I would highly, highly recommend Hotel Vieux-Quebec in QC.

Anonymous wrote:
OP here. Thank you so much for all the tips.

How is the drive back from Quebec city to DC? Did you stop overnight on the way? Any other places to check out on the way back?

And, is our division of days ok - 3 days in Montreal and 3 days in QC?

Thanks.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a doable drive - we've done it in one day with little problem - and parking is no worse than any other big city. Old Montreal is gorgeous. The Basilica is soooo ornate - if they haven't seen a European-style Catholic church, this will wow them. The Biodome is fantastic, and the Botanical Gardens are quite enjoyable as well. If you are making trip to QC, then definitely stop off to see Montmorency Falls. Also, the kids will love the fort at Quebec City.

+1
And we never had an issue with parking in either. Lots of public lots.

I would do 4 days in Montreal and 2 in QC. It’s a much smaller place with less to do.

We took the train from New York to Montreal when kids were in preschool. It was a lot of fun. There were games in one of the carts, and the kids won a small domino set.

We're doing a similar trip in August. We're flying. Our original plan was to fly to Montreal (nonstop), then immediately take the train to Quebec city. Stay there for 3 days, then train back to Montreal for 3 days. After a lot of back and forth, we are now flying Porter Air directly to QC (with a stop in Toronto), train back to Montreal after 3 days, then Porter Air home (again, stop in Toronto). I'm not crazy about the stop both ways but it will save us several hundred dollars because the plane ticket is significantly cheaper and the train is not cheap either. Plus, I was concerned about the potential for a delayed flight, missing our train, and arriving in QC late at night.

we're staying at the Hotel Maison du Fort in QC and the Embassy Suites in Montreal. I have a general idea of what we want to do but will be reviewing a bunch of threads in the next couple months.

We went to Montreal and QC last summer. Had a blast!

Be sure to read the multiple threads with tips in the DCUM travel forum.

The drive from here to Montreal is do-able, but long. Try to break it up if you can.

QC adds 3 hours. We stopped at the grandparents in Bergen County, NJ on the way home---and I think it took nearly 10 hours to get there (and I was ready to throw everyone out of the minivan at the 9:30 mark).

it's such an easy nonstop flight to montreal. i'd try to fly if you get good prices. saves you a whole day or more of driving.

quebec as far as i have been able to tell you have to connect, so not as convenient.

We vacationed in Quebec a couple of years ago. We skipped Montreal, did QC and then up the St. Lawrence River to Malbaie and Tadoussac (whale watching). Our fave part of the trip was the drive up the St. Lawrence.

We figured that we could go to Montreal another time with a city visit.

It was one of our fave family vacations. Kids were 11 and 8.

OP here. Thank you so much for all the tips.

How is the drive back from Quebec city to DC? Did you stop overnight on the way? Any other places to check out on the way back?

And, is our division of days ok - 3 days in Montreal and 3 days in QC?

Thanks.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a doable drive - we've done it in one day with little problem - and parking is no worse than any other big city. Old Montreal is gorgeous. The Basilica is soooo ornate - if they haven't seen a European-style Catholic church, this will wow them. The Biodome is fantastic, and the Botanical Gardens are quite enjoyable as well. If you are making trip to QC, then definitely stop off to see Montmorency Falls. Also, the kids will love the fort at Quebec City.

+1
And we never had an issue with parking in either. Lots of public lots.

Anonymous wrote:It's a doable drive - we've done it in one day with little problem - and parking is no worse than any other big city. Old Montreal is gorgeous. The Basilica is soooo ornate - if they haven't seen a European-style Catholic church, this will wow them. The Biodome is fantastic, and the Botanical Gardens are quite enjoyable as well. If you are making trip to QC, then definitely stop off to see Montmorency Falls. Also, the kids will love the fort at Quebec City.

+1
And we never had an issue with parking in either. Lots of public lots.

I would recommend Hotel Clarendon in Old City Quebec. I would recommend going just outside the city to Montmorency Falls, St Anne Basilica and Gardens with outdoor life size stations of the cross, and the Cyclorama of Jerusalem near the Basilica.

It's a doable drive - we've done it in one day with little problem - and parking is no worse than any other big city. Old Montreal is gorgeous. The Basilica is soooo ornate - if they haven't seen a European-style Catholic church, this will wow them. The Biodome is fantastic, and the Botanical Gardens are quite enjoyable as well. If you are making trip to QC, then definitely stop off to see Montmorency Falls. Also, the kids will love the fort at Quebec City.

Years ago I stayed in the Old Port area of Quebec City and really liked it -- the hotel was great (Hotel Dominion, but I believe it is re-branded now), a couple of good restaurants and some good cardio going up the steps to the Old City! (There is also an elevator.)

Why are you driving? That's a bear of a drive. Plus parking in both cities will be a pain.

Drive to Montreal is quite doable, but not sure from QC.

Have fun!!

Trying to chalk up last minute trip to Montreal and QC with kids (10 and 5) and would greatly appreciate any advice from fellow DCUMers.

Planning on leave on 29th/30th June and coming back on 6th July. I haven't had a lot of chance to research but thinking of doing 3 nights in Montreal and 3 nights in QC.

- How is the drive from DC to Montreal?
1st option: drive from DC --> Montreal, Montreal -->QC and return from QC --> DC (scared of this drive as seems long)
2nd option: take one-way car rental and then drive from DC--> Montreal and then Montreal --> QC (train) and fly back from QC

- Any recommended areas to stay in Montreal and QC? I was thinking of Old Montreal or Old Port in Montreal.

- Any recommended places to visit in Montreal and QC and interesting things to do with kids. It looks like our trip might collide with Jazz festival in Montreal (any tips)

Thanks in advance!