Experiences labelled with 'Quebec'
White sandy beaches and tropical climates are not for everyone. Believe it or not, there are those who live for the winter and treasure the snowy months; and one of the best places for such people is Igloofest in Montreal, Canada. The Canadian province of Quebec is famous for celebrating winter with its Ice Hotel, its skiing, and its Winter Carnaval festival. In recent years, Quebec’s biggest city, Montreal, has devised its own way to appreciate winter with the introduction of Igloofest: a large outdoor party at the heart of winter. Igloofest takes place at Jacques-Cartier Quay in the city’s Old Port. Being surrounded by water, the Quay is a few chilly degrees colder than the centre of the city, but few urban places are ...
The first thing they tell you at the Ice Hotel is not to put your head inside your sleeping bag. You’ll want to. It’s cold in the Ice Hotel and your nose will want to tuck itself under the covers to keep warm. But if you do, your warm breath will mix with the hotel’s cold air and you’ll end up with a sleeping bag with an opening coated in ice. The Hotel de Glace in Quebec, Canada, is a boutique hotel made entirely of snow and ice – 20,000 tonnes of it. Redesigned and rebuilt every winter, it takes over a month to complete. Construction begins in December, when steel frames and wooden walls are mounted as a base. Snow is then blown over ...
Whenever I travel to a new country, I always try and taste the local food—whatever that may involve. Sometimes you get completely grossed out, and sometimes you hit the jackpot. Often it involves something that has a slightly different approach to it, and it makes you wonder why you didn’t come up with the idea yourself. Montreal 's Poutine is one of those examples. Poutine is a staple of the Canadian province of Québec that was invented in the 1950’s. It’s quite simple, French fries covered in gravy and cheese curds. Now, while this may sound quite innocuous, it really can be incredibly delicious (especially at 3 a.m!), and depends quite a lot on the quality of the fries, the thickness of the gravy, and ...
Never heard of ice cross downhill before? Neither had most of Canada until the Red Bull Crashed Ice World Championship exploded onto the world of hockey in 2001. Now held annually in January, this extreme sports event in Quebec City draws followers and participants from around the world. Think of downhill skiing but substitute skating instead; then add in some great roller derby action. Throw in some BMX biking jumps. Combine all of this with ice hockey athletes, a 196-foot vertical drop over a 1,280 foot track—and you’ve got ice cross downhill. This exciting new sport sends four skaters down the course as they vie to finish first while careening along at speeds up to 43 mph. It’s crazy, fun and scary all at the ...
Even for most Canadians, the Saguenay Fjord is one of those little-known hidden gems, proving just how vast and spectacular this corner of the globe can be. Located about a six-hour drive directly north of Montreal, this area can easily be mistaken for the northern regions of Europe. Quaint villages and small towns are enclosed by looming mountains and vast expanses of water. For a fun family-friendly day trip, head directly to the Saguenay Fjord itself, said to be one of the largest in the world. Take the ferry to Saint-Felix-d'Otis - the boat ride itself is breathtaking, so make sure to have a camera on-hand! As soon as you debark, you'll find yourself in Nouvelle France, an open-air museum complete with costumed actors to ...
Invented by Canada's First Nations, maple syrup is made by tapping maple trees for their sap, and then boiling down the clear sweet watery substance into a thick amber syrup. Canada is actually the world's largest supplier of maple syrup, exporting a whopping 64 million pounds per year, with the majority of this coming from the province of Quebec. Making maple syrup is relatively easy, requiring mostly patience as you wait for the sap to run and then to boil down. Therefore, many rural Quebecers, like my family, try their hand at making their own every spring. Quebec maple syrup is most commonly made from the sap of the sugar maple, though black maple and red maple sap is also used. The location where maple ...
