by Inga Aksamit

n Quebec City, with its ancient walled village, intimate plazas, sidewalk cafes and narrow, cobblestone streets evoking images of the old world, it is hard not to be charmed. Throw in the proud francophone culture, free nightly outdoor performances (5 nights a week in summer) by Cirque du Soleil and award winning cuisine and it’s easy to see why visiting Quebec City is like taking a trip to Europe without the jet lag. It’s hard to believe that all of this is in North America, but we’re lucky that it is.

On a recent trip, my husband, Steve, and I tried to do it all, visiting the ancient walled city, a UNESCO Heritage Site, and the area surrounding Quebec City. We discovered a sophisticated city that reveres its past while embracing the modern world, and vast recreation lands a stone’s throw away.

Visiting Quebec City is like taking a trip to Europe without the jet lag.

We toured the walled city high up on a hill and gazed down at the Saint Lawrence Seaway sweeping away towards the sea. We saw an international mountain biking competition at the Mont Sainte Anne ski area just 30 minutes away. Inspired by the entrepreneurial spirit of the Huron-Wendat First Nations people, we toured the Hotel-Musee Premieres Nations and Sagamite Restaurant in the walkable village of Wendake, a half hour from Quebec City. Finding thrills in the rugged Vallee Bras-Du-Nord, we rappelled down waterfalls with Canyoneering-Quebec, and canoed down the placid Bras-Du-Nord River.

Our hotel, the Hotel Pur, was a vision of modernity, washed entirely in white. The white on white monochromatic look contrasted with the ancient Saint Roch Church outside our window, topped with a golden saint flanked by his trusty ompanion, a dog. The statue stood watch over our room night and day, staring straight into our room on the 15th floor.

Two blocks away, Largo Restaurant, with its Mediterranean-inspired menu, served osso buco falling off the bone and expertly prepared sweetbreads. Largo supports the local arts by hosting jazz music performances and showcasing
works by local artists.

Over nine million visitors a year are attracted to the charms of historic Quebec City, for good reason, but we found an eclectic range of recreational activities far beyond the walls of the city.

Quebec City Tourism: www.quebecregion.com/en.
Hotel Pur: www.hotelpur.com/en/index.php.

Inga Aksamit is a freelance travel writer based
in Marin County, California.

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