I am travelling to Montreal in late June 2006. I would like some advice on touring Quebec. This will be my 2nd visit to Montreal and the first time travelling around Quebec. We (my husband and three and a half year old daughter)plan to hire a car and drive from Montreal to Quebec City and surrounds. We plan to spend a week to week and a half away. I would love suggestions on where to visit, any child friendly hotels or B&B's, any restaurants, cafe's worth visiting, not expensive. Any sights/experiences you enjoyed. Any suggestions for souvenirs to take home to Australia.Would it be a good idea to take the via rail from Montreal to Quebec city and hire a car from there, or would we miss too much?

I took my family in July 2005. I heavily researched and decided that Montreal - Quebec City - Tadoussac were worthy of my attention with my time frame. We were not disappointed. And were not feeling deprived of others not targeted/seen after the trip. We did probe the "Most beautiful Villages in Quebec" but found them less than compelling. And moved on quickly. The "Most beautiful Street in Quebec" per the newspaper Globe and Mail? in a town whose name I now forget was very disappointing. My point is that the secret jewel locations may need certain circumstances to support the appeal. Montreal/QC/Tadoussac are winners under any circumstances. I'll leave lodging/restaurants etc. to others. Souvenirs to take = Photographs. Years from now the memories will be sparked from photos; trinkets will probably be in the garbage. Take the Rail? I would drive just so you could enter QC via the ferry from Levi. It is a precious view. Alternately if you stay a while is to take the ferry to Levi and back for the view. The best thing about Montreal was with out question the International Fireworks Compitition seen from La Ronde (spelling) I think it will be going June 2006 - DO NOT MISS IT if you are there and it is going Wed or Sat. But you have been to Montreal before and probably know this. One regret about QC is that we did not explore the neighborhoods enough out side the Jean Gate/Youville square area.

Hi Sobolik, Thank you for your opinion. I will definitely consider Tadoussac and the ferry view of Quebec. Last time we travelled we only took a video camera. It was great but a pain to carry around. I wished I'd taken a camera, thanks for reminding me.

ps Although not technically in Quebec, but just across the river is Ottawa. I/we loved it. The sound and light show on the side of the Parliament building was awesome. The Parliament hill and Byward market is worthy or a couple day stop as well. Give it some internet research and consideration. After all it is the Nations Capital. It is not really that far from Montreal.

You will QC to be very different from Montreal - much smaller and more picturesque. 2-3 days in the city should be plenty. The drive from Montreal to QC is very easy but uninteresting. In QC, try to stay in the old city or very close by. The area near the Chateau Frontenac is perhaps the nicest area, and there are several small, reasonably priced hotels nearby. For a b&b, check out the James Thompson. In the QC area, a drive around Ile de Orleans is worth an afternoon, as is Montmorency Falls. There is also a very nice zoo just outside the city. The massive church at Ste Anne de Beupre is worth a stop, even though the surrounding neighborhood is lined with tacky souvaneer shops. Another photogenic spot is the park of the seven falls. If you drive up toward Tadoussac take the highway that follows the St. Lawrence- it's very scenic. The other, larger highway futher inland is nothing but boreal forest and lots of logging trucks.
Montreal is always fun, make sure you take your child to the Biodome.There are several mid priced chain hotels(Marriot Courtyard, Holiday Inn, etc) on Sherbrooke that have pools and great views of the city.
As someone else metioned, Ottawa is also a very nice city(2 hours west of Montreal), especially if you enjoy museums or bicycling.

I see that you made it back to this post, ginder. Chance find? or do you understand "click on your own name"?

You have many people waiting to hear from you and/or share info on your two other Europe threads.

Best wishes,

Rex

help! planning a trip to quebec city for the end of november, I need to look for a hotel or motel near a place called expocite'centre de foire. like maybe across the street. and I also need a phone #. Thanks

Just wanted to chime in about a move I made while driving in Quebec, which really pleased me.

When driving along the St. Lawrence from about Trois Rivieres to Quebec City I opted NOT to take the larger freeway/highway, but instead took the country road (highway) that parallels both the river and the larger road... and saw some enjoyable little towns there. I was stunned at the impressive churches found in each little community. Didn't have too much cause to stop along the way, but there were different sights and interests that could entice someone to pull over.

Hi northwestmale, I'll definitely keep that in mind.