Last Updated on March 17, 2023 by PowersToTravel
I wonder why it has taken us so long to visit Quebec Province. I’ve lived in New England more than half my life and never made Quebec my go-to destination.
But this summer, we sliced out ten days to make a road trip from Rhode Island to Montreal, then over to Quebec City. We then drove across Maine to Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park. Lastly we drove to Portland Maine, to visit my parents, and then on to home in Newport, Rhode Island.
This is a quick trip report complete with the nightly collages and nightly messages to friends and family.
Day 1 – It’s an easy drive from New England to Montreal
We are in Montreal! We left Newport, Rhode Island, this morning and had a lovely uneventful drive through RI, MA, NH, VT and then into Canada. It’s a good thing Mom and Dad picked up up actual paper maps for us because when we followed the signs and rest of the traffic in Canada to get to Montreal, our GPS thought we were in farm fields. I couldn’t find Google Maps on Greg’s phone, and our car’s GPS’s maps are 8 years old.
Well, that was fun but no big deal at all, but paper maps were great. The problem came when our car’s GPS dumped us right in downtown Montreal at rush-hour. We finally arrived!
We went to Beni Hanna’s (famous hibachi chain) and were extremely disappointed. Our local Tokyo restaurant is so much better. But Greg got pictures.
Notice I put Diet Dr Pepper as the primary picture?
Hotel: Hotel Le Chablis Cadillac. We are staying at a 3-star place about 11 metro stops east of the city – lower cost, free parking and free breakfast. It’s a pretty good place – the two problems are 1) crummy pillow for Greg (I brought my own!) and 2) there are dimmable pot lights in the ceiling and they don’t quite shut off, ever. I luckily brought my sleeping mask so didn’t have any problems! Another downer is the very slow wifi. But, not bad for saving about $200 a night!
Day 2 – Sightseeing in Montreal
Notre Dame Basilica, Carriage Ride, Pointe-a-Calliere Museum, Rue Saint Paul, Old Port, Bateau Mouche, Place D’Armes, Place Jacques Cartier
Today was a scorcher. Generally I like to travel in the spring or fall, and generally I don’t have to sightsee in hot sun and the high ’80s. The sun up here reminds me of the sun in Norway – it seems to be like at a 45 degree angle due to the higher latitudes, which means that it hits me in the eyes at this angle whatever the time of day. I was kind of overwhelmed by the sun and heat.
But it was a very nice day. We took the metro into downtown, first took a carriage ride to get the lay of the land, and do it before it got too hot. Then we went to the Notre Dame Basilica – wow what a beautiful interior! Next was the Pointe-a-Calliere Museum – really neat with walkways down in the bowels of the city. The picture is of an old sewer!
Then it was lunch, a wee wander around the shops, and then a ride on the Bateau Mouche. We were supposed to go up in the Ferris Wheel but we decided to go back to our hotel to rest.
Day 3 – More Sightseeing in Montreal
Tower of Montreal, St. Joseph’s Oratory
This is the last of Montreal. Today we started with a metro-ride to the Tower of Montreal at the former Olympic site, the tallest leaning tower in the world. We took a funicular ride to the very top. Sadly the Biosphere was closed for the season due to renovations.
Then back on the metro we rode a long time to the other side of the city to St. Joseph’s Oratory. That was a bit of a disappointment. I’d searched so long last night on slow wifi trying to find out if it was a morning or afternoon picture. I ended up saying oh well, we’d go there after the tower. Well, it turned out to be an afternoon picture, with no sun on the building, and tons of construction around to boot.
We headed back to our hotel after lunch, and napped. Tonight we went to a mall nearby to try to buy Greg a pillow, but amazing thing – stores close at 5pm on Saturdays. So we had dinner at Belle et la Bouef (Beauty and the Beef) Greg ordered “The Nuclear” burger and you’ll see how the waitress delivered it! We tried “Poutine”, the Quebecois special food – French Fries with Brown Gravy and cheese curds.
Day 4 – To Quebec City via Wendake Site Traditionelle des Hurons
Wendake Site Traditionelle des Hurons, Chateau Frontenac, Terrasse Dufferin
Today we left Montreal and headed east to Quebec City. Near Quebec City we took a detour to the Site Traditionnelle des Hurons Wendake – an Indian site. It was pretty good. We got the full package: traditional lunch (actually the soup was the best tasting food from the whole vacation!), dance show and tour. Unfortunately the 2pm tour was only in French and even I was struggling with the Quebecois accent!
Then we arrived in Quebec City to our little boutique hotel, and walked a couple of blocks down to the Chateau Frontenac, and around a little on the Terrasse Dufferin.
Hotel: Hotel Cap Diamant, small boutique hotel/B&B. Well located in the old city, good sized room, friendly host, fantastic breakfast, hard bed.
Day 5 – Sightseeing in Old Quebec City
National Historic Site of the Forts and Chateau St. Louis, Terrace Dufferin, Notre Dame Church, Break-Neck Stairs (Escalier Casse-Cou), Funicular
Today was another scorcher in Quebec City! Temps to 88 degrees, with real-feel of 98 degrees. Not the kind of weather you want to go sightseeing in a city. So we took a tourist boat ride up the St. Lawrence River to Montmerency Falls. I won’t post a pic of it because we’ll actually be going there the day after tomorrow.
So, today we went on a tour of the foundations of the St Louis castles (where the Chateau Frontenac now stands) Hate to say it but it was a slow boring tour of the area underneath the Dufferin Terrace. We both thought it would be of fortifications but it was the kitchen, pantry and wine cellar of the old governors’ mansions. I was wiped out afterward, just wanted to curl up and sleep, but couldn’t because we had things to do and see.
We strolled around, checked out the Notre Dame church, went down “break-neck” stairs to the lower town, then took the boat ride on Croisieres AML. That was pleasant, with a re-enactor who narrated live the entire voyage.
Lunch and then we went back up the funicular, through the town to the city walls and gates, and then finally back to our hotel, hot and tired.
Day 6 – More Old Quebec City
Citadel, Plains of Abraham and Museum, Grande Allee
Today was military day at Quebec City: Tour of the Citadel with changing of the guard and the Plains of Abraham. (no pics but a great tour by a re-enactor)
The goat is Batisse the 12th, the mascot of the 22nd Infantry which is stationed at the Citadel.
We had lunch in a nice cafe on the Grande Allee, squeezed in between the Citadel Tour and the Plains of Abraham Tour.
Another hot day and we squeaked by two thunderstorms – only a few drops on us in the morning, and we happened to be having dinner inside when a downpour came.
Day 7 – Out of Quebec City
St. Anne-de-Beaupres, Montmorency Falls
Today we left Old Quebec City and headed northeast along the St. Lawrence to St. Anne-de-Beaupres to a huge Gothic style church known for pilgimage, and then took a cable car up to Montmorency Falls and walked across the bridge.
Check out the zip-liners in the last picture. We didn’t even ask each other if we wanted to, we just quickly walked by the zip-line station!
You may wonder why I am missing from the pictures? Greg left his camera in the car tonight, so tomorrow I will get my day!
Hotel: Hotel and Suites Normandin. Not in the old city, but it was a very nice alternative to the Old Quebec prices: good sized room, excellent breakfast, elevator and best of all – soft beds!
Day 8 – Drive to Bar Harbor Maine
Today we left Canada and arrived back in the USA. We are in Bah Habah (that’s Bar Harbor to non-Mainers). But, as promised, first here’s a picture from yesterday’s waterfall from Greg’s camera, then pictures of the first town in Maine as we crossed the border – Jackman. You just know we are in Maine, and we even ate lunch at this gas station/convenience store/hunters supply. Then some pictures of our inn in Bar Harbor, and the Harbor itself.
Hotel: The Central House. Old fashioned hotel / guest house near the center of Bar Harbor – excellent location, good-sized room.
Day 9 – Acadia National Park
Oops! Forgot to post the pictures last night! We spent the day going around Acadia National Park – the first half of the day using the “Explorer” bus to go to the busiest places – Sand Beach, Jordan’s Pond, and the afternoon going in our own car to Cadillac Mountain and Bass Head Light.
Day 10 – Drive from Bar Harbor to Portland, Maine
Because we drove to Portland and my parents’ house, I failed to write an email or post to Facebook that day. So, here’s two pics from the day – you can see that we did the forts! Fort Knox is at “The Narrows” of the Penobscot River near Bucksport. At the same location is an amazing Observatory which is part of the newly constructed bridge.
Then we drove west to Augusta, and stopped at Fort Western, the only American wooden fort left from the French and Indian Wars. That was neat. The guides wore period clothing and the tour was informative.
That’s it, no pics of Mom and Dad’s house!
