Travel Québec and Charlevoix

Day 1 : Québec

We meet in historic Québec City, overlooking the St. Lawrence River. Founded in 1608 by Samuel de Champlain, it has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage City. On our warm-up walk you'll feel like you're stepping back in time as we wind upward from the Lower Town - visiting historic sites, passing under the boughs of century-old trees, soaking in the city's unique blend of French and British heritage. In the Upper Town, we'll visit Chateau Frontenac, one of Canada's most recognizable landmarks, to take in grand views of the river. Among the cobbled stone streets we discover is charming Rue du Petit-Champlain, lined with quaint shops and cafés. 

Day 2: Île d'Orléans

After a hearty breakfast, we set out on foot along the 18th Century wall to the site of the epic battle of the Plains of Abraham, one of the country's most important historical events. Then a short drive leads us to spectacular Montmorency Falls. At 274 feet, its one-and-a-half times as high as Niagara Falls. A lovely walk culminates at a bridge above the falls. You'll get an awesome (and safe) view of the waters as they tumble over the cliff. At the foot of the cascade, you'll have one of those frame-worthy photo opportunities with the towers of Québec City and the Château Frontenac rising in the distance.

Just across the bridge from Montmorency Falls is Île d'Orléans. The small island boasts the largest concentration of buildings dating from the French settlers. Our scenic walk takes us to Sainte-Pétronille, the most picturesque village on the island. After a short walk through the village with its impressive Regency-style English villas and exquisitely tended gardens, we continue on to Saint-Laurent, once home to chalouperies or small family shipyards. Here, we lunch in the shade sycamore and maple trees in a neighborhood reminiscent of Norman Rockwell's paintings. Overnight: Québec Meals: B, D

Day 3: Baie-St-Paul

This morning, we head east to the picturesque Charlevoix region, pausing en route to see the renowned Ste-Anne de Beaupre Basilica that attracts hundreds of thousands of pilgrims each year. Declared a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO, Charlevoix is countryside so picturesque that it's been a magnet for acclaimed landscape artists.

What seems to be just a remarkably broad valley with rolling hills and seaside villages is, in fact, an enormous crater formed by a meteorite impact about 350 million years ago! At its heart is our home, Baie-St-Paul, a lively center for the arts and birthplace of the Cirque du Soleil. Meeting up with a naturalist friend, we explore the local flora and fauna as we follow a path past scenic fields and along a sandy beach on the shore of the St. Lawrence River.

Later this morning, our friends Maurice and Francine invite us to their farm. During a memorable visit they share their passion for using traditional methods to craft delicious artisanal cheeses from cow and sheep’s milk, followed by a tasting. In early afternoon, we’ll also visit an old mill and a bakery dating to the early 1800’s. This afternoon it’s your option to explore on your own the art galleries and museums in the village or, if you just can't get enough fresh country air, join our guide for a relaxing walk along the salmon filled Rivière-du-Gouffre. Overnight: La Malbaie Meals: B, D

Day 4: Hautes-Gorges / La Malbaie

Church steeples pierce the landscape, marking the location of the region's rural villages as we drive from La Malbaie into the National Park Les Hautes Gorges-de-la-Riviere. It's one of Quebec's most beautiful natural monuments.At the foot of the highest peaks East of the Rockies, the valley offers spectacular scenery and is the home to peregrine falcons and a rare caribou herd. Our leisurely paced walk on a gravel path lets us follow a river embedded into sheer walls of stone with gorgeous views of the valley.

Later in the day, we return to La Malbaie, one of the province's most elegant resort towns, and our home for three nights. Once called the "Summer White House," this area became popular with both American and Canadian politicians in the late 1800's. A short walk from our Inn is Richelieu Street,bordered by many elegant summer homes of the bourgeoisie dating to the1800s. At its end lies Manoir Richelieu, a French-style castle perched scenically on the brink of the mighty St. Lawrence River. Overnight: La Malbaie Meals: B, D

Day 5: La Malbaie / Tadoussac

Today is a real highlight of our week as we venture along the St. Lawrence and the majestic Saguenay Fjord. The Saguenay's untamed beauty has attracted visitors for decades and our explorations today demonstrate why. This morning's walk takes us along beautiful footpaths with spectacular views of the St. Lawrence and the Saguenay Fjord to Tadoussac, Canada's first fur trading post where Samuel de Champlain arrived in 1603. After lunch in one of Tadoussac's charming cafés, it's all aboard for a magnificent whale watching excursion and fjord cruise. As the salt water from the St. Lawrence mixes with the fresh water from the Saguenay, a plankton-rich ecosystem is created which makes this one of the best whale watching locations in the world. We have the opportunity to view several varieties of whales, including minke, fin and perhaps the endangered beluga whale. Overnight: La Malbaie Meals: B, D

Day 6: St.Joseph-De-La-Rive / Québec

This morning after a leisurely breakfast, we drop in on a local paper museum where deluxe papers are handcrafted using 17th Century techniques. We'll also meet with an artisan who casts santons (figurines) in the Provençal style. After our return to Québec City, you can join our guide for a foray into the local farmers' market and the charming St-Paul Street for a final chance to go antiquing or café-hopping before we part company. Meals: B