Our Snail Tracks

September 15, 2024

We headed to our first campground excited and nervous about remembering all the instructions for the new camper. First stop: Camping de la Joie. This family-friendly campground features lots of trees, nice facilities, and best of all, it offers a shuttle to nearby Old Quebec City.

The area’s first European settlers came from France and put down roots in Quebec over 400 years ago. Today, Old Quebec City is the only North American city that still has its original defensive wall around it.  We took a guided walking tour and got to see the famous Château Frontenac, one of the most photographed hotels in the world along the St. Lawrence River.

We walked the cobbled streets featuring monuments, churches, art galleries, street performers playing music, and charming shops.  We fell in love with the historical town.

We saw the breathtaking Basilica Cathedral Notre-Dame de Québec, the first Catholic parish in North America. The cathedral features a Holy Door, one of seven such doors and the only one outside Europe.  Our tour guide explained that Holy Doors symbolize a passage from the past to what a person wishes for the future.  The doors are normally sealed shut around the world, except when the Pope designates a Jubilee. We had the rare opportunity to walk through the Holy Door, as it is currently open for the Jubilee for the 350^th anniversary of the diocese in 2024.  

In contrast to all the beautiful historic sites, there is currently a unique and whimsical modern art display featured in Old Quebec City. The artist Philippe Katerine created several pink inflatable sculptures he calls “Mr. Pink.” They are creatively posed around buildings throughout the city.

Jacques-Cartier National Park

Just a 30 minute drive north of Quebec City is one of the most beautiful parks I’ve ever seen. Jacques-Cartier National Park is a valley along the Jacques-Carter River through the Laurention Mountains. It has numerous hiking trails along the Jacques-Carter River. It’s a must see.