Fodor's Montreal & Quebec City 2000 - Softcover

Fodor's

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0679003649 ISBN 13: 9780679003649

Publisher: Fodor's, 2000

Synopsis

Fodor's Montréal & Québec City 2000"Fodor's guides are always a pleasure." - The Chicago Tribune

"Teeming with maps and loaded with addresses, phone numbers, and directions." - Newsday

Experienced and first-time travelers alike rely on Fodor's Gold Guides for rich, reliable coverage the world over.  Updated each year and containing a foldout Rand McNally map, a Fodor's Gold Guide is an essential tool for any kind of traveler.

Insider info that's reliable and smart
Local experts show you all the things to see and do -- from top sights to off-the-beaten-path adventures, from sports to shopping, from nightlife to recommended walks.

Hotels and restaurants in all price categories
From B&Bs to luxury hotels, from casual eateries to elegant restaurants, we list hundreds of detailed reviews that show what is distinctive about each place.

Practical info that's completely up-to-date
Useful maps and background information; key contacts; how to get there and get around; when to go; what to pack; local do's and taboos; costs, hours, and tips by the thousands.

We've compiled a helpful list of guidebooks that complement Fodor's Montréal & Québec City 2000. To learn more about them, just enter the title in the keyword search box.Fodor's Citypack Montréal: A full-color pocket-size guidebook and a full-size color map, all in one sturdy plastic sleeve.
Fodor's Canada 2000Fodor's Exploring Canada: An information-rich cultural guide in full color.

About this title

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Destination: Montréal & Québec City

Montréal is Canada's most romantic metropolis, an island city that seems to favor grace and elegance over order and even prosperity, a city full of music, art, and joie de vivre. It is rather like the European capital Vienna -- past its peak  of power and glory, perhaps, but still a vibrant and beautiful place full of memories, dreams, and festivals.

Montréal is the only French-speaking metropolis in North America and the second-largest French-speaking city in the world, but it's a tolerant place that over the years has made room for millions of immigrants who speak dozens of languages. The city's gentle tolerance has won recognition: several times it has been voted one of the world's most livable cities.

Dining

Canadian fine dining really began in Québec, where eating out in a good restaurant with a good bottle of wine has long been a traditional part of life. Montréal can claim many superb restaurants that serve both classic and innovative French cuisine. The city's varied population has also made it rich in ethnic restaurants from delis to Asian eateries. Québec City has a narrower range of choices, but good French and Québécois fare are available, and some fine new restaurants have opened recently. In the countryside a number of inns, including some in the Eastern Townships, provide food that can compete with any served in the cities for freshness and creativity. Hearty meat pies, pâtés, and creative uses of maple syrup are traditional specialties throughout the province. When you're in Québec, do as the locals do and order the table d'hóte, a several-course package deal that is often cheaper and may give you a chance to sample some special dishes.

French Heritage

To visit Québec is to encounter more than 450 years of French civilization in North America. The well-preserved streets of Vieux-Montréal and the Upper and Lower Towns of Québec City hold centuries-old buildings filled with history. Churches such as the Basilique Notre-Dame-de-Québec in Québec City, the Basilique Notre-Dame-de-Montréal in Montréal, and the Basilique Ste-Anne-de-Beaupré in Ste-Anne-de-Beaupré tell part of the story. Excellent museums, including the Musée d'Archéologie Pointe-à-Callière in Montréal and the Musée de la Civilisation and the Musée de Québec in Québec City, add further insight. But history is alive in Québec: in the language, the people, and the arts. Whether you're sitting in a café, walking through a beautiful botanical garden, or just strolling the city streets at night, you'll enter a different culture.

The Great Outdoors

Most Canadians live in towns and cities within 325 km (200 mi) of the American border, but the country has a splendid backyard to play in. Even major cities like Montréal and Québec City are just a few hours drive from a wilderness full of rivers, lakes, and mountains, and lovely rural areas are even closer. It's easy to combine a visit to Québec's cities with a side trip to the countryside. The Laurentian Mountains, with the revitalized Mont-Tremblant ski resort, are just an hour north of Montréal, and the hills and lakes of the bucolic Eastern Townships lie to the city's southeast. The Ile d'Orléans, just 15 minutes from Québec City, embodies the traditional lifestyle of rural Québec and is well worth exploring. The lovely villages, mountains, and waterfalls of the Charlevoix stretch along the north shore of the St. Lawrence River from Ste-Anne-de-Beaupré to the Saguenay River.

About this edition

• Publisher: Fodor's
• Publication date: 2000
• ISBN 10: 0679003649
• ISBN 13: 9780679003649
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 208