DON'T MISS OUT LA BELLE QUEBEC, CANADA'S EUROPEAN CITY

No funds for a rendezvous in Paris? Get your fix in Québec City and finish off the end of summer and fall, until mid-October, by touring some of Québec’s most beautiful regions. There is no better time than now to experience the magnificence of a Québec summer, beginning with Canada’s most European city.

Only a 2.5 hour drive north east from Montreal and situated on the St. Lawrence River, don’t miss your chance to get a taste of Old Europe. With its beguiling architecture, winding cobblestoned streets, hidden courtyards, and exclusive eateries, Québec City is about 500 miles from New York, less than 400 miles from Boston, and feels centuries away. Route your trip through Montreal and you have two choices for the drive: Highway 20 or the more scenic Highway 40.

After passing through Québec, continue north east to your first stop: Parc de la Chute-Montmorency. With a spectacular view of the St. Lawrence River, Île d'Orléans and Québec City, feast your eyes on the enchanting 272 ft. waterfall higher than Niagara Falls! After that comes Charlevoix.

Do you enjoy discovering charming art galleries and craft boutiques? If so, be sure to stop in the pretty little town of Baie-Saint-Paul. See for yourself why it was nicknamed le paradis des artistes (“artists' paradise”) and why artists have flocked there for years attempting to capture its legendary beauty.

Be sure to continue past the area of Charlevoix, if you have the time, to discover the fascinating Whale Route, which begins in lovely Tadoussac. Flanked by the St. Lawrence River on one side and the mountains on the other, the drive itself brings you Québec at its most sublime. If you’re lucky, you may encounter some lazy seals sunbathing on the rocks or a whale frolicking in the water.

Once in Tadoussac, take the Fjord Route that brings you to the Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean region, which is home to a majestic fjord whose breathtaking rocky walls and magnificent topography were sculpted by glaciers 10 million years ago. Whether you are travelling as a couple or with your family or friends, take the Fjord Route to encounter a variety of wildlife, from belugas and Atlantic salmon to moose, waterfowl, black bears, brook trout and various amphibians – a real “Vallée de la Biodiversité” as they call it!

Begin your journey in Québec City and discover the province's natural beauty, outdoor adventures, unique festivals and events, wine and culinary experiences as well as the cultural and heritage attractions...only hours away.

With an endless array of activities to stumble upon, QuebecMusts.com will satisfy all your researching needs by providing detailed itinerary descriptions and route suggestions to help plan your vacation to several of Québec’s incredible destinations.

To learn out more about Québec, or download road trip itineraries to begin planning your summer vacation, visit http://www.quebecmusts.com/.

From Quebec Musts, 18 August, 2010