Can't Make It To France This Summer? Try Québec Instead!
As much as we all wish we could take a European vacation every year, some times it just isn't possible. So, if this year has you dreaming of a trip to France, but your vacation schedule or your wallet just won't allow a trip across the pond, why not consider visiting Québec instead.
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| By Carolyn Aiken via |
If you live in the Northeast or the Midwest, it is an easy flight (or even a drive for New Englanders and New Yorkers) to either Montreal or Québec City, two cities which will instantly make you think you have been transported to France.
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In Montreal, explore Vieux Montreal, see the beautiful Notre-Dame Basilica, the stunning Jardin Botanique de Montreal, admire the art at the Musee des Beaux-Arts and take a carriage ride through the Parc du Mont Royal.
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Indulge in your favorite French food...crepes and quiche at Marché de la Villette, chocolat chaud and profiteroles at Juliette et Chocolat, croque monsieur at L’Express, or go for a true French gastronomic experience at Les Deux Singes de Montarvie.
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Stay at the luxurious Hotel Le Saint James in the heart of Vieux Montreal for a classic European atmosphere in a historic building.
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A little further north, Québec City should satisfy even the most avid Francophile...
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Stroll through Old Québec and you might as well be in Montmartre...there is even a funiculaire! A UNESCO World Heritage site with buildings dating back to the 1600's, the historic walking area is reminiscent of those found in Europe's most classic
cities, with plenty of shops, European-style eateries, sidewalk cafés,
parks and more.
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Just as in Montreal, you should have no trouble satisfying any cravings for classic French food, sidewalk cafes and traditional European ambience. Two not to miss...Café Chez Temporel, a prototypical French cafe, and Le Moine Échanson, for the wine lover. To get your chocolate fix, go to Choco-Musée Érico.
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And for those of us who love Shakespeare and Company in Paris, Librairie St.-Jean-Baptiste will easily fill that void.
Love the markets in France? Don't miss the Marche Vieux Port.
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For the quintessential Québécois (read French) hotel, stay at the Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac, the centerpiece of Old Québec, which sits above the city like a castle in the Loire Valley.
So, what are you waiting for? Head north of the border to experience la belle vie Francaise au Québec!