Quebec Winter Carnival

February 7, 2025

We'll begin our day with a 7:00am departure from Belleville and make brief stops along the way in Kingston, Gananoque, and Brockville.

Once everyone is on board, we will make our way to Sucrerie de la Montagne in Quebec. We will enjoy our included all you can eat lunch buffet and a personalized visit of their maple syrup production facility around 11:00am. Located in a forest of century-old maple trees, this sugar shack offers its guests a real experience into the past of Canadian history. After experiencing an authentic Quebecois Holiday celebration, we will continue our journey to Quebec City.

There will be a comfort stop before we arrive at our hotel. We will check into the Hilton Quebec around 5:00pm. Our hotel has excellent views and is the perfect place to stay while visiting the Carnival. The hotel stands guard over the heritage and charm of Canada's oldest city on Parliament Hill.

Dinner will be on your own tonight. There are plenty of restaurants right outside of your hotel but if you feel like staying close to your room, check out CABU. Located in your hotel, this vibrant and modern restaurant specializes in local food and is perfect for happy hour, dinner or a night cap. The rest of the evening is yours to enjoy at your leisure.

February 8, 2025

Our day will begin with an included full breakfast buffet at our hotel.

At 9:15am we will leave Quebec City and head to the only Ice Hotel in North America. Built with 2,300 ice blocks and 30,000 tons of snow, this architectural marvel offers themed rooms and ice sculptures throughout the hotel. Each year the design is different and takes 6 weeks to craft. We will take a self guided tour as we explore its 30 rooms, the Grand Hall, a fun zone with an ice slide, the chapel and more. If you get thirsty, you won't want to miss your chance to have a drink at the ice bar before we leave the hotel.

At 11:30am we will head back to Quebec City. Our motor coach will drop us off at our hotel and the rest of the day is yours to take part in the Winter Carnival festivities. Our hotel sits right across the street from the carnival; you can walk to all the activities and festival sites. It also offers spectacular views of Bonhomme's Ice Palace!

There are events sprawled out across the city including a night parade, snow sculptures, ice skating, sleighing and more. The carnival is not complete without taking a selfie with Bonhomme; the proud and joyful festival mascot.

At 5:00pm, bundle up and join us as we board our motor coach and make our way to the Night Parade in the neighborhood of Limoilou. Afterwards, we will head back to our hotel for the rest of the night.

Lunch and dinner will be on your own today.

February 9, 2025

This morning is yours to relax and enjoy your included buffet breakfast at the hotel. At 10:15am, our motor coach will take us to the Chateau Frontenac for our included guided tour. Afterwards, we will make our way to see the Ice Canoe Race. This unique Canadian experience is not to be missed while visiting Quebec City this weekend. The event extends a legacy that stretches back centuries; formerly an essential means of transportation in the winter is now a leisure activity for some. Join the cheering crowds as each team competitively paddles towards the finish line. Lunch will be on your own today.

Around 4:00pm, once the race is over, we will head to Old Quebec for dinner on our own. After our meal, we will board our motor coach and head back to the Hilton for a relaxing evening.

February 10, 2025

After we enjoy our included breakfast this morning, we will check out of our hotel at 9:00am and drive to Saint-Anne-de-Beaupre for our included tour. For over 350 years, people of all ages have been gathering at the Basilica dedicated to Sainte Anne, the grandmother of Jesus. Our tour will educate us on the history of this beautiful religious site.

Next, we will visit the Albert Gilles Copper Art & Museum and discover how a passionate craftsman and now 5 women in his family continue the tradition of embossed copper. Their workshop has decorated more than 35 churches across North America, including the doors of the Basilica of Ste-Anne-de-Beaupre!

At 11:45am, our motor coach will pick us up and take us to Montmorency Falls for a photo-op and to view the stunning waterfall.

After our full morning of touring, we will begin our journey home. We will be stopping along the way for lunch on our own and an included dinner. We will enjoy our last meal together and relax at the McIntosh Inn. Located in the picturesque St. Lawrence Valley in the Eastern Ontario town of Morrisburg, the Inn was established over 30 years ago as "Paddy's Inn" and was the gathering spot for locals and travellers to the community. Today, the Inn continues to be a destination offering delicious food in a unique setting.

Once our dinner is finished, we will begin dropping everyone off as we head to Kingston.

B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner