Québec 2018
Over the Summer of 2018, Zach and I went on a road trip to Québec City to trace our roots and celebrate the summer in style. Here is what we did, where we stayed, and all the advice I can give about a short stay in Québec.
Day One
Packing
Before starting our adventure, we both needed to make sure that we had everything ready. After multiple shopping sprees, Zach and I believed we had successfully packed all we would need for a three day trip into two backpacks. Our overall goal for this trip, besides celebrating our anniversary, was to gain experience for future backpacking adventures. The hardest part for me was definitely trying to pack light for once! I am usually the girl that will pack a suitcase for an overnight trip…I know, it’s awful. However, in the true backpacking spirit, I had to limit myself. This actually came as a blessing in disguise as I found out later. Selecting only your favorite items in your bag makes getting ready in the AM faster and easier, which leaves more time for you to go out and explore! I’ll have a separate blog post sometime soon about my travel makeup, AKA the best items in my makeup bag. Zach was in charge of finding the travel bags and in return I supplied us with the essentials: two fashionable passport holders to cross the border with.
The Drive Up North
At 5:00AM we both woke ourselves up and hit the road for our 5 hour drive. I absolutely love waking up early if it means I’m going exploring. Zach, on the other hand, wasn’t too happy with the early wake up. We did this just in case we wanted to stop along the way for food or photos. We ended up getting Dunkin’ and I picked up the cutest pamphlet labeled “Coffee News”. It was a little newspaper filled with jokes, horoscopes and stories. I was so happy & it kept the dad-joke-loving side of me very satisfied. Just like we planned, at 8:30 AM Zach and I made our way to a small outlook/rest stop outside Jackman, Maine called the “Attean View”. It was absolutely breathtaking & it felt like we were in the clouds. We finally made it to the border for 9 AM and getting through Canadian customs was extremely quick, simple, and easy. After crossing the border, we swore to only listen to french music (you know, to keep it official) and it was a straight shot to Quebec City.
Checking In
We stayed at the Auberge Jeunesse LouLou’s Backpacker Hostel, and I do not regret it! It was $50 per night in a double room, which is so cheap compared to most hotels in the area. Once again, we were preparing ourselves for backpacking through Europe, so we planned to stay in a hostel to gain experience. It was barely any different than a hotel, and so much cheaper. The hostel was clean, the hosts were super friendly, and it was so close to the city. We unpacked, got settled in, and then head into the city to explore, grab a bite to eat, and transfer our money.
First impression
We knew two things, one, I was getting hangry, and two, we needed to transfer money. So, we wandered around and found a money transferring business and got our Canadian currency! We then walked around and stumbled upon a cute little café where I picked up some gelato. Looking back on it, we were so confused and lost, but after a few hours we began to find our way almost on instinct.
Aquarium du Québec
We then headed to the aquarium to see some sea creatures as I had seen online that it was quite a sight to see! This aquarium blew me away. I had never seen such a carefully crafted, and experience based aquarium attraction. Walking through the exhibits there was music, lights and props to keep visitors interested. There were also parks, ponds, art, multiple outdoor exhibits and live shows. I was so impressed by the variety of animals, the cleanliness and just how beautiful everything looked!
A Night In The City
After the aquarium, we went home to get refreshed and we took a light snooze. It felt so good to rest after a day of travel & exploring. Then, we woke up and got ready to enjoy a night out on the town. The Promenade du Champlain was so beautiful at sunset, and I fell in love with the bronze horse sculptures. Inside the body frame of the horses were several other figures that made up the form. I also fell in love with the city vibe at night. Everyone was ready to eat and enjoy themselves. As we were walking and deciding where we wanted to grab a bite, we walked down Rue Saint-Jean and heard a street performer. Oddly enough, the singer had the same last name as Zach’s family! It was so nice to sit on the sidewalk and listen a bit before we filled our bellies. After a lot of walking back and forth and contemplating (a symptom of excessive hangry-ness) we finally sat down at Les Trois Garcons for some poutine. After that, we walked the streets and stopped into a candy store to pick up a souvenir for my niece. This candy shop had so many fun & unique gummies and candies that I have never seen before, including a gummy snake that was at least 2 feet long! (My niece absolutely loved seeing all the cute gummies by the way.) As we were walking back to the parking lot, we head a lot of commotion, and saw our first live street show! Turns out that Quebec City has a very large street performing culture, and it is a very important part of a nightly outing. There were bleachers and stage lights all set up to watch the show, and Zach and I were so impressed. We then headed home after a very successful first day in Canada.
Day Two
Walking The Promenade
The morning on the promenade was the perfect time to walk slow and take some scenic pictures. Since it was in the morning it wasn’t burning hot out, which made everything more enjoyable. I loved this angel wings art installation, and had some fun posing in front of it, while Zach most enjoyed the concrete steps that fade into the sea. I knew that this day was going to be filled with walking, so I opted for a more playful outfit with some converse and an overall skirt.
Brunch
We then walked on over to a brunch spot I had checked out the night before, called Cochon Dingue. It was so french and cute inside, and it made me feel so at home. I loved all of the cute decor, and the food was amazing as well! I ordered the berry crepes and Zach had a traditional breakfast plate.
Exploring The City
After our bellies were full, we decided to explore with no plan in mind, just to wander and see the sights. We found ourselves on the boardwalk behind the Chateau de Frontenac and then saw a large staircase and decided to go up it.
Citadelle de Québec
At the very top of the steps, was the Citadelle de Quebec, so naturally, we had to explore inside. We walked around and then discovered a new area of the city that we had never seen before! We realized that the Museum of Fine Arts was in the same area, and we walked around trying to find it.
Parliament Building
Across the street form the Citadelle was the Parliament building, with a large and beautiful fountain in front of it. Of course, I had to take some pics (poor Zach, always having to be my photographer).
Stairs of Abraham
Before we went to the Museum of Fine Arts, we had to move the car from the parking spot we were in as the meter was about to run out! As we were trying to find the quickest route to get to the car, we came across this staircase that was so steep, and so long! It amazed me how people were running up the entire flight of stairs!
Musée National des Beaux-arts du Québec
We finally got to the Musée National des Beaux-arts du Québec and I got in free with my MFA badge! It made me feel so proud to be a museum employee and be recognized in another country. I loved the design and all of the floral arrangements in front of the entrance. Also, the layout of the museum was very well organized and it was so easy to navigate. They had every genre of art sectioned into a different building and it all went underground in tunnels to different buildings. I found it so fun and fascinating to walk through and instantly be transported to another area of art.
Observatoire de la Capitale
Next stop was the observation center where we could look over the entire city of Quebec! It was so beautiful and there was also an educational aspect as well with interactive videos and information.
Dinner Time!
Our second dinner was at a restaurant called D’orsay. I ordered a fettuccine alfredo and Zach got clam chowder. We then walked around and went inside the Chateau de Frontenac. Afterwards, we saw two more street performers, went back to the hostel to watch a movie and called it a night.
Day Three
Last Look At The City
Our last morning in Canada was so sad! I never want to leave new places because I get addicted to the feeling of exploring somewhere new. The night before, I looked up on instagram some photo worthy destinations, and we scouted them out before our last breakfast. We found this umbrella sky, and I was so captivated by the vibrant colors. We also saw the tiniest coat and I almost cried at its cuteness.
Breakfast
Our last breakfast was at a café called La Maison Smith for a quick bite a coffee fix. It was super cute & yummy (just how I like it)!
Île d'Orléans Exploration
Our last activity was visiting the island that both of our families are from! It was such a neat and heartwarming experience for both of us. We got to see and actually go inside a cabin that one of Zach’s ancestors built! We also visited the first fromagerie and a very cute chocolaterie!
Heading Home
Just like that, the trip was over. Until next time Canada, I miss you!
Thanks for reading, and happy traveling! xoxo- Soph
co-created by Zach & Soph
