Alright folks, buckle up. Took the family to Quebec City last fall – two kids under 10, the wife, and me. Gotta tell ya, figuring out what actually works with tiny humans in that beautiful, kinda old-world place took some trial and error. Here’s exactly how it went down.
The Journey & First Impressions
Drove up from Vermont. Kids asked “are we there yet?” approximately 37 times before we even crossed the border. Got into the old walled city – Vieux-Québec – around lunchtime. Eyes popped outta their heads seeing those giant stone walls and narrow streets. Pro Tip: Park outside the walls! Found a cheap lot near the Plains of Abraham. Walked through the St. Louis Gate dragging luggage – felt like time traveling.
The Action Plan (What Actually Worked)
Forget fancy plans. We learned fast – keep it simple, pack snacks, and expect meltdowns. This is the real stuff we did:
- Got Lost in Petit-Champlain: Seriously. Ditched the map. Wandered down that lower town area. Cobblestones, quirky shops, flowers everywhere. Kids loved spotting the giant murals and hunting for the “Breakneck Stairs” sign (they thought the name was hilarious). Bought overpriced ice cream. Worth every penny for the views.
- Rode the Funiculaire: Saw that steep cliff between lower and upper town? Yeah, no way climbing that with whiny legs. Funicular saved our lives. Kids thought the little tilted tram car was super cool. Quick ride, awesome views. Best $4 per person we spent.
- Hunted for Cannons on the Walls: Walked part of the Fortifications of Québec. Made it a game – “Find the Biggest Cannon!” They ran along the paths peeking through the slots pretending to spot invaders. History lesson disguised as play? Win.
- Stared at the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac: Didn’t stay there (wayyy outta budget), but walked all around it. Looks like a giant castle! Kids imagined kings and queens inside. Took a million photos. Hung out on the Dufferin Terrace boardwalk right in front – street performers, fresh breeze off the river, perfect.
- Braved the Montmorency Falls: Drove about 15 minutes outside the city. Whoa. Higher than Niagara! Took the cable car up (kid #2 was nervous but loved it). Hiked across the suspension bridge right over the falls – mist in our faces, roar in our ears. Kids felt like explorers. Packed a picnic, ate on the grass.
- Plastic Swords & Battle Cries: Found this super touristy shop selling knight helmets and plastic swords near Place Royale. Knew it was a trap, but gave in. Kids dueled in a little park area near the Notre-Dame-des-Victoires church for an hour straight. Cheap entertainment.
- Maple Taffy on Snow (Cabane à sucre style): Found a spot offering “Tire sur la Neige” near the old port. Even though it was fall, they had a fake snow setup. Poured hot maple syrup on ice – you roll it up on a stick like a lollipop. Pure sugar rush. Kids went nuts for it (duh). Stickiness level: extreme.
- Horse-Drawn Carriage Ride Shocker: Honestly thought my son would hate it. Pony fan, hates horses. Totally proved me wrong! Booked a 20-minute ride near Château Frontenac. Clip-clopping through old streets? Magical. They were mesmerized. Worth saving up your loonies for.
- Simple Dinner Wins: Tried one fancy-ish dinner. Mistake. Kid-friendly spots saved us: Crêperies! Simple ham & cheese crêpes for them, fancier ones for us. Also found a classic “casse-croûte” (snack bar) for poutine – kids dug the fries & gravy chaos. Kept meals fast and fun.
- Plains of Abraham Sprinting: Didn’t lecture them about battlefields. Just let ’em loose on that massive green space. Ran like crazy people, rolled down hills, chased squirrels. Absolute lifesaver to just let them move. Parents sat on a bench drinking terrible coffee. Bliss.
Reality Check Moments
Was it perfect? Nah. One epic meltdown near the Basilica over a refused souvenir. Sore feet. Navigating strollers on ancient streets was… adventurous. Needed bathroom breaks CONSTANTLY. Packed extra pants for the little one – smartest move ever. Finding public bathrooms took effort.
The train ride home? Kid #1 asked “When are we going back?” before we even left the city limits. That’s the win, right? Quebec City with kids? Totally doable. Embrace the chaos, focus on simple fun, soak in that amazing atmosphere. They’ll remember the cannons and the maple candy long after they forget the tantrum over the plastic sword. Been there, done that, survived. You got this!
