Planning a Trip

The province of Québec is immense: it's the largest province in the second-largest country in the world (after Russia), covering an area more than three times as the size of France, and stretching from the northern borders of New York, Vermont, and New Hampshire up to almost the Arctic Circle.

That said, most of the province's population lives in the stretch immediately north of the U.S. border. Its major cities and towns, including Montréal and Québec City, are in this America-neighboring region as well; the greater Montréal metropolitan area is home to nearly half of the province's population. Québec City lies just 263km (163 miles) northeast of Montréal, commanding a stunning location on the rim of a promontory overlooking the St. Lawrence River, which is at its narrowest here. Most of the province's developed resort and scenic areas lie within a 3-hour drive of either city, and Montréal and Québec City themselves are just 3 hours apart by car as well.

It can't be overstated how much the British and French struggle for dominance in the 1700s and 1800s for North America -- the New World -- continues to shape Québec's character today. A bit of history is in order (and you'll find yourself immersed in even more when you're touring the cities; it's inevitable): Samuel de Champlain arrived in Québec City in 1608, determined to settle the region as a French colony, a year after the Virginia Company founded its fledgling colony of Jamestown, hundreds of miles to the south. French forces ruled the region until 1759, when British troops surprised the French by coming up and over the Cap Diamant cliffs in Québec City. The ensuing battle, fought on the Plains of Abraham just southwest of the city center on September 13, 1759, is one of the most important battles in North American history. Britain won, resulting in a continent that was under British influence for more than a century. That influence carries on today; Queen Elizabeth II's face still graces all Canadian currency.

And yet, while most of Canada is English-speaking, 400 years of French tradition still hold strong in the Québec province. Most residents' first language is French. There are areas of the province, outside of the cities, where the only spoken language is French. Much of the music and architecture feels French. And so Québec is a wholly unique blend of French and British influences, coinciding often and sometimes doing battle. So when you're planning a trip to Montréal and Québec City, think of it as planning a trip to a cosmopolitan, European city. Accommodations range from modest inns to luxury hotels, and restaurants run the gamut from bistro-cozy to haute cuisine. Locals are lively and welcoming.

Destination Canada: Predeparture Checklist

• If you're flying, you'll need a passport to enter Canada. If you're driving or arriving by bus, train, or boat, bringing a passport is a good idea -- and may become required at some point in 2009 .
• If you're driving and are an AAA member, bring your card -- it will be honored by CAA, the Canadian Automobile Association.
• If you're flying, check with authorities regarding current rules about what you can bring in carry-on bags. The Canadian Air Transport Security Authority is at www.acsta.gc.ca; the American Transportation Security Administration maintains a website at www.tsa.gov.
• Make sure you know the PIN (personal identification number) for your credit card and your bank card. Most Canadian banks only accept four-digit PINs.
• Confirm your daily ATM withdrawal limit.
• To check in at an airport kiosk with an e-ticket, make sure you have the credit card (or frequent-flier card) with which you bought your ticket.
• Bring any cards that could entitle you to discounts, such as AARP cards and student IDs.