Canada’s largest and most populated province, Quebec offers an array of cultural and natural attractions. The province’s French and English heritage, as well as the people from numerous other countries who have made Quebec home, have given the region a fascinating cultural diversity. More than 40% of Quebec’s population speaks both French and English, as do 64% of Montrealers. A Quebec vacation gives U.S. residents the chance to experience a different world without going far from home.
A Quebec city vacation should include a visit to one or both of the province’s fascinating urban areas: Montreal and Quebec City. The second-biggest French-speaking city in the world, Montreal boasts many cosmopolitan diversions and a centuries-old historic quarter complete with cobblestone streets, beautiful architecture, and charming shops, restaurants and hotels. Quebec City, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is the only fortified city north of Mexico and the cradle of French civilization in North America. Both cities are scenically perched on the St. Lawrence River. Of course, Quebec’s wide, open spaces offer many outdoor activities as well, many perfectly suited to a Quebec family vacation. During the summer and fall, fishing, hiking, golfing and cycling are popular, while the winter offers prime skiing, snowboarding and even dogsledding opportunities.
There are two international airports in Quebec, both offering many convenient flights to the U.S.: Montréal-Trudeau Airport and Quebec City’s Jean-Lesage Airport. During the winter, Continental Airlines operates a nonstop flight between Newark Liberty International Airport and Mont-Tremblant, Quebec’s number-one ski resort. U.S. visitors must carry a valid passport when traveling by air between the U.S. and Canada. On June 1, 2009, a new American law known as the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) will require U.S. citizens 16 years of age or over who re-enter the United States by land and sea to have a passport or other appropriate secure document like a NEXUS card (for more information on the latest entry and exit requirements for U.S. citizens, visit travel.state.gov, the U.S. State Department’s website). The closest U.S./Canada border crossings—in New York and Vermont—are a one-hour drive from downtown Montreal. Driving is on the right, and visitors with valid drivers’ licenses may drive in Quebec for a maximum of six consecutive months without a Quebec driver’s license. Quebec has four distinct seasons. The average high in July, the warmest month, is 79°F in Montreal and 77°F in Quebec City; the average low in January, the coldest month, is 7°F in Montreal and 3°F in Quebec City. Currency is the Canadian dollar. For more information on a vacation in Quebec, log on to www.bonjourquebec.com, the official tourism site of the Government of Quebec.