Montmorency Falls, 5300 Boulevard Sainte-Anne, Ville de Québec, QC G1C 1S1, Canada
Just minutes away from downtown Quebec City is a magnificent waterfall, at 272’ it is taller than Niagara Falls!
Take the stairs up for continual views of the falls, along with the surrounding area, and the city back in the distance.
Caution: you will get wet! Bring a rain jacket. Follow the well worn path to reach the suspension bridge that spans the length of the falls and watch the trail of mist.
Ile d’Orleans
Cross the bridge to a whole different world, a vacation from your vacation. Quebec’s cornucopia is an island in the middle of the Saint Lawrence River, filled with glorious vistas and flowering farms.
Count the red roofs which seem to be in style and pick a sugar shack to visit.
The journey is the destination. Drive the perimeter road for a wonderful day in the countryside. Two spots to get you started, not far from the bridge are:
Cassis Monna & Filles, 1225 Chemin Royal, Saint-Pierre-de-l’Île-d’Orléans, QC G0A 4E0, Canada
Ile d’Orleans is the perfect spot to grow black currants, just look at the flourishing fields across from the shop. Stop by the cellar to sample some tasty black currant wine and other products!
Espace Félix Leclerc Arboretum, 682, Chemin Royal Saint-Pierre-de-l’Île d’Orléans, QC G0A 4E0
If you spy a huge sculpture playing guitar and taking in the view, you may make a quick u-turn like I did.
The arboretum is named from the famous Québécois singer and there is a 1.5 mile trail leading through the woods down towards the Saint Lawrence River. There are sporadic sculptures along the way,
lush green flora,
and plenty of wildlife!
Jacques-Cartier National Park, 103 chemin du Parc-National, Stoneham-et-Tewkesbury, QC G3C 2T5, Canada
Couldn’t resist the lure of a national park so close to the city! Even if you aren’t into hiking, consider driving the road and take in this amazing natural scene from the car. The river,
the mountains,
the wildlife,
all incredible. There are also plenty of water sports to participate in, and camping. The weekend we visited was very rainy so the river had flooded the road and we weren’t able to drive to the end or hike any trails past mile marker 23. Can’t complain, because all of the water created some pretty gorgeous roadside waterfalls
and some ethereal foggy landscapes.
After speaking with a ranger in the visitor’s center we decided on the Les Coulees, an approximately 6 ½ mile moderate loop. The hike starts innocently enough through the woods. Eventually you will join a creek and begin heading steadily uphill. The forest is serene and there were many wildflowers including some ginormous red trillium during our early spring visit.
There weren’t really any views until the bridge which had a great waterfall flowing underneath.
Soon after at the junction follow the sign in the direction that the eyeball points!
It is of course, further uphill – but totally worth it. Layers upon layers of good Canadian mountains and a gem of a lake!
A flawless little vista. The walk back was pretty.
What made it super memorable was the fact that we got *poured* on and found out our rain jackets really didn’t keep out the rain and my socks can hold about 3 liters of water. It was a fun experience!
So much to see in Canada…always a second trip!
Ahh! I went to Quebec in November and loved it! I didn’t get to take these day trips, sadly, so thanks for posting your experience 🙂