Travel for Kids: Quebec



canada

		Quebec



		Quebec was founded as a French colony in 1608, but the name comes from the Algonquin word Kebec, which means “ where the river narrows.” The capital of New France was Quebec City, a historic city in the conflict between the French and British, and the British won out in 1760. The province is the largest in Canada, extending all along the St. Lawrence River and up into the far north and Hudson Bay. As you travel through Quebec, kids will have fun hearing French spoken everywhere and eating French-inspired food.

		Tip: Don't miss our top picks for children's books on Quebec, recommended by the staff of Travel for Kids, see below.


			Quebec City

			Montreal


			Tip: The winters are quite long here, and it’s easy to imagine the hardships the first settlers endured with months of snow and cold. We visited Quebec on spring break in early April, and there were piles of snow drifts for kids to play in. Summers are nice and warm, but at other seasons, dress warmly.


			Fun food –

			Maple trees grow in abundance in Quebec – the Algonquins tapped the trees to make maple syrup and sugar. Quebec is the largest producer of maple syrup, and throughout the province, you'll find delicious maple treats and snacks. Our favorites were maple "cornets," little cones filled with thick syrup, also called taffy (tire) or maple butter (sucre), but kids will also want to sample maple sugar pie, candies, cookies, fudge and ice cream.



			Travel for Kids has so many fun things to do with kids in Quebec, but you'll need a fun place to stay. Here's our own Travel for Kids hand-picked list of family hotels, all styles and price ranges, in neighborhoods that are comfortable for families, and near to places you'll want to explore:

			Family hotels Montreal

			Family hotels Quebec City

The Sugaring-Off Party
Jonathan London, Gilles Pelletier

In March, everyone goes to Tante Loulou’s for a sugaring-off party in the maple woods. The kids play in the forest, sap is boiled down to make syrup (la tire), the family enjoys a big feast, and for dessert there's maple snowsicles. Glowing illustrations capture the warmth and sweetness of this Quebec tradition. (Picture book)

The Quebec City Crisis
Roy Mac Gregor

It’s Winter Carnival and the Screech Owls hockey team has come to Quebec City to follow in the footsteps of Wayne Gretzky and other hockey greats. But it’s a crisis when a reporter turns the French-speaking people of Quebec City against the team. (Chapter book)

Jacques Cartier
Jennifer Lackey

In 1535, Jacques Cartier sailed into Hochelaga, the site of Montreal today. Read about Cartier’s explorations up and down the St. Lawrence River, encounters with the Iroquois, and his quest for riches for France.
(Picture book)

Samuel de Champlain
Elizabeth MacLeod, John Mantha

Samuel de Champlain, "the father of New France," founded a trading post at Quebec City in 1608. Kids can read for themselves about de Champlain’s explorations, help from the Huron Indians to survive, and the early settlement in Quebec. (Easy reader)

New France
Robert Livesey, A.G. Smith

Get the scoop on early explorers and colonists of New France – Champlain, Maisonneuve, Jean Talon, Madeleine de Vercheres, Wolfe and Montcalm, plus activities, build a fort, make a quill pen, color period clothing. Good for older kids. (Chapter book)

More children's books on other Quebec pages

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