All Things Quebec this Month at Travel Squire!

We're all familiar with A Christmas Carol and for some it's a tradition that the entire family enjoys every year. Why not try a new tradition in true Québec style? Inspired by Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, Québecadabra (Dec. 22-Jan. 4) is Québec City's Christmas festival held city-wide. Québecadabra boasts three Christmas settings: a past, a present, and a future with choirs sprinkled throughout the city and hundreds of colored lights filling the Québec winter air. Watch as every evening is lit up with sensational, one-of-a-kind shows, including "Fantasmagorie", a monumental architectural projection. Experience exhibits, animations, movies and performances. You…

Are you planning a little romantic evening before the holiday season hits?  This fall don’t wait another minute before treating yourself and your loved one to the luxurious Le Grand Lodge’s special package: “Pleasure of the Senses”. A one night deal, this gift is perfect for spending that special night with that special someone. Starting from $225 (psst, that’s in Canadian dollars!), you and your partner can check into a fireplace suite for a night, have a 1 hour Swedish massage each, a four-course dinner at the renowned Chez Borivage and a full breakfast after that glorious night together in…

Poutine--Everyone's Favorite Dish in Québec Have you ever asked yourself what people around the world snack on? Often when I'm noshing on mac and cheese, or at the counter waiting to pay for bacon sliders, I find myself wondering what I'd be munching on if I were somewhere else. In Québec, I learned all about poutine, the dish that began as a regional snack and is now the leading comfort food in the Québecois diet. What is poutine, you ask? In its most basic form: French fries, cheese curds, and brown gravy. We realize that this might not sound so…

The King of Pop Meets Cirque du Soleil Are you the biggest Michael Jackson fan? Do you love the circus? Why not hit two rockin' robins with one stone and see an astonishing performance of Cirque du Soleil's homage to the King of Pop in The Immortal Tour. It's the perfect mix of acrobats, dancers and a mime wearing tuxedos, zombie makeup, and psychedelic 70s bellbottoms in a sea of Jackson's timeless beats and tunes. Appropriately named, Cirque du Soleil's The Immortal Tour proves that although the genius behind the music is no longer with us, his style and soul…

Charming Charlevoix The Charlevoix region in the province of Québec (Canada) is a 6,000 square kilometer protected UNESCO World Bisophere Reserve, rich in forests, streams, and wildlife. It's also flanked on the north shore by the mighty St. Lawrence River, portions of which are designated as a marine conservation area, making it one of the best places in North America for whale watching. Fresh and salt water mix where the Saguenay and St. Lawrence Rivers meet, making it a perfect playground for several different species of migratory whales, including belugas, minkes, humpbacks, fin whale, and the mighty blue whale. The…

And they're off! The inaugural 2012 Ironman 70.3 competition is scheduled to take place in Mont-Tremblant, Québec, utilizing the natural landscapes and quaint towns as the setting for the rigorous triathlon. Registration for Ironman 70.3 Mont-Tremblant began on September 19th, and the race is slated for June 24th 2012. There will be 30 Age Group qualifying slots to the 2012 Ironman World Championship 70.3, which will take place on September 9th, 2012, at Lake Las Vegas, in Henderson, NV. The course is anything but easy for the competitors, a formidable combination of swimming, biking and running. The competition will begin…

Extra! Extra! This just in! Celebrity chefs and restaurateurs Gordon Ramsay and Daniel Boulud both have their eyes on Montréal. Gordon Ramsay revamped a 1936 family restaurant, previously Rotisserie Laurier BBQ, now Laurier Gordon Ramsay. A fun challenge it must have been for Ramsay to upgrade this landmark restaurant, named after the street on which it stands. A makeover would be understating it, Laurier Gordon Ramsay got quite the facelift— and the vibe, in the words of Ramsay, is “casual glam” meets "shabby chic." In terms of food, Chef Ramsay brought it down a few notches from fine dining to…

Hotel Pur-fection Having been to Québec City a few times, I really didn't know what to expect of the recently opened Hotel Pur. I'd popped my head into the lobby on a previous trip when I was exploring the hotel's neighborhood of Saint-Roch and it looked futuristic. This former Holiday Inn has been totally revamped and is now the largest contemporary hotel in the city. It's carved a niche for itself among the cookie-cutter chains, the smaller B & B's, and the grander historic properties. Walking into the brightly colored all white reception area immediately makes you feel like you…

The excitement of traveling isn't just reaching the final destination, but also experiencing the actual trip. And who doesn't want to travel in a classy refurbished train that offers you breathtaking sights of Canadian coastlines and mountainsides while serving you gourmet cuisine? Well, buy me a ticket, give me a camera, and pass the escargots, s'il vous plaÎt! The Massif de Charlevoix train chugged into action last month and elevates tourism in Québec to a whole new level of gastronomical and hospitality standards. The inaugural trip was on September 9th 2011, the first of 27 trips this fall, departing from…

The Original Winter Universe Spending the night in a structure made of ice in the middle of a Québec winter is not for the faint of heart. But hotel lovers and thrill seekers alike who crave the unusual happily bundle up and brace themselves for the -13°F to 41°F temps in order to bed down at the yearly architectural phenomenon. Strategically located next winter relatively close to enchanting Québec City, the Hôtel de Glace or the Ice Hotel as it is casually known, will once again be an ephemeral work of art that dazzles the eye and earns its place…

TableA Table for Two or Twenty Two Commonly after check-in, many hotel guests choose to sidestep the bar and restaurant on site for other establishments in the vicinity. The reasons vary. Perhaps some are seeking a local experience or others think they'll be shelling out overinflated room service prices by eating at the property. Recently, at the Hotel Pur in Québec City I was pleasantly surprised to discover a real find. Pop into Table if you're lucky enough to be spending time in this charming city and grab a seat in the spacious lounge adjacent to the dazzling restaurant and…

Museum of Fine Arts’ New (and Old) Additions Picture Montréal's skyline, encompassing both historic and modern buildings, harmonizing to create a unique and divergent architectural hybrid for the city. Now, picture your dear grandmom with an iPod, an earphone bud in one ear and her hearing aid in the other. Odd, right? Both visions entertain the idea of juxtaposing new and old, which is exemplified by the newly constructed pavilion and the restored 19th century church of the Montréal Museum of Fine Arts. As the newest edition to the Montréal Museum of Fine Arts, the new Claire and Marc Bourgie…

Pretty soon someone will to have to change the nickname of Québec City from "La Vieille Capitale" to something along the lines of the new, happening capital of the world. When you think of Québec City, cobblestone streets and colonial architecture probably spring to mind. But now, with the upcoming celebration Fête le Vin, you can envision enjoying a rich glass of Bordeaux wine in a Canadian café. The Québec Fête le Vin is scheduled for September 6-9, 2012. This happens to be the 50th anniversary of the twinning of Québec City and Bordeaux, whereas the festival first started in…

Cafe de la Paix There's nothing like the classics especially when it comes to French cuisine and even more so when you're spending time in romantic Quebec City, which easily earns my vote for the best city for lovers in North America. Take a step into Cafe de la Paix with your significant other and you will instantly feel like you have dropped in on your favourite haunt in Paris. Servers greet you like old friends and fawn over you like family. The dining room is a delicate combination of old and new Quebec with exposed stone walls, tiny crystal…

L'Orignal is Original *Photos by Riccardo Cellere Almost hiding on a tiny street in Montréal's historic and romantic old city is L'Orignal, practically a shrine for carnivores. It's hard to miss the groove of the place as you descend a set of stairs into what feels like a large playroom in a chalet. Wood surfaces abound, tree branches appear as room dividers and the entire space is quintessentially Canadian chic – lots of stone, striped wood panelling and a stately moose head guarding the dining room. Take that as a clue. The surroundings are dimly lit by groovy eighties inspired…

 Vieux-Québec in Period Costume *With contributions by Rachel Petzinger Hark back to the days of yore and traverse through the ramparts of Vieux-Québec with a 17th century member of New France as your guide. Walk the motorcycle-banned streets, explore the castles and buildings from the 1600’s, and emerge yourself into the serene, settling years of Québec. In layman’s terms, consider taking a tour that will be reminiscent of your seventh grade Renaissance fair—where everyone dresses up and has fun learning something new! Be informed and entertained for two hours as you walk the cobblestone streets and climb the stairs to…

Le Grand Lodge & Chez Borivage   *With contributions by Sallie Wolcott If you're looking for adventure, take a drive to Mont Tremblant (the trembling mountain), and queue up for some of the most pow(d)erful slopes in the world. It's less than two hours by car from Montreal and you can't beat the scenery. With three snow parks, 95 trails and an incomparable ski experience – cross country, dog sledding, snowmobiling, snowshoeing and sledding - it's a paradise for winter sports enthusiasts. Whether you're a skier, boarder, or an avid appreciator of culture, food, travel, and winter fun, the Squire…

Get Your Euro-Groove On! If you've ever felt like getting away to Paris but only had a weekend to do it, consider a trip to her North American cousin in Quebec, Canada ... Montreal. If the city is only on your radar and not on your checklist, it's time to take action. Montreal defines joie de vivre in a way you'll rarely find elsewhere especially on this continent and visitors can expect some French savoir faire with a casual American attitude. The city is practically an international stomping ground, perfect for anyone looking for fun in a Euro-Anglo setting. The…