Best of Quebec | 2015 Editors’ Choice Awards

Looking for things to do and places to stay in Quebec? You won’t have to look far! Read our picks for the best of Quebec for 2015. BEST THINGS TO DO IN QUEBEC Best Country Drive Chemin du Roy, Montreal–Quebec City Roadside fruit stands and the steeples of historic churches glow in the afternoon light as you drive along the banks of the St. Lawrence River on the Chemin du Roy, Canada’s first carriage road. Dating all the way back to 1737, the “King’s Highway” stretches 160 miles between Montreal and Quebec City. Make what was once a religious pilgrimage a cultural one, stopping along the way in quiet villages to stroll the farmers’ markets before tucking in at a country B&B. 800-567-7603; lecheminduroy.com Best Quebec City View Quebec City–Lévis Ferry, Quebec City It’s almost too good to be true: The spectacular view from the ferry and the breeze off the St. Lawrence as you cross the river cost only $7 for a two-way ride. Treat yourself to an ice cream in Lévis, the town on the other side of the river, and walk among the shops until you’re ready to head back across. If you board at twilight, you can stand at the rail of the ferry and watch the famed Château Frontenac light up just as the sun’s evening glow hits the castle. 10 rue des Traversiers. 877-787-7483; traversiers.com Best Urban Afternoon Rue Saint-Denis, Montreal Lively cafés, boutique shops, and trending fashions combine on this prominent boulevard near the center of Montreal. This is your opportunity to bring home some of Quebec’s best fashion styles, jewelry, home décor, and self-care products. After you’ve shopped to your heart’s desire, slip into a chair at a bistro or coffeehouse and listen  to the happy chatter of University of Quebec students as they get out of class at the end of the street and head out for an evening with friends. 514-563-0697; ruesaintdenis.ca Best Truly Québécois Adventure Vieux Québec, Quebec City Your heroic storybook fantasy of scaling the city walls has never been more possible than in 400-year-old “Vieux Québec,” founded by Samuel de Champlain in 1608, and the only remaining fortified city north of Mexico. Ramble along the three miles of ramparts to see what was once Upper Town, a cluster of convents, churches, historic homes, and stately buildings, including the Citadel and the Château Frontenac, that graced the old religious and administrative center. 12 rue Sainte-Anne. 877-783-1608; quebecregion.com Best Art & Architecture Musée National des Beaux-Arts du Québec, Quebec City History buffs and art critics alike will revel at Canada’s National Museum of Fine Arts, a collection of more than 37,000 works. Unique exhibits on Inuit art and contemporary Canadian painters fill the halls, but the buildings of the museum itself have their own, distinct stories as well; one of them, in fact, is the old Quebec City prison. With a new addition on the way, this museum continually invites visitors to explore Canada from the artist’s perspective. National Battlefields Park (Plains of Abraham). 418-643-2150; mnbaq.org Best Lakeside Scenery Lake Memphremagog at Abbaye Saint-Benoït, Saint-Benoït-du-Lac The view from the top of the abbey isn’t easily forgotten. In fall, the surrounding hills shine with brilliant foliage, ref lected in Lake Memphremagog, a 39-square-mile glacial basin that shares a border with Vermont. But the scenery isn’t the only reason to visit the abbey; this century-old building still houses a Benedictine community, whose renowned Gregorian chants, along with the monks’ cheese and cider products, satisfy both stomach and soul. 1 Main St. 819-843-4080; st-benoit-du-lac.com BEST PLACES TO STAY IN QUEBEC Best Historic Resort Manoir Hovey, North Hatley Grand yet inviting, historic yet modern, five-star Hovey Manor celebrates its historic beginnings while simultaneously offering top-notch service and contemporary comforts. Inspired by George Washington’s home in Virginia, Mount Vernon,this grand mansion spreads along the peaceful waters of Lake Massawippi. Visitors will thrill to the award-winning cuisine, spa, heated pool, clay tennis courts, and panoramic views. 575 rue Hovey. 800-661-2421; manoirhovey.com Best Montreal Luxury Hôtel Gault, Montreal Hip, sophisticated, and fashionably rebellious, the Gault’s interior contrasts with its Old World stone façade. Even though its location offers easy access to cultural hotspots in “Vieux Montréal,” guests will be hesitant to leave their luxurious accommodations. Built out of what used to be a cotton warehouse in the 1800s, the Gault takes that industrial framework and makes it groovy, offering airy rooms with private terraces, heated floor tiles, and funky, futuristic décor. 449 rue Sainte-Hélène. 514-904-1616; hotelgault.com BEST OUTDOOR ACTIVITY IN QUEBEC Best Wine-Inspired Bike Ride La Route des Vins, Eastern Townships There’s only one thing that can make the experience of biking the picturesque vineyards here better, and that’s wine tastings along the way. Quebec’s 87-mile Wine Route links 21 vintners to create a rambling exploration of the region’s most delicious beverage. Not only will cyclers encounter wines at great prices, but they’ll muse on delicate blends of pinot noir, ice wine, and rosé with the very families who have been producing them for decades. 888-811-4928; laroutedesvins.ca

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