lilyp

I've never posted a trip report, but since the forum community helped us decide where to go, I thought I should pay it forward with a report of our wonderful 3 days in Quebec City!

We stayed at Auberge Saint-Antoine. Would recommend this hotel to most everyone. It is in the lower city, so you have to be prepared to do some walking, but we much preferred the restaurants in the lower city so it worked out. The customer service here could not be more wonderful! I can go on and on, so won't bore you with details, but please ask if you are considering this wonderful hotel!

Ate some great meals, again with the help of the forum and chowhound recommendations. Standouts were: Toast (high end, more innovative cuisine), Bistro du Cap (very small restaurant, small menu, everything amazing), Le Lapin Saute (more authentic Quebecoise food), and Cochon Dingues (yes, it's a chain, but had a great breakfast!). We also had amazing crepes at Le Billig on Rue St. Jean, a 10 minute walk outside city walls.

Took a 2 hour walking tour our first day, arranged through the visitor's center across from Frontenac. Highly recommend as a way to get a general overview of the city and see the highlights. Our tour guide also recommended "follow-up" activities and tours, such as visiting some of the beautiful chapels and churches (Notre Dame, St. Ursaline), and a tour of the Citadel, all of which we did. I wasn't overly impressed with the Citadel, and it's a long tour, but go if you are interested in the military history and seeing the changing of the guard (based on the Buckingham Palace changing of the guard). We loved walking along Rue St. Paul, which has wonderful antique shops (in the lower city) and visiting some art galleries. I did find most of the other shops to be pretty touristy.

One day we took the ferry across to river to Levis and went to a little brewery there. This might be a better thing to do at night when you can see the city lit up from the river. We had drinks at the Chateau Frontenac. I would skip the food here- very expensive and did not look that impressive.

There are two nightly free shows in Quebec City during the summer. The first is a movie set to music about the history of Quebec City projected on the silos in the port, which was very cool to see. The highlight was the Cirque du Soleil show- also free and absolutely amazing.

We had to cut our trip short a day because of the impending hurricane Irene, but our final day we had planned to rent a car and visit Montmorency Falls, Il d'Oleans, and the Shrine to St. Anne. We also did not have a chance to visit the Musee de Civilization. We'll have to do it next time!

I was traveling with just my husband, but we saw many families, and it would be a great place for older kids. I would not want to push a stroller over those cobblestone streets and up/down hill, so I would wait until the kids are older.

tomarkot

Thanks, lilyp, for your thoughtful report. So sorry that you had to cut your trip short because of Irene! But it sounds like you had a nice time while there. We plan to spend four days in Quebec City the first week of October. The visitors' center you mentioned sounds like a worthwhile place to check out. We're using some points for part of our stay at the Courtyard Marriott. While it's not in the old city, it looks to be very close and that's where we'll spend our time. Glad that you mentioned that you enjoyed the restaurants in the lower city best, and appreciate your leads. Thanks, again, for the helpful report.

cmcfong

tomarkot, I think you will find that the Marriott Courtyard is almost flush against the Upper Town, the location will prove very easy for you.

Lilyp, I enjoyed your report.

tomarkot

Thanks, cmcfong, for the confirmation about the convenience of the Courtyard Marriott to the Upper Town. In addition to enjoying Quebec City itself, we plan to do a day trip or two.
Any suggestions of places you enjoyed would be appreciated!

cmcfong

tomarkot, I did a trip report on Fodors with the highlights of my visit. The day trip to Ile d'Orleans was most enjoyable.

Vttraveler

Thanks for posting the trip report. I am glad your trip worked out so well. My husband and I very much enjoyed a similar short trip to quebec city in early June. I hope we can go back next summer to see more of the city plus Cirque du Soleil.