Warm up to Québec City’s charming, snowy backdrop, decadent gastronomic scene and endless mugs of chocolat chaud during your romantic winter escape to La Belle Province.
The majestic winter wonderland scene that’s Québec City this time of year is no doubt what makes up its charming vibe and snow-induced joie de vivre. So brush up on your high school French and grab your weekend bag, plus the person you most want to cozy up to (body heat, right?) and head to Québec’s quaint capital city for the ultimate romantic winter escape.
Québec City travel guide: Where to stay
Auberge Saint-Antoine
There’s hardly a more romantic setting than the Old Port neighbourhood upon which this charming hotel sits in the heart of this UNESCO World Heritage site. Plus there’s something so inherently heartwarming about nestling beside the fireplace with a mug of rich hot chocolate served from the Café-Bar Artefact upon arrival. Then head to your room and get carried away watching the breathtaking beauty of ships passing through the ice-covered waters of the St. Lawrence River from your window. As you make your way out, take note of the ale bottles and coloured dishes (dating back almost four centuries) on display in glass cases lining the walls accrued from archaeological digs as the hotel was being built. After an afternoon traversing the European cobblestoned streets (with a stop at the Notre-Dame-des-Victoires, also the stand-in church for the Paris set of 2002’s Catch Me If You Can) book a muscle-relaxing Swedish massage (or two) at the Auberge’s L’Attitude Massothérapie.
Auberge Saint-Antoine, 8 Rue Saint Antoine, (418) 692-2211 saint-antoine.com
Hotel de Glace (Ice Hotel)
It may have been an icy -25-degree day on the official opening of Québec City’s luminous Ice Hotel, but inside the crystalline, frozen walls was a cool vibe of Nordic proportions (and a mere -5-degree climate). Now in its thirteenth season, the fully snow and ice-comprised hotel, which takes its inspiration this year from A Journey to the Center of Winter, is open for business with 44 rooms and suites—plus a fully operational Ice Bar. Order the Signature Hotel de Glace cocktail, a vodka and ice cider served in an ice flute ($12) before a late-night dip in the outdoor hot tub. There’s also an ice chapel for those envisioning a fairytale winter wonderland wedding with a breathy “I do” exchange. Open until March 24.
Hotel de Glace , 9530 Rue de la Faune (418) 623-2888 hoteldeglace-canada.com
Top 10 travel destinations of 2013
For our chic places to dine travel guide, read on to the next page...
