Summer's top 10 must-do experiences

The Ultimate Québec Summer List

To help make your trip absolutely fabulous, here’s a list of my fave spots and experiences you can’t miss.

1. Whether it’s just for a visit or to spend the night, the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, the world’s most photographed hotel, is a must.
2. Renowned for its terroir and local products prized by gourmet connoisseurs, Île d’Orléans is an idyllic island offering beautiful, pastoral scenery near the provincial capital.
3. Parc national des Grands-Jardins, named for its carpets of ground lichen and exceptional Arctic vegetation, is a protected area of exceptional beauty in Charlevoix where you can enjoy the outdoors.
4. Baie-Saint-Paul, a picturesque town known for its vibrant arts scene and cultural attractions, charms visitors from far and wide.
5. Treat yourself to a whale-watching cruise on the Côte-Nord to meet 13 cetacean species in the best observation site in the world and discover the majestic Saguenay Fjord.
6. A pedestrian village set in beautiful nature, Mont-Tremblant Village offers a resort-style experience where hotels, restaurants and activities are all located in one vibrant destination.
7. Thrilling from start to finish, Tyroparc is a mountain adventure park in the Laurentides where you can fly 115 m off the ground on 4 impressive mega zip lines or climb the via ferrata and zip back down the mountain.
8. Soak up Montréal’s vibrant history and energetic atmosphere in the Old Port, the city’s birthplace in 1642, where cobblestone streets set the scene. And with more than 70 events and activities, it’s a stop that’s not to be missed.
9. International de montgolfières Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu is a huge outdoor music and hot air balloon festival in Montérégie where you can treat yourself to a hot air balloon flight and enjoy a stunning view from the sky.
10. With lavender fields and floral gardens, Bleu Lavande’s agrotourism site in the Eastern Townships features an interpretation centre, an immersive experience created by Moment Factory, and a beautiful year-round boutique offering a wide range of products made with lavender essential oil.

To me, this list represents the best of what the province has to offer, blending cultural history, heart-racing adventure, spellbinding nature, and moments of pure calm that Québec summers are famous for.