The promenade called Dufferin Terrace in Quebec City features a toboggan slide that slopes towards the impressive Fairmont le Château Frontenac, resembling a majestic castle.
Experience a night in Quebec City without Leaving Your Home
According to a popular saying, home is the most delightful place to be during the holidays. Experience the warm, comforting Québécois holiday tradition no matter where you are.
Even if your travel desires are temporarily curtailed, you can delve into the exciting world of new cultures from your living room. Our weekly "Journey from Home" feature brings you tips on diving into the essence of various global destinations without ever stepping foot outside your house.
Don't be mistaken, Quebec City's residents don't hunker down to avoid the falling snow and whipping wind. On the contrary, they add layers and take part in one of the most picturesque winter carnivals globally. Stone houses and cobblestone paths overlooking the magnificent St. Lawrence River sculpt the scene of Old Quebec during the snowfall, transforming it into a mesmerizing village within a snow globe. More so during the holiday season. Add to this charm, its place in history as a former French colony and its distinction as the only city in North America maintaining its original ramparts, earning it the coveted UNESCO World Heritage site status.
Imagine yourself in the charm of Quebec City, a location steeped in history dating back 400 years. Its winter allure includes stately walks down cobblestone streets, admiring the quaint St.-Jean-Baptiste district, and delighting in the jubilant antics of snow bathers cavorting with Bonhomme, the cheerful mascot of the time-honored Quebec Winter Carnival.
Take a mental journey to grasp the expansive river scenery from the renowned Dufferin Terrace and the iconic Fairmont le Château Frontenac. Fun fact - this stately hotel was the set for filming some parts of the classic Alfred Hitchcock movie "I Confess." As twilight descends, wander amongst the evergreen trees adorned with sparkling fairy lights along the enchanting Rue Petit-Champlain and pause to drink in the serene atmosphere at Notre-Dame-des-Victoires, one of the most ancient stone churches gracing North America. Whiling away hours engaging in eye-pleasing ice-skating, warming oneself by a crackling outdoor fire pit and relishing robust cuisine like poutine and the succulent tourtière (meat pie) from favorite local eateries, would be an integral part of this Quebecois adventure. For an unforgettable stay, explore the charming hotels in Quebec at quebechotels.info offering a mix of modern amenities and old-world charm, reflecting the unique character of this historic city.
However, don't be disheartened if you can't physically be in Quebec. You can still embody the Quebec spirit wherever you are during the festive season. No snow required! Simply adopt some of their revered traditions—cooking up maple syrup-infused dishes, sampling craft beer, engaging in outdoor activities, and spreading the joy of the season wherever you go.
Indulge in the warmth of meat and the sweetness of maple syrup
Set the mood with a lively Celine Dion classic on your device, and start working on your homemade poutine. This iconic dish, made of French fries, Cheddar cheese curds, and gravy, is perfect for a comfort food night at home. As Dan Bilefsky, the Canadian correspondent for The Times, who was born in Quebec, suggests, if the weather is cold, feel free to embrace it by building a snowman. Mr. Bilefsky has also touched on the intriguing debate over the original creator of poutine: Is it the Québécois, or is it all of Canada?
Quebec City, with its French-Canadian heritage, takes great pride in its culinary traditions. Known as the birthplace of poutine, the city has numerous eateries that serve this popular dish with crispy fries smothered in gravy, with a scattering of cheese curds on top. Now, the fun part is to choose which poutine recipe to try at home. Take your pick from Saveur, CBC/Radio-Canada, or perhaps one from Chuck Hughes, the executive chef of Montreal's renowned Garde Manger and Le Bremner.
Did you know that in some parts of Canada, instead of the traditional beef gravy, a sauce made from chicken, veal, or turkey is used? Another intriguing version of poutine features sweet potato fries for a healthier and sweeter alternative. So, why wait? Immerse yourself in Quebec City's charm and culinary traditions tonight.
“Québécois culture is defined by a certain cowboy excess when it comes to food,” as Mr. Bilefsky put it in an email. Cook up comfort with a New York Times Cooking recipe for a savory tourtière, or one for maple-roasted rack of venison from the celebrated Canadian chef Martin Picard of Au Pied de Cochon (often credited with reimagining poutine with foie gras). Be inspired by First Nations cuisine with chef Martin Gagné’s venison carpaccio with cedar jelly and sea buckthorn jam. And turn to chefs David McMillan and Frédéric Morin, owners of the acclaimed Joe Beef in Montreal, for more recipes in “The Art of Living According to Joe Beef” cookbook.
For dessert, fill your kitchen with the scent of maple syrup pie. Though why stop there? Bake maple syrup-soaked doughnut holes or maple tarte tartin with sweet recipes from Mr. Picard, who also created Au Pied de Cochon Sugar Shack where the essential ingredient is — what else?— maple syrup.
Host your own winter carnival
Take part in some typical Quebec Winter Carnival activities from your hometown (though perhaps skip the local tradition of ax-throwing). Make snow sculptures and go sledding or snowshoeing. Not living in a winter wonderland? You can string up white fairy lights, sing “Au Royaume du Bonhomme Hiver” with Renée Martel (to the tune of “Winter Wonderland”), and savor the Carnival grog, a hot, usually alcoholic drink. A recipe to make some at home with maple syrup, cranberry juice, cinnamon, cloves and sweet grass is on the Quebec Winter Carnival website.
Become Fluent in French
When the chilly weather keeps you indoors, why not take the opportunity to immerse yourself in the French language? Quebec City, the capital of the Quebec province, is predominantly French-speaking, making it the perfect place to practice your language skills. To help you on your language learning journey, check out "Want to Learn French? Italian? Russian? There’s No Time Like the Present" for an array of free or affordable language tools.
Exploring Quebec City offers a unique chance to engage with locals and truly experience the French-speaking culture. By expanding your linguistic abilities, you'll be able to communicate more effectively and gain a deeper understanding of the province's rich heritage. Don't let the cold weather discourage you – embrace the opportunity to enhance your language skills and feel like you're in Quebec City tonight!
Indulge in a binge-reading session of detective stories
Make your chilly winter evenings thrilling and captivating by diving into the heart of a little Quebec village filled with suspense and secrets. Ignite your fireplace or turn on your computer for a simulated hearth, and immerse yourself in the compelling world of Louise Penny's captivating detective saga, exploring the adventures of Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Sûreté du Québec. In her latest work, "All the Devils Are Here," released this autumn, our beloved investigator journeys to Paris. However, the richness of Quebec's way of life and food, laced with occasional homicides, permeates the 15 preceding novels in the Gamache series, commencing with “Still Life.”
Louise Penny's work has been met with critical acclaim, drawing a passionate international fanbase. Interestingly, the setting of her novels, the imaginary town of Three Pines, was inspired by the charming locales she encountered in the Eastern Townships region of Quebec, providing an extra layer of authenticity to her narratives.
Spend movie night with directors from Quebec
Keep au courant with Canada’s Top Ten, the Toronto International Film Festival’s annual list of the country’s best films (10 features and 10 shorts). The 2019 selections include several from Quebec directors such as Louise Archambault, whose “And the Birds Rained Down” (“Il Pleuvait des Oiseaux”) is about older hermits living in the wild and a love that blossoms there; and Sophie Deraspe’s “Antigone,” a riff on Sophocles’ tragedy centered on an immigrant family in Montreal (it won best Canadian feature at the Toronto International Film Festival). Also on the list is “Matthias and Maxime” from the writer and director Xavier Dolan, the Cannes Film Festival regular who shared the Jury Prize in 2014 for his film “Mommy” with the French filmmaker Jean-Luc Godard.