My Top 7: Quebec City Edition
If you follow me on Instagram you might have seen my posts from beautiful Quebec City! I was lucky enough to spend an entire week in the historic city while my team and I planned and executed a large international trade conference for one of our clients at the stunning Fairmont Chateau Frontenac! It was an incredible time filled with great people, food, and sights! Here’s my Top 7 from my week long trip!
1. Travel Essentials // No matter where I go I have a few staples that always make their way into my bag: comfy shoes, iPad, sunglasses, lip balm, multivitamins and probiotics. I’ve traveled a lot for work and I’ve discovered it’s very easy to get sick when you’re run down and constantly on the go! Taking probiotics helps boost my immunity and keeps my energy levels high so I can get it all done! What I appreciate most about Renew Life Canada’s Ultimate Flora Probiotic is that it doesn’t have to be refrigerated, meaning I can pop it in my bag and go!
2. Quick Porter Flights // While getting to downtown Toronto from Kitchener can sometimes be a pain in the butt, Porter makes the whole experience worth it! My colleague, Stacey, and I relaxed in the airport lounge munching on trail mix, cookies and hot coffee while we waited for our flight. Despite being a short flight (about 60 minutes) we were happily served complimentary beverages and snacks by the friendly staff. I was even able to finish the book I have been trying to read for the past 8 months! Wins all around!
3. The Fairmont Chateau Frontenac // Words cannot describe how incredible this hotel is! There isn’t a single room in the hotel that doesn’t impress. From the views to the room decor, their attention to detail is obvious! Even the littlest of things blew me away; like how they included my name on the shampoo/conditioner bottles! From a conference planning perspective, the staff at the Frontenac went above and beyond! They were helpful, attentive, and delivered much more than we ever expected! It truly was a spectacular stay!
4. Historic Quebec City // There is soooo much history and beautiful architecture in the old city. Nestled on the edge of the Saint Lawrence River, Quebec City is full of European charm! With its cobblestone sidewalks and 400-year-old buildings, it’s hard not to fall in love! Stacey and I took the time on our spare day to walk around and explore the city. At the end of the day, our fitness trackers clocked in at about 26,000 steps! And the key to those steps? Sensible footwear; it’s a must!
5. The Food, Food, Food! // Where do I even begin with the food!? First off, I have to say that I was thoroughly impressed with food served at the conference! The chef at the Frontenac sure knows how to impress! Beyond the hotel, there are hundreds of restaurant options to choose from! So many in fact, Stacey and I wondered around for hours trying to pick a place to eat! Spending an entire week in the city meant lots of time to find my favourites, so if you are ever in the city make sure you try the french toast at La Buche, the Margherita pizza at Matto, the cassolette du migrateur breakfast at Cosmos, the pretzels at The 3 Brasseurs, the salads and truffle fried at Le Chic Shack, and the bison tartare at Le Sam Bistro.
6. The Conference // For all the event planners out there, the Frontenac is an amazing venue for a conference! For all conference attendees out there, if you ever have the opportunity to attend a conference at the Frontenac, DO IT! Being behind the scenes running a conference is kind of a fascinating thing. There are soooo many things that can go wrong (and so many things that actually did go wrong), but at the end of the day you roll with the punches and make the best of the situation. All our attendees were none-the-wiser, and gave us incredible feedback, including this was the best NAMC conference they had been to in 50 years!
7. Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day Festivities // This business trip happened to be during Quebec City’s largest annual celebration, Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day, meaning I got to enjoy all the festivities and attractions that come with the holiday! There were buskers in the streets, live concerts, and fireworks. It was a lovely time to play tourist in the city!
Sounds like an incredible trip! My boyfriend and I will be visiting Quebec City next month, so it’s nice to see some great places to eat.