Historic Quebec City and Old Montreal - Sold out!

An afternoon non-stop flight from Minneapolis to Montreal (not included in the tour price) will bring you to Canada on the date of their Thanksgiving. Board a motorcoach with your fellow travelers for a scenic drive along the St. Lawrence River on the way to Quebec City. There will be a stop for an included dinner along the way and then check in to your hotel in the heart of Old Quebec for three nights.

A full American breakfast at the hotel is included every day in Quebec City, to prepare you for a full day of activities. The first one today will be a visit to the Montmorency Falls, a full 100 feet higher than Niagara Falls. There are numerous viewpoints to enjoy this powerful spectacle amidst the fall colors. After lunch on your own, travel to the Ile d’Orléans, in the middle of the St. Lawrence River, to the quaint town of Sainte-Famille. You will see why it’s a member of the Association of the Most Beautiful Villages of Quebec! Moving on to Sainte Pétronille, there is a winery visit (included) to taste the various wines produced on the island. Back in Quebec City, enjoy the evening on your own.

This morning is free for you to explore Quebec City on your own. A few options are: the UNESCO Heritage Site of Old Quebec, the Citadel, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Plains of Abraham, the National Museum of Beaux Arts and a free ferry ride across the river for grand views of Quebec City’s skyline. Later, walk with the group to the famous hotel Fairmont le Château Frontenac for an included afternoon tea (ladies’ hats or fascinators are optional!). The spread of sandwiches, pastries and treats, accompanied by live piano music, will be delightful. This evening is on your own.

After breakfast, check out of the hotel and say goodbye to Quebec City, as the bus heads south towards Montreal and one of the best places in the province to see fall colors: Mont Tremblant in the Laurentian Mountains. Take the gondola to the mountaintop, then climb the Observation Tower for breathtaking 360° views of the surrounding hills and valleys cloaked in crimson reds and fiery oranges and yellows. Next, check into your hotel in Old Montreal, walk with the group to the included dinner, and return to the hotel when you’re ready.

Start the day with the buffet breakfast at the hotel, which is included each morning in Montreal. Board the bus for the 1976 Olympic Park. Visit the Biodome, a botanic garden inside the former velodrome, as well as the planetarium, and have lunch on your own. In the afternoon, cross the street to the nearly 200-acre Montreal Botanical Garden. After your guided tour, there will be time to explore some of the 20 outdoor gardens and 10 exhibition greenhouses. You may also visit the Insectarium, with its beehives, butterflies and edible bugs. The “Garden of Lights” show begins at 6 p.m., illuminating the Japanese, Chinese and First Nations Gardens. Depart an hour later for the hotel and dinner on your own nearby.

Today you will be on foot, exploring sites close to the hotel. Begin with a guided tour of the gardens and a self-guided tour of the museum of Chateau Ramezay. This National Historic Site was built in 1705 as the residence of the governor and is now the province’s oldest private history museum. Walk with the group to Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal. The rest of the day is free for you to explore Montreal on your own. A few options are: the Old Port of Montreal and the clock tower built at the harbor’s entrance, the Parc du Bassin Bonsecours, and the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. Meet with the group in the evening for the included farewell dinner—a chance to share stories and memories of your trip.

After checking out of the hotel, ride the bus to the top of Mont Royale and the Kondiaronk Belvedere. From this vantage point you can look out over the beautiful city and once again enjoy the colorful fall foliage. Lunch on your own today will be at the Jean-Talon Public Market, opened in 1933 and one of North America’s largest open-air markets. Then travel to two other islands in the St. Lawrence River— St. Helen’s Island and Île Notre Dame, to visit Parc Jean-Drapeau, the site of Expo ’67. The Biosphere is there, in the iconic former USA Pavilion, designed by R. Buckminster Fuller. Nearby, visit the floral garden. In mid-afternoon the bus will depart for the Montreal International Airport, three hours before your non-stop flight back to Minneapolis.