Quebec

Québec is Canada's largest province by area, a stunning 1,542,056 sq. km (595,391 sq. mi.). It has second-largest population (about 7.6 million people). In Algonquian, Québec means "where the river narrows." The colony was named by Samuel de Champlain in 1608; this was original Québec on the St. Lawrence River and this name was eventually given to the whole province.

You will notice that Québec is different the moment you cross from the Maritimes or from Ontario. Québec has 380 years of history: more if you consider Jacques Cartier first landed about 500 years ago. Québec's politics, language and religion are unique in North America. French Canadians refer to themselves as Québecois and consider themselves a country within Canada. There has been a separatist movement practically since Upper Canada (Ontario) and Lower Canada (Québec) formed the country in 1867.

When travelling in Québec there are two key pieces of advice: don't talk about politics and have antacid tables handy after eating poutine (french fries with gravy and cheese curds).

90% of the population of Québec is on the St Lawrence Lowland, which is 15 km (9 mi.) wide near Québec City, and 160 km (99 mi.) near Montreal.

Language: if you speak French as a result of learning it from someone from France, you will have fun speaking Québec French. If you are speaking any other language, just plan for the fact most signs have French in bigger letters than English. The first thing to do is learn to pronounce Québec. It's K-BEK. Many English Canadians says Quew-bek but they're wrong.

Québec has 21 tourist regions: plan to be busy.

Montreal is a great town to party. Unlike much of English Canada, bars and pubs are open very late; the locale convenience stores (dépanneur) sell beer and wine; the drinking age is 18, not 19; and there is a de rigueur fashion sense in downtown Montreal, particularly among the local women.

The francophones are not the only people who make the city exotic to English-speakers. Montreal is multicultural with 80 + ethnic communities.

The city absolutely loves its comedy festival, jazz festival and grand prix racing.

The two must-do things in Montreal area:

• Mont Royale (Mount Royal)
  

  This is a bit of a mountain in the middle of the city and is a great walk. Make sure to check out not only the cheesy cross at the top, but the Oratoire Saint-Joseph du Mont-Royal.

• Vieux Montréal (Old Montreal)
  

  This is a great area to walk about on a summer's evening and just take it all in. Ride a horse-drawn carriage around the 18th and 19th century architecture, particularly the neo-gothic Notre-Dame Basilica and the Pointe-à-Callière museum.

Québec City is the only fortified city in North America. It has an old 17th century fort-wall. The city may be the provincial capital, but it's also romantic. Neighbourhoods like Petit Champlain, Place-Royale and the Old Port will give you history lessons in a far nicer way than any book.

The Carnaval de Quebec (Quebec Winter Carnival) is world famous for a ton of outdoor winter activities. And we mean winter, including: snow bath, night parades, slide runs, ice fishing, concerts, snow sculptures, horse-drawn sleigh and dogsled rides, skating and more. Make sure to try (once) the adult beverage known as caribou; locals carry hollow red plastic canes filled with the stuff.

Abitibi-Témiscamingue is noted for intact forests, lakes and rivers. Hunting/fishing and wildlife reserves are the result of the northern location. Its history stems from woodsmen, fur traders, and prospectors .

The Baie-James (James Bay) territory is know for the Assinica and Lacs-Albanel-Mistassini-et-Waconichi wildlife reserves. The terrains changes from boreal forest to taiga (sub-arctic coniferous forest) at the 52nd parallel. Tundra starts at the 55th parallel.

The St. Lawrence River is the access point of history. All explorers came down this river to encounter the natives as well set up permanent residence, which annoyed the natives! The Navigators' Route takes your through villages and ancestral homes.

The Centre-du-Québec region is halfway between Montréal and Québec City on the south side of the St. Lawrence. There is no end of cultural and heritage events as well as sporting ranging from antique hunting to golfing. Check out the Route des Jardins and the Route des antiquaires to find gardens and antique dealers.

Charlevoix is famous for steep cliffs, exceptional parks and charming villages. You won't be hungry after exploring the Route des saveurs (flavour trail). To work off the fine dining, try whale-watching, golf, art galleries, skiing and more.

Follow the coast and encounter some of the most beautiful villages in Québec. It's a bird-watchers' paradise: you can see snow geese during migration times. In the backcountry valleys, try maple products and enjoy the spectacular autumn colours.

Duplessis is a coastal area of bays, coves, islets and forests and the Gulf of St. Lawrence is all-pervading where you scan see sperm, fin and other whale species!

This part of the Appalachian mountain chain is a great for hikers and skiers. Quaint towns such as North Hatley and its Hovey Manor show you how you can stay and eat in style.

On the Gaspé peninsula take time to do beachcombing, observe the whales, dolphins and porpoises, go fishing or take in a spa.

The Îles-de-la-Madeleine are famous for sand dunes and red cliffs on this archipelago, which is comprised of a dozen islands in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

Apart from striking scenery, this region has the Festival international de Lanaudière, a prestigious classical music festival.

The Laurentians are home to a skiing mecca easy driving distance north of Montréal. For Canadians, Mont Tremblant is as synonymous to skiing as is Whistler BC.

Laval is an urban region bordering Montréal to the south and the Laurentians to the north, but retains a rural flavour with many farms and greenhouses.

Visitors to the Manicouagan region will be impressed by its many facets, as varied as they are astounding. With the shore overlooking the magnificent St. Lawrence River, cliffs overhanging the striking Saguenay fjord, saltwater marshes where you can observe 175 bird species, the fish ladder teeming with leaping salmon, not to mention the boreal forest, tundra, rushing rivers and deep lakes of its backcountry… Manicouagan is definitely blessed by nature! This grandiose location, which saw the birth of an electrical empire, is dominated by the largest multiple arch dam in the world, the barrage Daniel-Johnson (Manic-5). This region covers an immense wilderness that is ideal for hiking, camping, scuba diving, sea kayaking, hunting, fishing and snowmobiling.

85% of Mauricie is territory untouched, which makes it great for the lovers of the outdoors. Imagine: 17,500 lakes! For a religious experience, visit Canada's largest site dedicated to the Virgin Mary: the Sanctuaire Notre-Dame-du-Cap.

Located between Montréal and the American border, Montérégie tempts your senses with the Circuit du paysan (country living tour) and the Route des cidres (cider route).

Nunavik is home to the Pingualuit crater, 88 km (55 mi.) from Kangiqsujuaq, which is 3.4 km (2.11 mi.) in diameter.

The Outaouais region includes activities such as a steam train; canoe and camping; hot air ballooning; cave tours; museums; rafting; parachuting; and bungee jumping. Hull sits on the Ottawa River, opposite Parliament Hill.

The Saguenay - Lac-Saint-Jean region is home to stunning panoramic views and many summer and winter activities.