Top 5: Fall Activities in Québec City

The crisp autumn air, the changing leaves, and the less crowded roadways make this time of year ideal for an impromptu road trip. Last Fall, we packed up the car and made our way from Ontario to Québec City for a long weekend. Québec City is a must see any time of year, but here are our top 5 Fall must dos in one of North America's oldest cities.

1. Drive

The drive into Québec City from the west is absolutely stunning in the fall. If you are not in a rush to make it to Québec City, we recommend taking the scenic route into town along the historic Chemin du Roy. Originally built in 1700's New France to connect settlements along the St. Lawrence River, today it is a picturesque route that takes you through charming little towns and colourful autumn landscapes. You can access an interactive map of the route here.

2. Walk

If weather permits, there is a lot to explore on foot in Québec City. In addition to wandering the main streets and side streets downtown, we really enjoyed walking from the Château Frontenac along the Governor's Promenade all the way to the Plains of Abraham. Not only did we get in a ton of exercise, but we were also treated to fantastic views of the Chateau, the St. Lawrence River, and lots of that beautiful fall foliage.

3. Eat (and Drink!)

When we saw a sign in the window of Paillard indicating they were the winner of the best croissant in town, we knew we had to check it out. The croissant was probably one of the better ones we've sampled this side of the Atlantic, but the fact there was a beret-sporting accordion player serenading café-goers took the experience up a notch.

No walk on chilly fall day is complete without a hot beverage. On our way to the Marché du Vieux-Port, we stopped at Les cafés du soleil for a café viennois.

The market had a huge selection of treats for any foodie- everything from fresh fruits and vegetables to foie gras. Our top market pick was the red wine, garlic, and black pepper saucisson from Les cochons tout ronds.

4. Shop

Although we didn't spend too much of our time shopping, we did pop into a few stores that were new to us. Our top spots for new shops and local goods were the Petit Champlain area and the Marché du Vieux-Port.

5. Discover

While there is plenty to discover in Québec City, a quick 10-minute ferry ride will take you across the St Lawrence River to the town of Lévis. Not only do you get an amazing view of Québec from the ferry, but once you're in charming little Lévis, there's lots to see! You'll find typical Québec architecure, a cute little main street and a few great eateries. Plus, if you head over in the evening, it's a great place to watch the sun set over Québec City.