We Went to Quebec Part II
This is the second part of a short two-part series on our adventures in Quebec. If you missed Part I, it’s over here.
I want to give my family experiences that create great memories. That's the goal of every parent when it comes to a family vacation.
Most of us will cover the basics of our budget when planning a family trip. We will budget for flights, hotels, food, and, in our case, an opportunity to take photos. You also want to plan some activities to make the most of your time during your time away. This is where it gets tricky. We all have our idea of what is fun and have different levels of endurance when it comes to jet lag and walking. We have a young family, so we had to be intentional about what we'd like to do and also leave room for rest and spontaneity on our trip to Quebec City.
I want to do things that my family has little interest in. The inverse of that is equally true; there are experiences that they value that just are not on my radar. For example, I am interested in the history of Quebec City, and there are ample opportunities in the form of museums to enjoy. If you're interested in Canada's colonial past, there are a wealth of experiences in Quebec City for you. That was a low priority for my family on this trip. The next time I'm there, I will explore a lot more. Again, it's important for me that they have good memories of travel, and the last thing I'd like to do is drag everyone on a long walk around a site they're not excited about.
What did we do as a family?
We watched a travel video on Youtube that gave us some ideas. We love Toy Stores and spent a portion of our morning at a beautiful Toy Store called "Benjo." It reminded me of the old F.A.O Schwartz toy store in New York City. Benjo is a beautiful, creative, and magical toy store. Everything a kid, or a big kid like me, could want. Trains, dolls, Lego, puzzles, books, models, and robots are all there. The boys enjoyed meeting the store robot, Benjo, and a life-size working Wall-E from the Pixar movie. We allowed the kids to spend their allowance and pick up something they wanted, and then we continued on.
Meeting Wall-E
Later that day, while walking through Old Quebec, we took advantage of the sunshine and heat and let the boys run through the fountains near city hall. The boys enjoyed getting wet and running back and forth through the water. My wife and I sat and watched in peace. That's a great example of a no-cost activity for a young family that everyone enjoyed.
The next day, we rented a car and drove out to Montmorency Falls, less than a 15-minute drive from where we stayed in Quebec. We purchased passes to use the cable cars to take us up and down, making it easier for us to hike around the park. I also took advantage of the opportunity to take a zipline ride across the falls. I know some people don't consider jumping off a cliff a fun activity, but I do, and I have the video to prove it!
After visiting the falls, we spent the rest of the day driving around the I'ile de L'orean, an island about the size of the island of Manhattan. L'ile de L'orean is home to a number of small communities all around the island, and it takes a little over an hour to drive around the entire island. You could make numerous stops to visit all kinds of boutique shops and farmer's markets. They have micro-breweries, Ice Cream stores, Cheese factories, bakeries, and places to buy locally-grown produce. The leisurely drive around the island was time well spent. We ended that trip with a stop at Cassis Monna & Filles, a family-run farm that specializes in making products with black currants. I was inspired to see the entrepreneurial spirit of the farm; I love places like this.
On our final day, we stopped at the Aquarium of Quebec, where we got to see several fresh and saltwater creatures. Our kids enjoyed a lot of the interactive features of the Aquarium. The highlight of that visit for them was petting the manta rays. We all had fun at the Aquarium, and I'm pleased we made time for that visit on our last day.
Late that afternoon, we collected our luggage at the hotel and took a taxi back to the airport, and flew home to Edmonton. We are grateful for the opportunity to enjoy an affordable direct flight to Quebec. It was a fantastic opportunity for us to explore another part of Canada. We have never regretted taking a vacation in our own beautiful country. Moving forward, as a family, we will continue exploring Canada in our adventures.
Thanks for reading friend; hope you get the chance to enjoy Canada this year!
