WHERE NEXT
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A P E R F E C T DAY I N
Quebec City CANADA
Go beyond the ramparts to discover the vibrant dining scene and modern cultural attractions that only enhance Quebec City’s old-world ambiance. B y J e s s i c a H u ra s
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RANGE BY ENSEMBLE
PHOTO: TIBOR BOGNAR/GETTY IMAGES.
M
y first trip to Quebec City, about a decade ago, focused on Old Q uebec: a UNESCO World Heritage Site founded in 1608, and the only walled city in North America. While you can easily build an itinerary around that historic district’s charms — ornate churches, narrow cobblestone streets and centuries-old fortifications made of heavy stone — my latest visit shows me that the city’s real allure is the depth of its rich history paired with its dynamic, trend-setting present. You can pop into a cozy restaurant for Quebecois staples like tourtière and pouding chômeur or walk just a few blocks farther to discover the locally driven fare being pioneered by boundary-pushing chefs. Although the city is often noted for offering a taste of Europe in North America, I quickly realize that Quebec’s capital is distinctly its own. The city’s reverence for its francophone and Indigenous heritage is complemented by a welcoming joie de vivre and the exuberance of year-round festivities, from the W inter Carnival’s celebration of snow to the Festival d’été de Québec every summer.