I'm worried I've left my planning too late. I find ads for hop on hop off buses but can't learn if they are still running after October 1. If I travel in late September are there likely to be red leaves?

Also, I read somewhere that small boutique hotels often book up months early. Am worried by the time I sort my airfare and train it may be hard to find a room which by then I may have my heart set on.

Any planning info would be helpful.

Hop on hop off tours in Montreal accept reservations till Oct 28th
Peak time for colors in Quebec is end of Sept till mid Oct, but mid Sept would be a safer bet.
If you want reds you have to go where the maples are, more toward the Vermont border.
Decide what is more important, room or colors, and time your booking accordingly.

An on-line search will turn up several sites which follow the fall colours by region as they turn. It's different from year to year. Naturally the trees put on their best show in wooded countryside (or, I suppose, city parks with woodlots) so how will you travel into the wilderness?

I did get both my air and the train booked over the weekend. Am still reading up on boutique hotels.

I am seeing that both cities have lots of cobblestone streets with a recommendation for good shoes.

I've reached an age where I no longer wear sandals for outdoor walking in strange cities. However, I don't know if just loafers would do it, or if I need my little lightweight hiking shoes. Any tips?

I don't know about Quebec City, but Montreal does not have "lots", and whatever they do have are patched with asphalt.
Probably not the kind of information Montreal puts in a tourist brochure.

Thank you cdnyul. Maybe I can get away with loafers, rather than hikers.

Back from Quebec. Enjoyed the trip. Maybe I should do a report, though activities were limited because of torn meniscus.