An Thanksgiving Getaway

I came to the 300-year-old walled city of Quebec City during the American Thanksgiving weekend looking for a place to spend 4 days unwinding, relaxing and just plain being lazy. I found what I was looking for. Don’t get me wrong there are things to do, plenty actually, but I was going to have none of those interfere with my weekend of indulgence.

There is no other place to stay but at the castle-like Chateau Frontenac. From this vantage point, you can stroll to Vieux-Quebec. Once in this area visit the Citadelle, home to Canada’s only French speaking regiment, the Royal 22nd Regiment. There is a changing of the guard daily during the summer months.

Take time to stroll Grande-Allee Boulevard, which has been compared to Paris’s Champs Elysees. The Parliament Building will be found here. The area of Vieux-Port de Quebec has theatres, restaurants, private apartments and a marina. I really spent no time here since it was almost deserted due to the winter weather.

Forget all about dieting and give in to the culinary delights this extraordinary town has to offer. Do some shopping! I purchased the most wonderful hand-made earrings in "Old Town".

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I came in to Quebec City via the train from Montreal and enjoyed it. I'm glad I chose this method of transportation. The taxis, even in the off-season, were very easy to find.

The hotel is built high on a bluff overlooking the St. Lawrence River. It looks like a fairytale castle, especially glimmering in the snow. It is no wonder that it claims to be one of Canada’s most photographed buildings. The Canadian Pacific Railway built it in the late 1880’s. The red-brick building with its cooper roof sitting perched on the Cap Diamant can seen from almost all of Quebec City. This made it easy never to get lost!

The hotel has standard rooms, junior suites and one or two bedroom suites. When I checked in the hotel was not very full and I requested an upgrade and got a Studio Suite overlooking the St. Lawrence. It was a very spacious bedroom with two double beds, a sitting area that included a sofa bed. Sure it was a huge room for one person but why not “go for it”. I loved to be able to open the windows and get some cold air; being from Florida this was a plus. I love a coffee maker in the room and this one was great. There were biscuits along with the excellent coffee supplies. Even though it was snowing during my visit, I still strolled the entire grounds of the hotel. It was a bit chilly on the boardwalk facing the river but it was so nice walking the semi-frozen river as the snow gently fell. It was to cold to sit outside in the airs provided but it must be lovely during the other seasons.

Anyone I encounter that worked at this magnificent hotel went above and beyond the call of duty. I can see how so many dignitaries have stand here.

A great place to come in and have a warm soup and sandwich. The most famous sandwich in Quebec is the croque-monsieur, which is an open-faced ham and melted cheese sandwich. I had the most delicious one here along with an almost clear chicken soup. The bistro serves lunch and dinner in a casual, fun atmosphere.

The restaurant closes from November through March. So how did I enjoy it while I was there?? I did not eat there but enjoyed a look around. One of the chambermaids at the hotel knew the manager and told me to stop by because they would be there starting to "work" on the restaurant. I found myself there and he was kind enough to give me a tour and made me a wonderful cup of espresso. He showed me the private rooms and the reception room, plus offered me a free meal during the season. This restaurant is known for the French cuisine including Chateaubriand, Beef Wellington and seafood. The menu has several Italian items for selections.

This wonderful restaurant is listed as Upscale-Casual to Fine but I rate it DIVINE. It seems like a Parisian restaurant with its excellent food, décor, wait staff and overall ambiance. They are known for their veal, rabbit, rack of lamb and seafood. I had the dinner chicken specialty of the day, which was chicken in hunter’s sauce with vegetables and potatoes. I had a to die for éclair for dessert.

This is the place to come for a romantic dinner. It is located in a cozy and intimate setting in a 325-year-old house. There is a fireplace, the wood-beam ceiling and stonewalls in this wonderful upscale restaurant. I didn’t come in search of romance but for fine seafood, which I was told was excellent. It was! I had a baked fish dish in a potato, onions, cheese and wine sauce. I had the escargot to start off with, so no dessert for me.

This is a fine restaurant located in the Chateau Frontenac. I ate here the first night since I didn’t want to venture outside since I had arrived late. The servers are in 17th century costume but still retain an air of elegance. The menu is mostly French items. I was tired after spending the day traveling so I wanted something simple and light. I selected Seafood Bisque and a house salad. Both were excellent as was the bread and the espresso after drink.

The Musee de la Civilisation is the most impressive of Quebec City’s museums. I asked the concierge at the hotel for the one museum to visit and he pointed me towards this one. The building is gorgeous and fits this town to the “T”. There are four permanent exhibitions, which are “Objects of Civilisation” (antique artifacts), “Memories” (Quebec from settlers time to the present), “La Barque” (remains of a 250 year old boat found on the site of the present museum) and “Messages” (a look at the history of communication). There are several exhibits that change during the year and I thoroughly enjoyed one revolving around Languages.