The Joys of Winter Carnival
Experience the delights of winter in Quebec City
Mr. Christie's Winter Carnival combines the best of Canada's most European city, Quebec City, with childlike winter fun and adult culinary pleasures.
Remember the joy of catching a snowflake on your tongue? The thrill of speeding down a hillside on a sled? The excitement of watching a parade, especially one at night? You don’t have to live with just your memories, you can create more at Mr. Christie’s Quebec City Winter Carnival.
Mr. Christie’s Quebec Winter Carnival stretches over some seventeen days in the winter, is packed with activities that celebrate the winter season. Canoe races across frozen rivers, international snow sculpture competitions, snow baths, sleigh races, fancy dress balls, and a spectacular night parade are just some of the highlights of this festival.
Most of the activities take place in the Old City and along the Plains of Abraham, so staying in the city gives you access to not only to the Carnival events but the myriad pleasures of fine restaurants, art galleries and shops in the heart of the Quebec City.
Start with a walk through the Old City to the Plains of Abraham, stopping to ride the funicular that connects the lower part of the city to the upper portion. Of course, you’ll need to stop along the way for a café au lait and croissant at some little boulangerie. When you arrive at the main venue, you can grab an inner tube and head for the gentle hill for a ride down to the bottom, spinning and swirling as you go. For the brave of heart a zip line activity will transport you from one side of the venue to the other high above the ground. Take time out for a luscious lunch at a restaurant such as Auberge Louis Herbert for filet of salmon or an omelet filled with goat cheese and smoked salmon. Appetite sated and thoroughly warmed, you’ll be ready for an afternoon of watching the “snow bath” where brave souls vie for the honor (?) of staying out the longest in freezing temperatures clad only in a bathing suit, and then onto the sleigh races.
Wait until dark to walk among the ice sculpture competition and Bonhomme’s Ice Palace. Illuminated by colored lights the ice creations are truly magnificent in the evening. With your inner child thoroughly happy it will be time to let your inner adult out for an evening of fine dining. Two excellent choices to tempt your taste buds are La Cremaillere, noted for its milk-fed veal and lamb, and the Champlain Restaurant in the legendary Chateau Frontenac. Finding a fine meal in Quebec City is not a challenge. Having to decide from more than a hundred restaurants is the difficulty.
And don’t forget to try “Caribou” a potent potable of port wine, rum and maple syrup. Talk about antifreeze!
No matter how you choose to celebrate the Winter Carnival, either indoors or out, you will have a memorable time. Just don’t forget a warm hat, mittens and boots!
For more information: www.carnaval.qc.ca , www.regiondequebec.com or www.bonjourquebec.com
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