little road trip- Quebec winter carnival

[JB3]

if anyone is within driving distance, I recommend checking this out. A blast to see.

This will be my second time heading up, sort of becoming a tradition for me. (the wife is not as enthusiastic being not a fan of cold, shes giving it one try to see if its bearable )

Quebec Winter Carnival | So Carnival! | Official website

[SwampYankee]

I'd love to make that trip one of these years. It's been on my radar for awhile but just haven't been able to squeeze it in. Maybe after the first two are through high school and basketball practice schedules that screw up any winter travel plans.

[cmbdiesel]

Quebec is a beautiful city.
One day I will stay at the Chateau Frontenac....

[JB3]

Originally Posted by SwampYankee

I'd love to make that trip one of these years. It's been on my radar for awhile but just haven't been able to squeeze it in. Maybe after the first two are through high school and basketball practice schedules that screw up any winter travel plans.

You gotta do it! Just got back, the old 240 was a champion apart from one incident with the sister and brother in law in old quebec where they tried to borrow it. Otherwise performed flawlessly

Snow tubing, dog sledding, Ice castle and ice luge events. Ice hotel outside of town is up there with some of the most amazing things I've seen. Wife took some pics ill get my hands on and post

Drive up was a bit nuts, blizzard conditions from outside of town, all they way north, 10 hours of driving in a continuous snowstorm and icy roads. Wind gusts in the mountains were so strong that they actually blew the car into skids, which was a first for me. Made for quite the hair raising drive

[JB3]

Originally Posted by cmbdiesel

Quebec is a beautiful city.
One day I will stay at the Chateau Frontenac....

Its a bit overrated IMO. We just stayed there two nights (reduced rates due to construction)

The building is amazing, but there are numerous boutique hotels id stay in next time which are just as well located, and not preposterously expensive.

Actually best value would be to stay out of the old city in a motel, and drive in, but sleeping near the carnival is nice, you can just wander back and crash.

Age old thing about pricey hotels where every single service is tons of money. Wifi was 14 bucks a day, instead of free like most places as an example.

The room we could afford was a closet, though definitely comfortable. Was worth the one time, but probably not again

[kerry]

Never been to Quebec City. It's on my list. Not sure if winter is when I want to visit.

[panZZer]

I would like to see those ice caves in Cornucopia Mn myself.

[JB3]

Originally Posted by kerry

Never been to Quebec City. It's on my list. Not sure if winter is when I want to visit.

you need to visit once each season. Pretty much as close as you can get to going to European city on this continent. Much of the city wall still remains

The boat race across the St Lawrence through the rushing ice on the river has to be seen to be believed. Didn't see it this time, but last time was able to get a good position to watch. Basically, those people are certifiably insane, and everyone loves it

heres a vid I found on youtube-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0M4W4WNdoxw

The Frankaphones are an interesting group. You really get a sense of such a division from the rest of Canada. I was watching the Olympics up there, and Canadians from the province of Quebec were celebrated and discussed on the news as if Quebec was in the Olympics as its own nation, not a part of Canada. Canadians from outside the province were given little screen time by comparison, and the whole sense of nationality as a separate entity is really noticeable to a foreigner like me.
I got a sense of a people undecided, angry with their ancestors for not breaking free, and deciding even now as to whether separate is better, or worse. The local museum on Quebec history really gives this impression weight.

[kerry]

Originally Posted by panZZer

I would like to see those ice caves in Cornucopia Mn myself.

Been in those caves in the summertime in a kayak. would love to see them in the winter. It's WI.