Enjoying Quebec City During Winter

Quebec City Winter Offers Many Activities to Enjoy 

We took the train in winter to Quebec City.  We have stopped in Quebec City before. Summer road trips to Eastern Canada.  We usually only stayed a short time and saw very little.  We enjoyed our stay one year. A visit to Montmorency Falls.  We planned this trip to allow us to enjoy all the things there are to do and see in Quebec City.

Enjoy a wonderful stay at the Quebec City Marriott DowntownThe perfect base for any project Explore the Old City Venture down to the charming Petit Champlain, located under the ramparts.  One day, we planned to spend a relaxing day in the Strom Nordic Spa.  We also went to the day trip in another day. Village Vacances Valcartier  and Ice Hotel – Enjoy the Ice HotelPlease see below for more information. Hotel De Glace.  The perfect 5-day getaway in Quebec City

A short stop in Ottawa on our return trip by train completed our journey.

Take The Train to Quebec City

When we visited Europe, we planned lots of travel by train.  Unfortunately, there were not as many train routes available in Canada.  The train was a great way to travel in the winter.  

We looked at the time and cost of flying to Quebec City.  We were reminded of the high cost of short-haul air travel in Canada.  ViaRailDavid was offered a military discount and a senior discount on train travel.  When we priced our trip to Quebec by train, it was significantly less expensive even when booking in Business Class.  We had some great memories of our trip. Other VIA Rail Business Class Trips.

We spent much more time on the train, even though it was cheaper.  But it still was about the same time it would take to drive – even assuming no winter weather or traffic delays!  We set our alarms and arrived at Toronto Union Station by 6am to begin our long journey.

Coffee was served in the Business Class lounge as we awoke.  The sun was rising over Lake Ontario as we ate breakfast on the train.

Business Class on ViaRailThe seats were larger, there was good wifi and plugs on the seat.  It was easy to do work while the scenery passed.  We pulled into Montreal on time to change trains and left again on time.  Our train trip from Montreal to Quebec City was delayed by several hours as we stopped to let four freight trains pass.  We were glad it did not happen during the first leg, when we could have missed our connection.

As we moved to Quebec, we finally saw snow on ground and ice in the waterways.  As we crossed the St Lawrence River, we saw floating ice.  The weather forecast for the 5 days we spent in Quebec City was so variable that we weren’t sure how much winter weather we would actually experience.

The train was a convenient way to begin our winter visit to Quebec City.

Arriving in Quebec City

Our train arrived in Quebec City nearly 30 minutes late.  We were transported back in time by a stroll through this beautiful train station.  We did not want a sluggish walk, but we could not resist stopping to admire this unique station.

After about 10 hour on the train, we needed to stretch.  Apple Maps indicated that our hotel was only 18 minutes away.  A small indicator indicated an incline.  We ignored the warning but continued to walk towards the hotel.  

We were unsure if we were on the right road when we reached the top of the hill. So we stayed at the lower level.  Then we found out that it took us about 100 steps to reach the old city.  It was a great way to get moving after spending the day sitting down.

As we hit the Place D’YouvilleWe caught our first glimpse of the charming and historic city of Quebec.  This city is a great reminder of why it was a European delight in Canada.  We saw the Porte Saint-Jean entrance to the old town, and we saw skaters on a rink.  Our first sight of Quebec City was spectacular.

A Sweet Suite with a View

Arriving at the Quebec City Marriott DowntownWe were welcomed warmly and with European charm.  The lobby featured several fireplaces. The stained glass and chandelier were stunning.

Germaine the concierge had already sent some suggestions for our very first night in town.  Our upgraded suite was greeted by a nice welcome item.

The Executive Suite provided us with plenty of space to enjoy during our 5-day stay in Quebec City.  It was great that there was a soaking bath to warm me up when I returned from exploring the city.

The view from my room looked out across the Place D’Youville. It was an amazing view that made us want to explore Quebec City even in the winter.

Wandering Around Upper Quebec City

You can also read about how to get started. Wander around the Old Town of Quebec CityWe went down the Rue Saint-Jean, under the Porte Saint-Jean.  There was so many things to see and discover. We stopped at the Basilica Cathedral Notre Dame de QuebecBut left quickly as a church service was taking place in the middle of the day.

Dufferin Terrace is a stunning terrace that overlooks the St. Lawrence River. The iconic Dufferin Terrace. Fairmont Chateau FrontenacOn the boardwalk, it was easy to see. The monument to Samuel de Champlain watched over the city that he founded. We saw this statue from different angles as the weather changed in Quebec City.

We strolled along the Promenade and gazed out over the St Lawrence River.  Levis was located across the river.  We watched the ferry struggle to cross the icy canal.

We came across the promenade along the way. Toboggan Slide.  The run began high up on a set of steps under the Citadelle.  After paying your tickets, you grabbed your toboggan and pulled it up the stairs until the top of the run.  Riders then headed down the toboggan tracks for a fun ride.  On the day we arrived, the weather warmed and we saw the last toboggan run of the season.

We walked under the Citadelle after wandering along the top of St Lawrence River.  We found the Parliament Buildings after leaving the Old Town through the St Louis Gate. The Kent Gate, which led back to Old Town Quebec City..

We walked into and out of the gates. Wander through the Old TownVisit Quebec City in winter.

Enjoying Relaxation at Strom Nordic Spa

The following is a list of the most recent and relevant articles. We visited Collingwood, north of Toronto, in the winterWe had a great day at the Scandinave Nordic Spa.  When we learned that the Strom Nordic SpaIt was high on our priority list to visit a certain location in Quebec City.  The trick was to pick the right day.  The forecast for Quebec City started with sunshine and rain, then plunged into incredibly cold temperatures, before returning to sunshine.  We decided the milder, rainy day was much better than a day of arctic temperatures.  We were so wrong!

We took a taxi to the spa, and arrived shortly after it opened at 9am. Massages were booked for 11:15.  The facility was right on the St Lawrence River.  Many of the pools offered views over the icy river.

We received locker keys and robes.  We were amused when we found hats with fuzzy pompoms in one of the spa package items.  Many people at the spa wore winter hats while they moved about.

On our spa day in Collingwood, we learned that we wanted to relax first before getting a massage.  We spent several hours moving from large hot pool to saunas, with a relaxing stop on the infrared gravitation chairs.  The cold winter air was not blocked by the St Lawrence River.  We avoided the cold plunges during this spa visit because it was enough to make us shiver as we walked from pool-to-pool.

We changed indoors just before our booked massage.  The couples massage was probably easier because our muscles were already warm.

Relaxing morning at the Strom Nordic SpaIt was a real treat to visit Quebec City during the winter.

Lunch with a View At The Spa

There were a number of different packages for the spa visit.  We found that the mid-week discount was quite good.  We bought the Weekday Serenity PackageWe got our thermal visit as well as a massage and a lunch.  Our lunch spot was already reserved when we checked-in, after our massage.  

You can also find out more about the following: Le Nord RestauranWe had a great view of the spa, the St. Lawrence River and the many tables at the spa.  We found out that only spa clients could eat in this busy restaurant.  Most people ate in their robes, then returned to the spa.  We were done with the day, so we changed before going for lunch.  

We were pleasantly surprised by the excellent choices that we received for our meal package, as we had no idea what to expect.  We ordered drinks but did not have room for dessert.

A healthy lunch was the perfect way to end our day. Strom Nordic SpaVisit Quebec City in winter.

Visit the Hotel de Glace in Valcartier

We chose a rainy day to visit the spa, so that meant Our visit to the Hotel de GlaceThe temperature plummeted to a “feels like”Temperatures of about -18F or -28C.  When we arrived on site, the indoor temperature was -10C.

You can also find out more about us on our website. UnitourThe package included a round trip bus from Quebec City as well as a ticket to visit the Hotel de Glace.  The bus dropped us at the Village Vacances Valcartier.  This huge amusement park offered a variety of activities in the summer and winter.  On this visit, we only visited to explore. Hotel de Glace. 

Each year, the ice hotel had a different theme. This made every visit unique.  The Hotel de Glace had three different buildings.  The first building we looked at was the Chapel, which could be used for weddings or engagements.

We then moved from one room to another around the main space.  As we explored the space, we discovered amazing ice designs and colours, as well as music.  We were able to enjoy tasty drinks at the bar in the center.  David tried out the ice slide to have more fun.

The designs on the Hotel de GlaceWe were fascinated.  We were treated to a wonderful artistic experience during our winter visit to Quebec City.

The Icy Hotel Rooms to Rent

You can learn more about it here. Hotel portion of the bill Hotel de GlaceThe ice design was stunning.  We were amazed at the creativity of each room as we moved from one to another.  Some of the rooms were simple, with single, double and triple beds.  But the artistic designs in suites really caught our eye.  

Even the walls were decorated with ice sculptures.  We found interesting designs everywhere.

As we explored the halls, we felt as if we were in a gallery of ice art. Hotel de Glace .  We were so happy to have planned this visit during our winter trip in Quebec City.

Discovering the Charming Petit Champlain

We saw the old buildings as we walked along the Dufferin Terrace. Petit Champlain has a charm all its own.  If we didn’t want to walk, a funicular would take us up and down. But we took the steep Breakneck Stairs to descend and followed the streets.

We enjoyed a leisurely stroll through the streets of Petit Champlain. We discovered interesting local shops on the way. A colourful mural on a building made us stop.

We found firepits decorated with seasonal colors.  We lit fires and stopped to warm up while we wandered through the streets.  

Quebec City is not complete without Enjoy a stroll through the charming Petit Champlain area.  We were happy we did not miss it during our stay in Quebec City, in the winter.

Eating And Drinking Our Way Around Quebec City

One of the greatest Marriott Bonvoy Elite Status: BenefitsBreakfast was provided for free.  The breakfast was included in our room rate.  The breakfast at the hotel was excellent. Quebec City Marriott DowntownThe chef prepared an omelette on request.  

The menu at the Que Sera Sera The RestaurantThe hotel provided some good local options.  It was a pleasant surprise to discover that red ale and French onion soup were a good combination.  We enjoyed our long conversations with the waiter Cedric.  He created a fantastic seasonal cocktail list that we had try.  Cedric gave us some ideas on where to eat and drink in the city.

Germaine, our concierge, always had great recommendations for restaurants.  Lunch at AlphonseIn a former Desjardins Caisse PopularThe bank building exceeded expectations.  It was also fun to see the artifacts from the old bank. 

The following is a list of the most recent and relevant articles. We explored the Petit Champlain areaWe made a reservation for a hotel at Le Lapin SautéThere were many different dishes to choose from.  Of course we had rabbit (or “lapin”In French only)

The following is a list of the most recent and relevant articles. We wandered around Quebec CityWe found a wide variety of local foods.  There are many different maple syrups.  We couldn’t resist the opportunity to try the Mary’s PopcornRecommended by our bus driver.  It reminded us of the Garrett’s Popcorn we became addicted to Visit Chicago.

Quebec City was easy to navigate.  Our winter visit to Quebec City was made more difficult by the extra cold temperatures.  We knew that we missed out on a lot of great food.  I’m sure I’ll want to visit. Maison LivernoisReturning to the gin distillery for a second visit!

A Short Stop In Ottawa

Our vehicle is on its way to Quebec City. Via RailMontreal was a quick stop to change trains.  On the way back to Toronto, we passed through Montreal and Ottawa.  It was a long travel day.  We decided to stay in Ottawa for a couple of days before returning home.

We chose to remain at the Westin OttawaWe are located within walking distance to the city centre.  We are within walking distance of the downtown area. Ottawa is a place I have visited many timesWe had no high priority items on our list. The hotel was located right next to the Rideau Canal.  We were disappointed that we had missed the Winterlude Festival but hoped to see the Rideau Canal frozen.  The ice was thin and wet this year due to the strange weather patterns.

On our travels to Canada, we were always delighted to discover another iconic Fairmont Hotel.  After seeing the Fairmont Chateau FrontenacWe wandered the streets of Quebec City. Fairmont Chateau LaurierIn Ottawa, we checked out the design.  We were disappointed that we did not book a short break to enjoy Afternoon Tea in either of these beautiful locations. We had such fond memories. Afternoon tea at the Fairmont EmpressVictoria, BC.

The ByWard Market, a few minutes walk from our Hotel.  We have always enjoyed the variety of restaurants in this region.  Local treats are great too.  We also came across some colourful pieces of street art while wandering around. 

We were glad to have a quick stop in Ottawa after a long day of travel when we visited Quebec City during the winter.

We enjoyed our visit to Quebec City in the Winter 

Our travel wish list had been a long time in the making. We’d always wanted to visit Quebec City during the winter.  We were thrilled with our first longer stay and we know we’ll be back.

Our charming hotel is located in the perfect location. Explore the old part of Quebec CityOur first exploration of Petit Champlain.  Relaxing at the spa Strom Nordic SpaThe a Day trip to Hotel de GlaceIce HotelValcartier was the perfect way to end our trip.  We sampled the wonderful food and drink that this European-style city offered.  We knew that there was still much more to explore.

Did you enjoy Quebec City during the winter months?  What was your favorite thing to do or see?

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