Hello! My husband and I would like to do a road trip from Boston to Quebec City by way of Vermont and Montreal in August 2023
May I ask for tips on 3 or so star hotels or bed n breakfasts that are well-situated places to stay in either Woodstock or Burlington VT, Montreal and QC.
If not too much to ask, places to visit, neighborhoods, music and/or entertainment festivals or performances as well as walking tours would be appreciated.
Thank you!
The first week in August will have the last 2 fireworks displays in Montreal for the competition. It's wonderful. We also enjoyed the tour of the Montreal Forum where the Canadiens play. I think the Montreal tourism site has road trips from Montreal...take a look.
There are some BnBs in Burlington on Lakeview Terrace with lake views. Sorry, I don’t have their names. North end of street. We spent three summers there, wonderful neighborhood. You are planning a special trip!
I don't know if I can help too much. We spent 10 nights or so in Vermont, one of our very few spring holidays (2016?), splitting time between Woodstock and Burlington. These two lovely rentals, which are still going strong (though I don't remember them being so pricey, even taking inflation into account):
https://www.vrbo.com/en-ca/cottage-rental/p616376vb?adultsCount=2&noDates=true&uni_id=1163885
https://www.vrbo.com/en-ca/cottage-rental/p3608509?adultsCount=2&noDates=true&uni_id=3622941
Woodstock is a smallish, quaint place, if the description quaint can still be used without soliciting derision. Billings Farm and walking trails are close by. A lot of hiking, and more driving than usual along country lanes, stopping off for long lunches.
Burlington, which has a pleasant waterfront and a large pedestrain area, has more going on. If you are there in August there will be opportunities for theatre there and just down the road in Middlebury. During certain periods, street perfomers. Boat rides on Lake Champlain. Try to grab a meal at Vermont Pub and Brewery, which brews excellent beer. I used to be a keen homebrewer. The man who opened the pub, Greg Noonan (deceased), is a bit of a legend in homebrewing circles, and was one of the brewers who paved the way for the microbrewery revolution in the USA.
Close by, Montpelier is really worth a visit: a historic town with lots of eateries. Stowe has a few famous resorts, including one belonging to the Von Trapps. Splendid scenery everywhere. Try this: https://vermontvacation.com/
For small city North America, you can't do any better than Old Quebec. I think the main music festival takes place in July but there is usually something going off with street perfomers during the whole summer. Many years ago we stayed here and were very happy with it: https://www.manoiresplanade.ca/en
Just around the corner, Cafe de Paris had great food and quiet entertainment (singer/harp player).
Lunch and dinner cruises from the harbour. It has its own Notre Dame cathedral. Make a day trip to Sanctuaire Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, Montmorency Falls and Ile d'Orlea.
I once took a youth soccer team to Montreal but don't remember too much about it, mainly a case of grabbing a bite to eat in the evening, though the old core has a certain flair to it.
There are many street fairs and music festivals in both Quebec cities during the summer. And both operate busy websites so you can check what's on.
The Citadelle atop the Plains of Abraham in Quebec City offers sweeping views across the river. The fields were the site of a key battle when the English beat the French. The old fort is still formally an army base, home to the Royal 22nd, better known by their sort-of French nickname, les Van-Doos. The troop quarters and a new museum demonstrate military life in those formative days. Some historians argue that the battle sealed the French colonization of the whole continent
Today's troops used to raise the colours with a parade each summer morning but the website suggests it's now more a musical march. Too bad if the tradition regimental mascot, a magnificent billy goat, no longer gets to show off.
PS: Wet weather can cancel the ceremony. The bearskin hats don't like moisture.
Thank you to all!
I'd make sure that Niagara Falls and Niagara-on-the-lake are part of a trip. That would mean extending the trip to Toronto which I would def add.
In the Burlington area, Shelburne Museum and Shelburne Farms are both spectacular and well worth your time. 7 miles south of Burlington.
