The first four excursions described here can be combined and completed in a day. Admittedly, it will be a morning-to-night undertaking, especially if much time is taken to explore each destination, but the farthest of the four destinations is only 42km (26 miles) from Québec City. Just over a bridge outside the city, bucolic Ile d'Orléans, with its maple groves, orchards, farms, and 18th- and 19th-century houses, is an unspoiled mini-oasis. The waterfalls of Montmorency and Canyon Ste-Anne make for dazzling fun, especially in the spring when winter thaws make them thunder. And Ste-Anne-de-Beaupré is home to one of Canada's most visited basilicas.
In 2 or more days, you can continue along the northern shore of the St. Lawrence River to Charlevoix, where the stunning expanse of the river, high-end inns, and a wide variety of outdoor activities, including whale-watching in summer and fall, invite an overnight stay. There's an option to take the ferry across the river so that you can explore different riverside villages as you make your way back to Québec City.
Although it's preferable to drive in this region, tour buses go to Montmorency Falls and the shrine of Ste-Anne-de-Beaupré, circle the Ile d'Orléans, and make the trek all the way up to Tadoussac for whale-watching cruises.
For more information, visit the Québec City website at www.quebecregion.com.
