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With a Trip to Quebec on the horizon I’m beyond excited, as well as reflecting on previous trips. This one will be a bit different from the others because I wont be going to either Montreal or Quebec City. I’m visiting a friend, and taking in some hockey in different towns and leagues. The reality is, NOT going to those two big cities I’ve been to before was the primary idea. The games were simply a way to help decide where else to go.
Like our heritage food (see Discovering the Modern Tastes of Quebec Jan 2025), our idea of a trip to Quebec tends to get a bit limited. We love Montreal and Quebec City- as we should. But it’s a BIIIIIIIIG province, with lots to see and do. What and why should we begin to explore outside those two major centers? Let's spend some time on that.
For Starters- our family heritage. I absolutely loved Paula Grandpre Wood’s book “The Long Walk Home with the Ceinture Flechee” (See 2 Franco American Books for Everyone's Reading List Feb. 2025). The author’s detailed trips to her family's heritage towns along the Saint Lawrence River had me thinking about my own genealogy and how I could visit the towns where my family lived. Trips of this nature can be as simple as taking photographs and walking the streets, to as complex as conducting family research at Churches, Town Halls, and any number record centers. Sure, there are plenty of record and archive centers in the two big cities, but we stand to get local specifics and guidance in each town that we may not get otherwise.
Next- our friends. That’s pretty self explanatory. In the world of online interest groups, why not go and do something with friends, vs talking about things from a distance?
Also- Personal Interests. Anything we may travel for locally or regionally, why not do it in Quebec? I’m a huge hockey fan- there are certainly enough towns with a team that I’d be happy to see. I’m preparing to take in games in Sainte-Hyacinthe, Trois Rivieres, and Shawinigan. We all have our hobbies and interests: festivals, live music, architecture, antiquing, or anything for that matter. Whatever the interest, it’s there for us to find and explore.
Let’s also consider the French Language factor. Whether we know it and want to use it, or are learning it, there’s no better experience than immersion. The reality is that the two big cities can hamper our linguistic efforts. The tourist districts are
bilingual, and many, if not most of the hospitality employees will politely shift to English for us. Visiting smaller towns gives us a better chance of the French immersion factor.
Finally- cultural differences. We can learn a lot about Quebec from visiting the two big cities, but like the United States, two cities can’t reflect the culture and image of the entire area. Imagine basing our entire concept of New England on trips to Boston and Providence!
Don’t get me wrong, Montreal and Quebec are great. They have airports for those of us beyond driving distance. They provide historical sites and museums, eclectic neighborhoods, and restaurants galore, all within walking distance from most hotels. They provide us with familiarity and, yes, the English language safety blanket.
Once we've seen them, however, the questions start: What’s next? What do we do once we’ve “been there, done that?” What’s our option for quieter, smaller towns without the hustle and bustle? For seeing what’s around the next corner? For the things that are personal to us? For getting the local flavor?
That’s up for each of us to answer. If you want to revisit those two cities, there’s certainly no harm in it as they’re amazing cites. Let’s just make sure we’re not limiting ourselves.
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