Discover springtime in Québec!
Spring in Quebec is often underestimated as it falls between winter, which is the season of festivities and snow, and summer, synonymous with warmth and sports. However, spring offers a variety of activities to enjoy and places to visit.
One thing is certain: you never get bored in Quebec!
Here is a list of activities you can do if you come from late March to late June:
Enjoy the snow till the very end
Spring means the return of warmer weather and melting snow. Happily, there’s still time enjoy the slopes before the mountains lose their white coat.
This year, Mont-Sainte-Anne is closing the doors to its ski hill on April 21, and the Massif de Charlevoix April 12, so what are you waiting for? Come skiing!
If you don’t have equipment, don’t worry, just contact our concierge (concierge@lecapitole.com) to arrange equipment rental and/or transport to the ski hills.
Credit: Étienne Dionne for Mont-Sainte-Anne.
Treat yourself to a chocolatey long weekend!
Chocolate lovers, make the most of the Easter long weekend by staying at Le Capitole Hôtel and visiting Old Quebec.
Enjoy Easter brunch at Il Teatro, created especially for the occasion by our talented chefs.
Then, stroll through the Petit-Champlain and Saint-Jean-Baptiste neighbourhoods to find your favourite chocolate shop. We have a soft spot for chocolaterie Érico, which is also a chocolate museum.
Credit: André-Olivier Lyra.
Savour Quebec products in a sugar shack
Sugar shacks are a typical Quebecois tradition. Maple syrup season is the time to gather around a table with a checkered tablecloth in an old log cabin and share a comforting, hearty meal!
On the menu: pea soup, baked beans, “oreilles de criss,” tourtière, and, of course, maple-sugar pie for dessert. And if weather permits, you can even taste maple taffy!
Much more than just a culinary experience, a sugar shack is also where you can learn how to make delicious maple syrup (which starts flowing when the temperature is around 0 °C), take a sleigh ride, or to enjoy traditional music.
Several maple groves are within a 30-minute drive of Le Capitole Hôtel, including the Érablière le Chemin du Roy or the Sucrerie Blouin. Contact our concierges (concierge@lecapitole.com) to organize your experience !
Credit: the Sucrerie Blouin.
Go rafting or how to experience the snowmelt to the max
When spring comes and the temperatures warm up, the snow that has accumulated over the winter starts to melt and flow into nearby rivers. This is particularly the case with the Rivière Jacques-Cartier, which swells considerably.
The best way to enjoy this period is by rafting down the river! Whether as a couple, with friends or colleagues, sign up for a three-hour rafting trip that will leave you with lasting memories.
Let the team of professions at Expéditions nouvelle vague take you on an adventure just a stone’s throw from Quebec City!
Credit: Expéditions nouvelle vague.
Visit the Montmorency falls at their best
Are you on vacation in Quebec City when the snow is melting, but racing down a river doesn’t interest you? You can still appreciate the impact of the phenomenon by visiting Parc de la Chute-Montmorency, when its flow is at its highest volume of the year
Admire the majestic waterfall from the train station directly opposite before taking the cable car to the summit and crossing the bridge to fully appreciate its power, with the Fleuve Saint-Laurent and the Île d’Orléans in the background.
The more adventurous can enjoy the view from the on-site zip line, or from one of the Via Ferrata circuits.
Credit: SÉPAQ.
Go to the various events scheduled for the spring
With the arrival of warmer weather, Quebec City is offering a wide selection of events. Here are a few that you might find interesting:
- Salon international du livre de Québec: April 11 to 14
- Printemps de la musique: May 18 to 19
- Onwha’ Lumina: Throughout the year, dates vary
- Carrefour international de théâtre: May 23 to June 8
As well, the Théâtre Capitole, the Diamant, the Palais Montcalm and the Grand Théâtre offer programming that will thrill fans of music, theatre, humour and much more!