Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin The skyline in Old Québec. getty It’s rare for a city to attract visitors in the middle of a frigid winter but Québec City succeeds in that every year. The reason and reward for those hardy travelers is a Winter Carnival (next year: February 7-16) featuring sledding runs down the hills of this clifftop, Upper and Lower Town city, canoe races through the icy St.
Lawrence River, an intricate ice palace to wander through, skating obstacle courses and various other wacky and/or entertaining activities. But this city, Canada’s oldest, the capital of the province of Québec and known for its cobblestone street/old town charm, French history and creative culinary scene has reasons to draw visitors, which it does, at all times of year. (Summer also gets its own festival, the very popular 11 day music festival Festival d'été de Québec in July.
) The Petit Champlain District of Old Quebec designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. getty It’s a common sight to see visitors year round on walking tours through 416 year old, UNESCO designated World Heritage Site Old Québec, radiating out from Place Royale, the former fur trading post where the city was founded in the 17 th century. It’s easy enough to wander around on one’s own but private tours with Cicérone Tours are particularly helpful, involving a great deal of engaging detail about the city’s founding and often a guide in period costume who will be stoppe.