As a city in a country with vast areas of wilderness and countryside, Quebec offers plenty in the way of outdoor activities, especially those that make use of the winter weather. Skiing and snowboarding are popular pursuits among locals and visitors alike, while for something a little different a dog sledding excursion packs some thrills. For family visitors, venues such as the Parc Aquarium du Quebec and Lavertu Extreme are good options.

Dog sledding
Local outdoor pursuit company Aventures Nord-Bec offers visitors excursions lasting from half a day to as long as five days, during which time participants are given the chance to control their own team of dogs as they sled through a scenic and tranquil snowy wilderness. Phone: +1 418 889 8001.

Go-karting
The Lavertu Extreme go-karting centre is situated in downtown Quebec and is the place to enjoy fast-paced, adrenaline-charged thrills at any time of the year. The centre’s track is just under half a kilometre long and allows drivers to reach speeds of up to 65 kph. Phone: +1 418 948 2126; www.lavertuextreme.com  

Hiking
Within easy distance of the city are a variety of mountainous destinations perfectly suited to hiking and trekking activities. Among the most popular is Parc Mont Ste Anne, located just 29 kilometres from downtown Quebec and offering 32 kilometres of trails. Also popular is the Reserve Nationale de Faune du Cap Tourmente, located 40 kilometres away and offering 19 kilometres of hiking trails. Hiking can be dependent on the weather and time of year.

Parc Aquarium du Quebec
Family fun is on offer at the Parc Aquarium du Quebec, a visitor centre that focuses on the plant and animal life that’s indigenous to the St Lawrence River and Canadian waters. The aquarium’s tanks and enclosures hold nearly 10,000 creatures, among which are fish, amphibians, reptiles, invertebrates and marine mammals. The polar bears, seals and walruses are especially popular with younger visitors. Phone: +1 418 890 652; www.sepaq.com/paq/en

Winter Sports
Skiing and snowboarding can be enjoyed at any of the five winter sports resorts located within easy distance of Quebec City. Parc Mont Ste Anne is one of the most popular of the five and is also eastern Canada’s largest ski centre with 51 trails and 11 lifts on offer. The ski season usually runs from mid-November to the end of March.

With some interesting history and heritage behind it, Quebec has plenty of cultural attractions to capture the attentions of visitors with interests in its past, whether in the form of impressive old buildings, museums or historic sites. Art lovers will also find venues of interest, with the Museum of Fine Arts arguably the most impressive.

Cartier-Brebeuf National Historic Site
This official Canadian National Historic Site is a monument to the events involving Jacques Cartier from 1535 to 1536. Cartier and his crew spent the winter of that period at this site on their ship La Grande Hermine. A reconstruction of the vessel is located at the site and is open to visitors. An onsite museum also looks at the founding of the Jesuit’s first mission in the city from 1625 to 1626. Phone: +1 418 648 4038; www.pc.gc.ca/lhn-nhs/qc/cartierbrebeuf/index_e.asp

L’Inox
Four centuries of history from the perspective of beer production and consumption is explored at this fascinating museum, which forms a part of a working brewery. After learning something of the brewery’s past, visitors can settle in the onsite pub and enjoy sampling a glass or two of the tasty house brews. Phone: +1 418 692 2877.

Royal Square
In the old part of the city, Royal Square is what might be considered the heart of the district and from a historic perspective its importance is undeniable. Back in the city’s early days, the square was the focal point of business and home to its largest and busiest market. There are plenty of old buildings to see, the majority of which have been restored, and there’s also a visitor centre with displays and a multimedia presentation giving details on the square’s history. Phone: +1 418 646 3167.

Rue du Tresor
This open-air art gallery was established in the early 1960s in response to local fine-arts students choosing the street as a location at which to display their work. Today, the street is hailed as one of the Old City’s most popular cultural attractions and sees the exhibition of works by a variety of artists. Many of the pieces on display are available for purchase.

Museum of Civilisation (Musee de la Civilisation)
Presenting the history of the early years of both Quebec the city and the province, this museum features a total of five permanent collections and also has space for up to six temporary exhibitions. A range of themes is explored and many of the displays are interactive with text provided in both French and English. Phone: +1 418 643 2158.

Museum of Fine Arts of Quebec (Musee National des Beaux-Arts du Quebec)
This impressive collection of art is comprised primarily of works by artists native to the province and is considered the largest of its kind in North America. With a total of eight galleries on the premises, the museum has space enough to display works ranging from those produced in the colony’s earliest days to those produced more recently. Among the permanent exhibitions is one dedicated to the works of the late Quebec artist Jean-Paul Riopelle. Phone: +1 418 643 2150.

Quebec’s cuisine is essentially French in cooking style but takes on its own unique flavour with the use of prevalent local ingredients. Game features heavily and many dishes include meats such as rabbit, duck, goose, quail and venison. Cheese is also a regular feature of local dishes, with most of the varieties used made within the province from the milk of cows, goats and sheep.

There are plenty of restaurant options across the city, but for the most significant concentration of venues, the Grand Allee is perhaps the best place to head. Here you’ll find restaurants, cafés and bistros packed with locals enjoying tasty offerings. Dining outside is popular in this area when the summer season arrives. Other locations to find eateries include Rue St Louis and Place d’Armes.

For shopping, visitors will find Rue Ste-Anne, Rue St-Jean and Rue De Buade in the old town are good places to find both tourist-oriented and regular retail outlets. For somewhere with a little more character and atmosphere, Le Quartier Petit Champlain is the place to head. Here you’ll find old-fashioned cobbled streets that are home to cute little boutiques selling unique and unusual clothing as well as a variety of outlets with onsite workshops selling traditional handmade goods.

For fresh produce and a lively ambience, Le Marché du Vieux-Port, the public market located north of the old town, is the best choice. Everything from flowers to meat, cheese, fruit and vegetables can be found here and if you visit in early spring, you’ll find delicious maple syrup and products made with it on sale. For covered, mall-style shopping, Place Laurier, Place Ste-Foy and Place de la Cité, located southwest of the city, are the venues to head for.