jrmama42

I'm going to Montreal with my 86-year-old mother in mid-February and she wants to see Quebec City. We won't have a car so I'm wondering if one night's stay (arriving and leaving mid-day by bus) would give us enough time to see the sights? Are there any city tours that take you around to the major sights? What about the carriage rides? Has anybody taken them in winter? My last visit was in autumn with a couple of friends and we were able to walk all over.

What do you suggest for the best way to see most of the city with minimal walking in snow? My mom gets around well, but she's not used to snow (being from San Diego). We will be staying in Old Quebec.

Thanks for any advice you can offer!

hazeljayne

http://www.viator.com/tours/Montreal...al/d625-3355C7

NorthwestMale

Wow... my memories of QC in March found snow drifts that were twice as high as cars, and of temperatures around 7 degrees Farenheit at night.

You wouldn't likely want to be in a carriage facing the elements given that sort of climate.

I would suggest renting a car there for the 24-hour period... if only for the convenience (vs. hardship) a car would allow.

The walled city, the giant hotel, and even a tour near the St. Lawrence river (and the view back up toward the hotel) are just a couple of things to see. The older area of downtown QC and ther narrow streets and french culture there are worth a driving tour.

it is my viiiiiiiiiiiiibe that if you won't/can't work the car thing, it might be too much effort for your 86-yo mom relative to what she'll get in the way of sightseeing.

(IF you can find a guided tour, then go ahead and stop in QC)

jrmama42

Thanks for the feedback. The main reason for the trip is that my mom visited Montreal several years ago and they were supposed to go to QC but her sister-in-law broke her ankle and they never got there. So she'd like to see what she missed, and since we'll be this close I figured we should go.

I've never driven in snow so I'm not keen on renting a car, but I think we will be able to at least see the Frontenac, ride the funicular, get crepes at my favorite creperie and wander the streets of Old Quebec. I'm just not sure if we'll be able to see the waterfront area, Parliament, etc., unless I find a tour bus or something (I think you're right about carriage rides in the winter!).

nickn

I thought the most interesting part was half of the walled QC part closest to the St. Lawrence river, the Frontenac side, and the lower town below Frontenac between the wall and the river. The options to connect these two parts:

Walking - not an option for a 86-yr old
Ecobus - here is the route map:

http://www.rtcquebec.ca/HoraireTraje...at&parcours=21

Funicular - if it is running.
I am not sure about renting a car to do this. I didn't think parking was easy in Quebec City.

NorthwestMale

Hmmmmmmmmph, thinking back @ Quebec City... while you DO have to drive uphill to get to the walled city, you can cover lots of QC on flat roadways. And because this is a place used to extremely cold temps and lots of snow, they are pretty good at plowing the arterial streets fairly quickly.

If you risk your 86yo mother in those cold conditions it is really important to have a vehicle for getting around.

I think you should risk the 'driving in the snow' part, and at least make your plans around getting a car for one day, and at the very worst, giving your mom a tour of the city from the car.

I believe that UNLESS the blizzard of the century is coming down right at the moment you're out and about there, you won't have too much trouble driving around with snow in the area. (main roads will be pretty clear, and residential streets will have snow drifts in places that are as high as two cars stacked)

BAK

Any idea the next time mom will be near
QC?

A mix of taxis and tour busses will take care of you for a noon to noon stay.

Just dress for the cold. You might need to invest in a pair of non-stylish boots for each of you, a wool hat that covers your ears...

And do not go for much in the way of walks. Ice is slippery and dangerous.

It will probably be cold, but there's a huge carnival every winter, and people survive.

BAK

jrmama42

Thanks, everyone! We managed to walk from our hotel to the Funiculaire and ride down to the touristy shopping street the first afternoon. It was cold, but we bundled up and I kept a close watch to make sure Mom didn't slip on ice. We walked to Au Petit Coin Breton for dinner. Next morning I booked a 2-hour city bus tour, which was perfect! We got to see a lot of the landmarks and learn the history, and the driver even dropped us off at the bus station afterward.