 6:00 on Thursday

Thursday:
Museum of fine arts (tours at 2:00 and 3:30)
Walking tour at 6:30? Has anyone taken the tour of QUARTIER DES SPECTACLES?

Friday:
Botanical gardens (tours at 10:30 and 1:30)
Mt. Royal Park

Saturday - head home

zootsi

Your plan looks great. The only thing I can suggest for Montreal is try and plan on one dinner and evening stroll in the Plateau area, my favorite part of the city. Lots of interesting ethnic restaurants (many byob, many with outdoor dining) in the St. Denis - Duluth area, street entertainment and outdoor cafes on Rue Prince Arthur, and lots of nightlife on St. Laurent and St. Denis. You might also want to squeeze in a trip to the Jean Talon and or Atwater markets one morning.

WingsGal

Oh, I forgot to say that we are for sure going to go to Atwater Mkt (it's close to our hotel) and maybe the Jean Talon. I love outdoor/farmer's markets.

Any suggestions on dinner in the Plateau area?

Vttraveler

i think your itinerary looks good especially if you add in the Plateau and Jean Talon or Atwood markets in Montreal. The McCord museum is fine but my favorite is the Pointe-à-Callière museum of Archeology and History in the old port area. You would be relatively close to that when you visit Notre Dame.

I am curious as to why you picked the Morrin Center in Quebec City. Have you read Louise Penny's Bury Your Dead?
See my report on our visit there a few years ago
http://www.fodors.com/community/cana...uebec-city.cfm

Don't know what the Grand Tour of Quebec consists of but if you don't walk on the walls and Dufferin Terrace with that tour I recommend doing that yourselves if the weather is nice.

mrmook369

Great plan and sounds like a great trip. Not sure what you're expecting from Montreal but check www.montrealnitelifetours.com for ideas and cool package deals. We used their service and we had a great time! It's worth a lokk.

WingsGal

Hi VTT - thanks so much for your feedback! My DH picked McCord based on the fact that the Grace Kelly exhibit is there. It looks like a smaller museum and I'm fine with that because it won't eat up an entire day. Also, we are members of the DIA in Detroit, and will get in free to the McCord as part of the reciprocal program!

As for the Morrin Center, I had read about it online and it sounded fascinating to me. I have a criminal justice degree and anything to do with old prisons or jails is of interest. Thank you for the link to your trip report - I will check it out. O

Thanks Mr...I will check out that link as well!

Vttraveler

WingsGal--the link I sent was just to a mini-report on the Morrin center. I also did a somewhat longer report on the rest of our 3-day trip to Quebec City. I don't know whether you read mysteries, but Louise Penny's are good and as I said, Bury Your Dead centers around the current library incarnation of the Morrin Center building. (It has also been a school as well as a prison)

If you are interested in a specific exhibit at the McCord of course it makes sense to go there. It is a good museum in general. And free admission is always a plus.

Some more random thoughts connected to your proposed itinerary:
While you are in Old Montreal for Notre Dame, I recommend checking out the garden behind another museum I like, the Chateau Ramezay :
http://www.chateauramezay.qc.ca/en/garden/

For dinner in Quebec City, Le Lapin Saute is good. It is on Rue du Petit Champlain which is touristy. If you want you can take the funicular or walk from there up to the Upper Town for the view near the Chateau Frontenac.
The friends who recommended Le Lapin Saute also like Cafe St Malo on Rue Saint Paul in the Lower Town

Southam

In Quebec City I like the military museum and ramparts at the Citadel, which has its own tour. As well, if the weather is not rainy, the Royal 22nd march out each morning for the changing-of-the-guard ceremony complete with band and the regiment's handsome mascot goat, Batiste. (Theat of rain keeps the troops indoors as those tall bearskin hats don't take kindly to precipitation.) http://www.lacitadelle.qc.ca/en.html and
http://www.lacitadelle.qc.ca/en/la-c...nginggard.html
In July and August, at the end of the afternoon, there is also a ceremony to lower the colours although I don't know how elaborate it is.
http://www.lacitadelle.qc.ca/en/la-c...e-retreat.html

zootsi

There are a head spinning selection of restaurants on the plateau - including Vietnamese, Italian, French, African, Greek, Afghan, etc. Many have backyard patios or sidewalk tables, and many (especially on Duluth) are byob. The one place we always make sure we go to is Le Jardin de Panos on Duluth, a very lively byob Greek brochette place with a wonderful backyard patio. A block away is Spaggios, good basic Italian byob that also has a nice patio. The Pied Au Cochon (not byob), one of Michael Bourdain's favorite stops for a belly busting, calorie laden meat fest is also close by. The best advice I can give is to peruse the various restaurants along Duluth, then run over to the SAQ on St Denis to pick up an appropriate wine. The mom & pop grocery stores in the area also sell wines of the screw top variety.

WingsGal

Southam - the changing of the guard doesn't start until the end of June But I did see that they have a night tour which might be kind of interesting. I've added that to the list of possibilites.

WingsGal

Thanks for the food recommendations Zootsi!