Two days In Quebec: Best Things To Do With Kids

On a recent summer road trip into Canada, we took the kids for a short, but memorable two-days into what quickly become a favorite city of ours, Quebec. Our first impression of Quebec, Canada was as if we were in Europe. I’m sure everyone says that, but it’s true. We walked through cobblestone streets, old buildings and big squares. We could’ve been anywhere old city Europe. We had two-days in Quebec and found it a perfect amount of time.

We arrived into Quebec right before lunchtime and checked into The Fairmont Frontenac Hotel, one of our bucket list hotels. Two-days in Quebec, staying at such a grand hotel, is a check indeed. An amazing Old World grand hotel with a lobby rich in décor and color, looking as if it hadn’t been touched since the early 1900’s. The dark wood paneling throughout the lobby is heavily detailed and enhanced by the lighting of the chandeliers hanging in perfect sequence through the long hall, was indeed a grand entrance. The kids were floored by the sheer size and elegance of the hotel. They declared it was the best castle they have ever seen and stayed in.We dropped our belongings and headed out to the city to explore .

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Cirque Du Soleil Show

Prior to our trip, we purchased tickets to see a Cirque du Soleil show. Since the show got it start in the province of Quebec we decided it would be fun to see it in its place of origin. Cirque du Soleil is an animal free show, focusing on dance, acrobatics, and elaborate costume design along with original music. I always enjoy the shows and the kids loved it as well. I would recommend taking kids to see it, as it is visually stunning with constant acrobatics and action to engage even younger viewers. The music is modern and almost soothing, the costumes always stunning and vibrant in color.

Right before the show, we grabbed poutine for lunch along Rue Saint-Jean on the Saint Lawrence River. We ate a lot of Poutine during our two-days in Quebec. Along the street you will find many different poutine shops, all busy with customers eager to dive into the deep fried french fries, drenched in beef gravy, and covered in cheese curds. The combination of melting cheese on fried potatoes with a complimentary savory sauce is a dieters nightmare. I think we ate ours in a matter of seconds and then went for seconds.

Our Cirque du Soliel Show lasted 2 hours, after we walked through the old city to explore. We ducked into the Notre Damefor a quick visit before heading back to our hotel for a rest. Although the Notre Dame is impressive, the kids did a quick comparison to the one in Paris and declared it just ok.

Dinner Outside Of The Old City

Dinner was at Le Cendrillon Restaurant, in Quebec City. We made the mistake of walking there from the Fairmont as we didn’t realize the distance from our hotel. However, because it is so far away from the hotel, it is away from the typical tourist traps that are typically found in and around the old city of Quebec.

The food at Le Cendrillon Restaurant made up for our personal, navigational mistake. The service was superb and the local beer selection was great. We indulged in house cured charcuterie and my husband and daughter slurped down a bunch of fresh oysters. We also ordered the fresh cheese plate and fought over the remaining crumbs of cheese. Le Cendrillon is a great restaurant with wonderful small plates to share. We took a cab back.

Morrin Museum Visit

After a light breakfast, we headed out from our hotel and into the square right outside the hotel. Before we could go any further, crowds gathered to watch street artists perform and entertain. We watched for about 20 minutes enjoying the vaudeville while having some laughs. From here we went over to to the Morrin Museum. The Morrin Museum is housed in a former prison, which for most kids is a main attraction of the museum. Kids can go into an actual cell and pretend to be locked up. There is a tour for the museum that lasts 45 minutes taking visitors through the prison, a chemistry lab and a beautiful library.

Carriage Ride Through The Old City Quebec

After the visit, we strolled around and stumbled upon one of the many horse and carriage rides designed especially for tourists like ourselves. Almost as planned, all three kids shouted out in unified voices, “please can we go on one.”There was no saying no and on the carriage we went for leisurely ride through the city. Our carriage driver was great, pointing out all the must see places and must eat places. He was a wealth of information. He made the ride interesting and well worth tourist trap prices and experience.

Musee De La Place Royal

After another lunch consisting of delicious Poutine, we walked through the old town. The old town of Quebec is reminiscent of a medieval European town center; Cobblestone streets, narrow alleys, large squares. It is hard to believe at times that we were in Quebec, Canada. As we came into one of he main squares, perfect for pictures and a coffee, we took a quick break bofore heading over to the Musee de la Place Royal or Musee de la Civilisation. We did a self-guided tour of the museum, learning about the history or Quebec and the Quebeqois. Although interesting, it was not engaging enough to keep the kids interested. So reading their body language, we finished up after an hour visit.

Funiculaire

Before heading back to the hotel, we took a ride on the Funiculaire. The Funiculaire connects the upper town to the lower town by way of tracks climbing a steep incline. It is located right outside of the Fairmont Frontenac, so it was a great last visit before ending our day as well as a great way to go from the historic part of town to the upper town.. The ride was a bit scary, but had great views of the Saint Lawrence River.

Ghost Tour

In the evening we decided to sign up for a ghost tour of Quebec with Les Visites Fantomes. Only one of the three kids made it,, as the other two were a bit too scared of the tour. The Ghost tour is an hour walk around the old city, visiting town squares and ending at the Notre Dame. The hosts point out areas of interest and recant tales of the macabre and ghost sightings. It can be a bit scary for younger kids, but fun for kids 8 and up. If you like this ghost tour, then try another with a haunted walk in Toronto, along with a detailed 3 day itinerary for Toronto.

Brunch AT The Frontenac, Fairmont

Prior to our trip we chose to make reservations at the Place Dufferin restaurant located in the Fairmont Frontenac overlooking the Saint Lawrence River. They have one of the best brunches in the city of Quebec and we wanted to give it a try for our last meal in the city. The buffet is expansive with a pastry section, seasonal fruits, eggs and bacon, omelet station, wonderful cheeses and meats, and an extensive display of desserts. We did have to wait a bit for our reservation, but worth the wait. Although a bit pricy, the food was excellent and a buffet in my opinion is always great for kids. Brunch was a perfect, relaxing way to end our days in Quebec before heading on to La Malbaie for a couple days visit.

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