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The funicular (692-1132)
is the shortest link between Dufferin Terrace at the Chateau Frontenac
and Quartier Petit Champlain in the lower city. This landmark and
unique transportation vehicle provides commanding views of the St.
Lawrence River. It is wheelchair accessible. Take a ferry ride
across the river for a spectacular perspective of the walled city.
It leaves every half hour during the day and every hour at night
(644-3704). The frozen falls at Montmorency
Falls Park (663-3330) are one-and-a-half times higher than Niagara
Falls. Cable cars, bridges lookouts and trails make it possible
to get close to the falls. For ice climbing, L’Ascensation
(647-4422) rents equipment and provides guides. At Village Vacances Valcartier
(844-2200; above), 20 minutes north of the city, go snow
rafting, sliding and tubing on 38 slides; skate
through a forest; race go-karts on an ice-covered track;
snowmobile, ride horseback, dogsled or take a sleigh ride.
In the city, you can cross-country
ski on the Plains of Abraham (649-6476 for information; 648-4212
for trail conditions) or snowshoe or take a sleigh ride
(687-0707). Station Touristique Duchesnay, surrounding the Ice Hotel,
20 minutes north of Québec, has 150 km. of cross-country
trails that wind almost exclusively through evergreens. Side-by-side
tracks make cross-country for couples enjoyable. In the spring a
stop at the sugar house is a good time. The Greater Québec
area is home to 1,512 km. of snowmobile trails. For rentals
and guided tours, try Laurentides Sports Service Inc. in Charlesbourg
(849-2824); Location S.M. Sport in Loretteville (842-2703); or Dion
Moto (337-2776). The history and culture of
the region is captured in many museums and interpretation
centers throughout Old Québec City. Begin with a three-site
ticket (C$8.50) for the Musee de la civilisation (85 rue Dalhousie,
643-2158), Musee de l’Amerique francaise (2 cote de la Fabrique,
692-2843) and Centre d’interpretation de Place-Royale (27 rue
Notre-Dame, 646-3167). You’ll be swallowed up in human adventure,
the origins of the French-speaking world and 400 years of Place-Royale—the
first permanent French settlement in North America, established
in 1608. (Winter hours: 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Tuesday–Sunday;
admission is free every Tuesday). Also worth visiting: Musee national
des beaux-arts du Quebec (643-2150), the national art gallery partly
housed in a former prison annexed to the 1933 museum by a glassed-in
space (Wednesday has evening hours); Musee du Fort (692-2175) with
a sound-and-light show on the famous battles of the city; and Musee
d’art Inuit Brousseau (694-1828), the first museum dedicated
exclusively to Inuit art and culture. The Citadelle (694-2815) is
the largest military fortification in North America still occupied
by regular troops and the official residence of Governor General
of Canada. It was built in 1820-1832 to protect the city from invaders. The narrow streets of Le Quartier Petit Champlain, in Vieux-Québec, are lined with ancient stone buildings housing boutiques with traditional and contemporary Canadian artwork, crafts, clothing and more. Artists sell their work on the pedestrian alleyway, Rue du Tresor, off Place d’Armes. The Galeries de la Capitale not only has 250 shops, but an amusement center. Boutique Metiers d’art at 29, Notre-Dame, has a vast collection of local and regional art. Potenciel L’Art de la Table, 27 rue du Petite Champlain, is a cook’s heaven of upscale tools, cookbooks and trinkets for the kitchen. Zazu Boutique, 31, rue du Petite Champlain, just down the narrow street, features one-of-a-kind Montreal and Quebec designer women’s clothing, such as hand-stitched parkas and coats with fur hoods and fashionable outer clothing for the below-zero temperatures in Québec. Other Québec Links Home | Dining | Lodging | Nightlife | Photos | Getting There Home | News & Features | Weather & Snow | Resorts | Top 10s | Press Access | About Us | Contact Us |
On
the Terrasse Dufferin there is a not-to-be-missed, exciting toboggan
ride that is open most days from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Cost is only
C$2 per rider. You can ice skate for C$5 at a rink nearby.
