I’ve been an avowed Francophile since the age of nine, when I first began taking French lessons and driving my mother crazy trying to find croissants in Virginia. While I do love France, in the past few years, I have also fallen in love with “New France”: the province of Québec.
Since it’s much easier and less expensive to pop up to Montreal or the old walled city of Québec than to take a transcontinental journey to the motherland, I’ve been getting my French fix several times a year.
Each season offers something unique in Québec, from fabulous summer festivals and fall foliage to dog-sledding and daring winter sports. With spotless and efficient trains from Via Rail, you can soak up the nightlife and culture of vibrant Montreal and a few hours later, be walking on top of the UNESCO World Heritage site of the walled city of Québec.
My mother always said I had champagne taste on a beer budget, so depending on the state of my travel budget, I’ve sampled the crème-de-la-crème of hotels and restaurants on some trips, and lived off baguette sandwiches on others.
No matter what your budget looks like this year, it’s a great time to escape for some joie de vivre!
Check it out at www.bonjourquebec.com
