How to explore Quebec City like a local

Written By Djany Poulin

Top 5 activities to do to immerse yourself in the local lifestyle

1-Wander in Old Quebec and stop at a coffee shop

Quebecers from all over the province love to wander in the old town. It’s a classic among us to take a walk in the fortified city on a beautiful day. It makes us feel like we are walking in Europe or that we are on vacation. Everybody is charmed by the architecture of the area, the beautiful sceneries, the excellent restaurants and general ambiance of Old Quebec. To appreciate this area even more, stop at one of the many coffee shops for a latte and a croissant, sit outside and do one of our favorite activities: people watching!

2-Food, food, food - get in touch with the French culture

One thing we kept from our French background is definitely the food you would find in any village in France: bread, cheese, charcuterie… We have everything here, all made locally. The best spots to find those are at different markets or shopping areas gathering local producers. Here are a few of my favorites: 

Cider tasting at Domaine Sainte-Famille on Orleans island

3-Do tastings on the Orleans island (I know, food again)

Every season is a bliss on the Orleans island, located only 20 minutes away from the city center. Many farms will allow you to taste our local specialties. Among the classic stops open during the high season such as wineries, cider producers, jams factories or chocolate makers, here are some of the must-try fresh food for every month of the high season. Locals LOVE to go to the island to pick their own fruits or try these local delicacies. 

-Strawberries and asparagus in June

-Raspberries and different vegetables in July

-Blueberries and sweet corn in August

-APPLES, pears, plums in September and October, the busiest time of the year!

The Joan of Arc garden on the Plains of Abraham park

4-Enjoy our many parks and green spaces

With all this food, you need a place to settle and eat. Do a picnic on the Plains of Abraham park. This huge park located right downtown is a must when it comes to take some fresh air and escape the city vibe. This is where many events are taking place and where locals do their daily workout as well. Are you a runner or a cyclist? This is where you want to activate those legs.

Other beautiful green spaces can be found all over the city center. I like to walk along the Saint-Lawrence or Saint-Charles rivers, both reachable by foot or by bike. If I have time, I like to go to the Jacques Cartier National park, located 45 minutes away. If you are a hiker, this is the place to go to. With our 4 seasons, when we finally have a warm and sunny day, you will find most of the Quebecers in one of those parks enjoying the outdoors. We always have the urge to take advantage of the good weather as much as possible. We love it!

5-Visit a microbrewery

A visit to Quebec must include a stop at one of the many microbreweries in town. This is our new kind of pilgrimage experience. You will find in these pubs an expression of our identity through the flavours, the decor and food served. An eclectic crowd go to the microbreweries to unwind or party, whatever they feel like. These places are certainly where you will immerse yourself in the local lifestyle. Here are my favorites all located downtown or very close by:

-Noctem Artisans Brasseurs in Saint-Roch

-La Souche in Limoilou

-Griendel Brasserie Artisanale in Montcalm

-La Barberie in Saint-Roch

-Nano Cinco in Limoilou

Cheers! Santé!

Djany Poulin
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