Ski resorts, water parks, zoos, monuments, a river and more make Quebec City a great, four seasons family destination.

Seated atop cap Diamant and overlooking the St. Lawrence River, great family vacation spot Québec City has been influential in North American history since Samuel de Champlain recognized its potential and founded a fur-trading post there in 1608. The city grew to be a valuable prize, sought after in the colonial wars of the 17th and 18th centuries. When Québec City finally fell to the English in 1759, New France became a British colony, and in 1791, a part of Canada.

Now that the history part is out of the way, here's the fun stuff for the family visiting Québec City. For general information, contact the Québec Department of Tourism or call 877/266-5687.

Great Fun For the Kids

(Toddler to Age 8)

Aquarium du Québec
1675 avenue des Hotels
Sainte-Foy, Quebec G1W 4S3
866/659-5264
The aquarium has 10,000 specimens of fish, reptiles, invertebrates, and marine mammals on view and offers various educational cartoons and special children's exhibits in the summertime. The aquarium is located in a wooded area crisscrossed by paths leading to several picnic areas close to the distinguished Québec Bridge.

Skyline Balloons, Ltd.
450 rue Champlain
Vieux-Québec, QC G1K 4J3
418/261-1783
Give your children an unforgettable experience by taking them for a ride in a hot air balloon. As you drift over the city and villages of Québec, your kids will enjoy seeing it all from a bird’s eye view. After assisting with takeoff preparations and inflating the balloon, you and the seasoned pilot will set off on an extraordinary hour-long journey. 

Fun For Older Children

(Up to Age 18)

Stoneham Vacation Village
1420 avenue du Hibou
Stoneham, Quebec G0A 4P0
800/463-6888, 418/848-2411
If you find the family eager to spend some time outdoors, this popular ski resort, 20 minutes north of Québec City, offers year-round outdoor activities along with breathtaking views of 300 acres of terrain spread over four mountains. Throughout the day, sports activities are offered for different age groups. After winter skiing or summer hiking, visitors have the choice of two outdoor heated pools, tennis courts, volleyball, archery, mountain biking, summer theatre (in French), a simple chair-lift ride to absorb the beautiful countryside, or an indoor game room for rainy days.

Village Vacances Valcartier
1860 boulevard Valcartier
Valcartier, Quebec G0A 4S0
888/3VILLAGE, 418/844-2200
This popular summer water park and winter snow resort is a favorite of kids as well as the young at heart. Located just 20 minutes outside of Québec City, the Village des Sports is open daily (call for closing dates) and offers 35 waterslides, a wave pool, rafting, horseback riding, family river tours and much more during summertime, and snow rafting, snow tubing and skiing, both day and night in the winter.

Fun For the Whole Family

The Old Quarter of Québec City
800/363-7777
Quebec, Quebec G1R 2G6
Declared a world heritage site by UNESCO in 1985, the Old Quarter is the only fortified city in North America. Divided into an upper and a lower town, tourists can traverse between them using a funicular or an inclined railway, which looks like an elevator at the ground level. A winding maze of narrow streets and rooftops of historic buildings can be seen from atop the ramparts. Visitors are encouraged to tour the many museums and fortifications that tell the tale of over three centuries of Québec's military past. This site, along with Artillery Park National Historic Site, the Citadel of Québec, the Martello Towers, and Fort No. 1 at Pointe de Levy National Historic Site, commemorate Québec's historic defensive system.

Artillery Park
2 rue D'Auteuil
Quebec, Quebec G1K 7A1
418-648-4205, 888/773-8888
Located near the St. John gate of the Old Quarter, Artillery Park has played an important role in defending Québec since the 17th century. One of the few remaining fortifications dating from the French regime, in 1959 the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada recognized the national historic importance of the park and its military installations.

Musée de la Civilisation
85 rue Dalhousie
Quebec City, Quebec G1K 7A6
866/710-8031, 418/643-2158
This museum, located in Québec's historic Old Quarter, presents its guests with thematic exhibitions concerning civilization, art, and society. A new permanent youth-oriented exhibition about growing up offers children three original video productions, a multimedia interactive game, four interactive soundtrack islands, and much more. Besides its excellent location, the museum also draws repeat visitors with a very contemporary interactive approach to historical exhibits.

Carnivale de Quebec
290 rue Joly
Quebec City, Quebec G1L 1N8
866/4-CARNAVAL, 418/626-3716
Since 1955, each year during the month of February, Quebec City hosts the biggest winter carnival in the world. Come for snow tubing, ice fishing, dog sledding, snowmobiling, old-fashioned horse-drawn sleigh rides, and all other manner of snow fun. Also, see the amazing international ice sculpture exhibit, enjoy music and entertainment, and visit with Bonhomme, Carnivale's loveable mascot.