Quebec adventures! That are slow and peaceful!
April 24, 2024 8:43 AM Subscribe
Going to Quebec City in May with my elderly parents. What are some nice, easy going activities we can do?
My parents and I are driving up to Quebec City for a week in mid-May. (We're coming from NY so it's a 6-7 hour drive.) We'll be staying in an airbnb in Old Quebec, near the Notre Dame Cathedral. I'm looking for some recommendations for fun stuff to do with them that wont be too taxing. My mom is in great shape but my dad has some mobility issues. He can walk around, but slowly and with frequent breaks. He would not use a wheelchair, so that is not an option.
Things they enjoy on vacation include: nice parks and gardens, outdoor festivals, music, art, animals, guided tours (we will probably do a gentle walking tour), churches, outdoor markets...etc. We are already planning to ride the funicular, see the waterfall at the Parc de la Chute-Montmorency, and visit some nice churches. My dad is interested in history and indigenous culture, so we will probably visit the Huron Wendat Museum at some point. We have some elementary French between us (enough to read signs and pamphlets, but not really enough to converse.)
I know these threads tend to veer heavily towards restaurant suggestions, but I"m really not looking for those unless they're REALLY great and not that expensive. I'm trying to keep the budget manageable, so we will probably do some meals at our airbnb.
Looking for any recommendations for fun stuff I can do with them that isnt too expensive or physical. Any events during mid-May would also be great!(And if you want to throw in a spa recommendation for me, that would be appreciated. I will definitely need some time on my own while we're there!)
My parents and I are driving up to Quebec City for a week in mid-May. (We're coming from NY so it's a 6-7 hour drive.) We'll be staying in an airbnb in Old Quebec, near the Notre Dame Cathedral. I'm looking for some recommendations for fun stuff to do with them that wont be too taxing. My mom is in great shape but my dad has some mobility issues. He can walk around, but slowly and with frequent breaks. He would not use a wheelchair, so that is not an option.
Things they enjoy on vacation include: nice parks and gardens, outdoor festivals, music, art, animals, guided tours (we will probably do a gentle walking tour), churches, outdoor markets...etc. We are already planning to ride the funicular, see the waterfall at the Parc de la Chute-Montmorency, and visit some nice churches. My dad is interested in history and indigenous culture, so we will probably visit the Huron Wendat Museum at some point. We have some elementary French between us (enough to read signs and pamphlets, but not really enough to converse.)
I know these threads tend to veer heavily towards restaurant suggestions, but I"m really not looking for those unless they're REALLY great and not that expensive. I'm trying to keep the budget manageable, so we will probably do some meals at our airbnb.
Looking for any recommendations for fun stuff I can do with them that isnt too expensive or physical. Any events during mid-May would also be great!(And if you want to throw in a spa recommendation for me, that would be appreciated. I will definitely need some time on my own while we're there!)
Best answer: I know this is your bonus question but I must very highly recommend Strøm Spa Vieux Quebec. Hot tub lazy river! Heated infinity pool overlooking the St. Lawrence!
Also I found grocery prices shockingly high ($3 for one stick of butter!) and restaurant prices pleasantly low on trips to Quebec (Quebec City and Montreal) in the past couple years. So absolutely cook at the AirBnB if you want but it might not save you that much money.
posted by mskyle at 9:15 AM on April 24
Also I found grocery prices shockingly high ($3 for one stick of butter!) and restaurant prices pleasantly low on trips to Quebec (Quebec City and Montreal) in the past couple years. So absolutely cook at the AirBnB if you want but it might not save you that much money.
posted by mskyle at 9:15 AM on April 24
You could do an evening dinner cruise out of Quebec City. Those are pretty easy-going and relaxing.
posted by fimbulvetr at 9:18 AM on April 24 [1 favorite]
posted by fimbulvetr at 9:18 AM on April 24 [1 favorite]
Best answer: First as a warning, the streets of the old city are very steep - so if you do a formal walking tour, I'd double check it will be okay for your dad. It might be easier to just do this on your own, at your own pace.
Anyway, I only went briefly and it was mostly for work, so my recs are limited but:
-The ferry is a fun and easy way to see the city from another angle
-Le Billig is a creperie (with a good selection of cider) that is reasonably priced - the crepes don't look big in the photos you see online, but they are quite large and filling.
-The pastries at Les Brulerie St-Jean are ridiculously flakey and buttery. The coffee is good too. Also well priced.
posted by coffeecat at 9:23 AM on April 24
Anyway, I only went briefly and it was mostly for work, so my recs are limited but:
-The ferry is a fun and easy way to see the city from another angle
-Le Billig is a creperie (with a good selection of cider) that is reasonably priced - the crepes don't look big in the photos you see online, but they are quite large and filling.
-The pastries at Les Brulerie St-Jean are ridiculously flakey and buttery. The coffee is good too. Also well priced.
posted by coffeecat at 9:23 AM on April 24
You can use the funiculaire to get from the lower town to the upper town (which is most of it) on the cliff because yes, some of the streets really are steep.
posted by zadcat at 9:58 AM on April 24 [3 favorites]
posted by zadcat at 9:58 AM on April 24 [3 favorites]
Streets are steep, and stairs can be steep, too.
Definitely recommend Montmorency, as well as the Huron-Wendat museum (outside Quebec City) and the boardwalk along the St. Lawrence back in QC. There likely won't be any language barrier, but if you have any French background, you might enjoy putting it to use.
posted by emelenjr at 10:34 AM on April 24 [1 favorite]
Definitely recommend Montmorency, as well as the Huron-Wendat museum (outside Quebec City) and the boardwalk along the St. Lawrence back in QC. There likely won't be any language barrier, but if you have any French background, you might enjoy putting it to use.
posted by emelenjr at 10:34 AM on April 24 [1 favorite]
The Chutes de Montmorency are gorgeous, yes -- but there's a fair walk from the parking lot to the falls. Wait, maybe the upper parking lot is closer (if they don't mind the narrow bridge, which spooked me out)?
A private walking tour might be able to adjust to your dad's slower pace. Limit it to the old rue du Petit-Champlain below the walls & Breakneck Steps, perhaps, or pick another specific area. (We were just in Paris, and a private tour let my family have more freedom in our pace.)
We got the app for the public parking spots, and it was super awesome to be able to bring our own car into the city: it gave us a lot of flexibility.
posted by wenestvedt at 10:50 AM on April 24
A private walking tour might be able to adjust to your dad's slower pace. Limit it to the old rue du Petit-Champlain below the walls & Breakneck Steps, perhaps, or pick another specific area. (We were just in Paris, and a private tour let my family have more freedom in our pace.)
We got the app for the public parking spots, and it was super awesome to be able to bring our own car into the city: it gave us a lot of flexibility.
posted by wenestvedt at 10:50 AM on April 24
Best answer: The Marché du Vieux-Port (farmer's market) is worth a quick walk-around, and maybe a snack. Lots of parking, and since it's down by the river, it's on a much flatter bit of ground than the old city on the hill.
Moisan, the old grocery, can be a quick and nice stop.
Used book stores and antique shops are plentiful (and some are also in areas with less-steep surroundings).
I did the walking tour at Wendake, it was topnotch. I'll note that there are really two places you can visit, the older one to the northeast (I see it online as the "Huron Traditional Site") seemed maybe more kid-oriented? The walking tour at Wendake that I enjoyed was based out of the main hotel and conference center at Wendake, it goes through a longhouse, and also through the nearby regular neighborhood.
posted by gimonca at 12:12 PM on April 24 [1 favorite]
Moisan, the old grocery, can be a quick and nice stop.
Used book stores and antique shops are plentiful (and some are also in areas with less-steep surroundings).
I did the walking tour at Wendake, it was topnotch. I'll note that there are really two places you can visit, the older one to the northeast (I see it online as the "Huron Traditional Site") seemed maybe more kid-oriented? The walking tour at Wendake that I enjoyed was based out of the main hotel and conference center at Wendake, it goes through a longhouse, and also through the nearby regular neighborhood.
posted by gimonca at 12:12 PM on April 24 [1 favorite]
Oh, and if you have a handicapped parking placard for your car, remember to bring it. I did a Canada trip with my sister a couple of years ago (she has mobility issues and uses one), it worked beautifully.
posted by gimonca at 12:30 PM on April 24 [2 favorites]
posted by gimonca at 12:30 PM on April 24 [2 favorites]
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There's also the waterfall on your way there, the Chutes de Montmorency.
Your airbnb may have some brochures about them. They're quite literally minutes outside of Vieux-Québec.
posted by zadcat at 9:00 AM on April 24 [1 favorite]