Sweet summer in Canada: A vacation in Quebec

Oh, sweet summer, right around the corner. If you’re as excited as we are, you may have already started to think about planning a relaxing summer getaway. Lucky for us, during the next few months, we don’t have to go far from home to experience sunshine and warm weather.

We’re exploring some popular vacation destinations in the province that reported the highest levels of life satisfaction: Quebec. In the first quarter of 2024, 58% of Quebec’s population rated their level of life satisfaction as 8, 9 or 10 on a scale of 1 to 10.

The province of Quebec offers variety when it comes to summer vacation options—from lakeside cottages to historical architecture, there is much to choose from. Here are some picks for this summer, along with some stats about the populations who live there.

City of Québec: Rich with history

The province’s capital, Québec, is the place to go to explore some of Canada’s oldest history and architecture. The city has a charming European feel, especially in the historic neighbourhood of Old Québec—a Designated UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985.

In 2021, the population of Québec was 549,459, up 3.3% from 2016, and the average age of those living in Québec was 43.8 years. In most of Quebec's 17 regions, including the city of Québec, French remained the first official language spoken by more than 90% of the population. 

Québec is home to the Plains of Abraham, where in 1759, the famous Battle of Québec between the French and the British took place. Now, you can visit the beautiful urban park which holds much of Canada’s history.

Some more of the city’s most famous landmarks include the Château Frontenac and Jacques-Cartier National Park.

Check out more of what the city has to offer on Québec’s official website.

Mont-Tremblant: An outdoor adventure

Mont-Tremblant is certainly a winter hotspot for skiers and snowboarders, but it also offers loads of summer fun, particularly for lovers of the outdoors.

Whether you like to hike, bike, or paddle, Mont-Tremblant is 233.75 square kilometres of beautiful land to explore. The population of Mont-Tremblant is growing: the population reached 10,992 in 2021, up 14.0% from 2016.

If you’d rather kick back and relax on vacation, Parc Plage—the beach on Lac Tremblant—is the perfect place to have a picnic and chill out by the water.

Explore more exciting (or relaxing) adventures by visiting Mont-Tremblant's tourism website.

Montréal: Something for everyone

Montréal is Quebec’s largest city and is situated on an island on the St. Lawrence River. It is a port city home to 1.76 million people in 2021, up 3.4% from 2016. This city offers a variety of attractions for travellers and locals alike. In Montréal, 20,970 people worked in the arts, entertainment and recreation industries in 2021.

Interested in history? Montréal’s historical district boasts beautiful museums and churches, such as the Notre-Dame Basilica, along its cobblestone streets. Want to stay active on your vacation? Mount Royal is the perfect location to hike or jog among locals and tourists alike.

More of a thrill seeker? The Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix will take place from June 7 to 9, 2024, at the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve. If you’re a fan of race car driving, a trip to Montréal may be in the cards for you this summer. As of June 2022, there were 49 other racing facilities and related activities in Canada, which includes automobile race tracks.

Travelling from a distance? In 2022, over 15 million passengers passed through Pierre Elliot Trudeau International Airport in Montréal!

To discover more to do in Montréal this summer, check out Montréal’s tourism website.

Stay tuned: Quebec is the first province that we’re exploring as part of our summer vacation destinations series. Over the summer months, we will be featuring summer vacation spots across more Canadian regions.