Fodor's Montreal and Quebec City 2001

by FODOR'S

• ISBN13: 9780679005865
• ISBN10: 0679005862
• Format: Trade Paper
• Copyright: 2001-02-13
• Publisher: Fodor's

Summary

"Fodor's guides cover culture authoritatively and rarely miss a sight or museum."National Geographic Traveler "The king of guidebooks."Newsweek No matter what your budget or whether it's your first trip or fifteenth, Fodor's Gold Guides get you where you want to go. Insider info that's totally up to date.Every year our local experts give you the inside track, showing you all the things to see and do from must-see sights to off-the-beaten-path adventures, from shopping to outdoor fun. Hundreds of hotel and restaurant choices in all price ranges from budget-friendly B&Bs to luxury hotels, from casual eateries to the hottest new restaurants, complete with thorough reviews showing what makes each place special. Smart Travel Tips A to Zsection helps you take care of the nitty gritty with essential local contacts and great advice from how to take your mountain bike with you to what to do in an emergency. Full-size, foldout mapkeeps you on course.

Excerpts

Destination: Montreal and Quebec City

Quebec is the largest and oldest of Canada's provinces, covering 600,000 square miles of land and waterways, one-sixth of Canada's land. Of Quebec's 6,627,000 inhabitants, 5,300,000 are French-speaking — over 80% of the French-speaking population of Canada. Although Montreal and Quebec City are linked by their history and culture, no two cities could be more different.

History buffs and romantics will want to roam the winding cobblestone streets of Quebec City, the capital of the province. Its French colonial history is evident in its architecture, silver-spired churches, and grand cathedrals. In Montréal the Old World meets the New with French bistros and postmodern skyscrapers vying for the limelight. Québec may be the center of the province's government, but Montreal is the business center. Much like New York City, Montreal has attracted a large immigrant population, and its ethnic diversity can be seen in its wide range of restaurants and enclaves. It is not only considered the Canadian center for book publishing, the film industry, and architecture and design; it is also considered the unrivaled bagel capital of Canada.

Dining

Canadian fine dining really began in Quebec, where eating out in a good restaurant with a good bottle of wine has long been a traditional part of life. Montreal can claim many superb restaurants that serve both classic and innovative French cuisine. The city's varied population has also made it rich in ethnic restaurants from delis to Asian eateries. Quebec City has a narrower range of choices, but good French and Quebecois fare are available, and some fine new restaurants have opened recently. In the countryside a number of inns, including some in the Eastern Townships, provide food that can compete with any served in the cities for freshness and creativity. Hearty meat pies, pates, and creative uses of maple syrup are traditional specialties throughout the province. When you're in Quebec, do as the locals do and order the table d'hóte, a several-course package deal that is often cheaper and may give you a chance to sample some special dishes.

French Heritage

To visit Quebec is to encounter more than 450 years of French civilization in North America. The well-preserved streets of Vieux-Montreal and the Upper and Lower Towns of Quebec City hold centuries-old buildings filled with history. Churches such as the Basilique Notre-Dame-de-Quebec in Quebec City, the Basilique Notre-Dame-de-Montreal in Montreal, and the Basilique Ste-Anne-de-Beaupre in Ste-Anne-de-Beaupre tell part of the story. Excellent museums, including the Muesee d'Archeologie Pointe-a-Calliere in Montreal and the Musee de la Civilisation and the Musee de Quebec in Quebec City, add further insight. But history is alive in Quebec: in the language, the people, and the arts. Whether you're sitting in a cafe, walking through a beautiful botanical garden, or just strolling the city streets at night, you'll enter a different culture.

The Great Outdoors

Most Canadians live in towns and cities within 325 km (200 mi) of the American border, but the country has a splendid backyard to play in. Even major cities like Montreal and Quebec city are just a few hours drive from a wilderness full of rivers, lakes, and mountains, and lovely rural areas are even closer. It's easy to combine a visit to Quebec's cities with a side trip to the countryside. The Laurentian Mountains, with the revitalized Mont-Tremblant ski resort, are just an hour north of Montreal, and the hills and lakes of the bucolic Eastern Townships lie to the city's southeast. The Ile d'Orleans, just 15 minutes from Quebec City, embodies the traditional lifestyle of rural Quebec and is well worth exploring. The lovely villages, mountains, and waterfalls of the Charlevoix stretch along the north shore of the St. Lawrence River from Ste-Anne-de-Beaupre to the Saguenay River.

Native Canadian Art

Interest has grown in the highly collectible art and sculpture of the Inuit, usually rendered in soapstone. For the best price and a guarantee of authenticity, purchase Inuit and other native crafts in the province where they originate. Many styles are now attributed to certain tribes and are mass-produced for sale in galleries and shops miles away from their regions of origin. At the very top galleries you can be assured of getting pieces done by individual artists, though the prices will be higher than in the provinces of origin. The Canadian government has registered the symbol of an igloo as a mark of a work's authenticity. Be sure this Canadian government sticker or tag is attached before you make your purchase.

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Excerpted from Montreal and Quebec by Fodor's Travel Publications, Inc. Staff
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