A Magical Holiday Adventure: WSAC Seniors Explore the Christmas Markets of Quebec
On November 28, 2025, a very excited group of seniors from the Westend Seniors Activity Centre and WE Seniors Strathcona boarded a flight from Edmonton to Montreal and set off on a festive winter adventure. Led by our wonderful Friends of WSAC partner, Alison Phillips of Network Travel, the group spent 7 unforgettable days exploring the Christmas markets, historic streets, and culinary delights of Montreal and Quebec City. Alison kept a charming diary of their travels, and we’re delighted to share the highlights of this holiday tour.
Day 1 – Montreal’s Christmas Magic Begins
Montreal welcomed the group with brilliant blue skies, sunshine, and a crisp 0°C—perfect weather for a day of exploring. From the top of Mount Royal, the panoramic views of the city and river were breathtaking. The group travelled through tiny neighbourhoods filled with murals, sculptures, stairways, historic doorways, and a beautiful blend of old and new architecture all brought to life by our local step on guide.
At the Christmas market on St Catherine Street in Montreal, the air was filled with the scents of poutine, sausages, hot apple cider, glühwein, hot chocolate, beaver tails, and churros. Handmade goods filled the stalls, and the group happily “got their steps in” while browsing and sampling. We even encountered a large peaceful demonstration complete with placard waving protesters and gendarmes on horseback as we walked back to the hotel.
Dinner that evening was at the iconic Reuben’s Deli—French onion soup, delicious smoked meat sandwiches with sides of salad, fries, or poutine, and a decadent strawberry cheesecake to finish. Alison reported that everyone was stuffed and thoroughly satisfied.
Day 2 – A Snowy Fairytale in Quebec City
The next morning, we travelled by coach to Quebec City, stopping enroute at a delightful coffee and gift shop. Beautifully curated local items to purchase as well as tasty treats to enjoy with coffee. We arrived in a snowy, storybook-perfect Quebec City. Big soft flakes drifted down as we wandered through the Christmas markets and charming ,quaint streets of Old Quebec. Christmas music floated through the air, happy vendors greeted us, and unique handicrafts made for delightful browsing. It was, as Alison put it, “magical and really put us in the Christmas spirit.”
Checking into the Château Laurier brought a unique surprise: an enomatic wine machine right by the elevator on my floor! Insert your credit card, choose your pour, and voilà—wine by the glass, très chic!
Everyone enjoyed a free evening to either eat at the St Hubert BBQ Restaurant in the hotel or wander into town, a pleasant 15 minute walk.
I chose to enjoy cocktails and snacks at Bar 1608 inside the famous Château Frontenac with two other ladies on the trip, followed by an enchanting walk back to the hotel through freshly fallen snow and twinkling Christmas lights. Magnifique indeed.
Day 3 – Sunshine, Copper Art, and Quebecois Cuisine
Another beautiful day dawned in Quebec City—cold at –5°C but bright and sunny. The group explored Lower Town and the Boardwalk with our knowledgeable local guide before warming up with lunch in a cozy pub. A visit to a family owned copper artisan studio run by women gave everyone the chance to try hand-stamping their own copper Christmas ornament, a memorable hands-on experience.
A group dinner at L’Entrecôte famous for steak et frites was a hit. The fun continued the next morning with a festive workshop at Madame Germaine for Buche de Noël. The group sampled local cheeses and cretons and learned about traditional Quebecois holiday foods from the effervescent female owner. We then had a cake-decorating contest! We got to devour our Yule Logs filled with sucre de crème—made from maple sugar—a sweet highlight.
Our afternoon was free to roam, and after some window shopping our sugar theme continued with a hot chocolate and gingerbread reindeer break at a coffee shop in Lower Town. The funicular ride up to the Château Frontenac was fun and provided sweeping views of the St Lawrence River and south shore.
That evening, the Edmonton group enjoyed a lively, traditional Quebecois meal at Aux Anciens Canadiens—featured in Bon Appétit Magazine (Dec 2025). Lovely old ambience, and excellent food. We enjoyed Pea soup, Tourtière, and Maple Sugar Crème Brûlée rounded out the feast. Alison joked that she had consumed more sugar and dairy in one day than in the past four months—but with all the walking, it balanced out beautifully.
Day 4 – Maple Syrup Dreams and Winter Wonders
The final morning took the group north of Quebec City to Lac Beauport for an immersive cabane à sucre (sugar shack) experience. Fresh snow had fallen and we wound our way up into the picturesque Laurentien Mountains ski area. We were greeted by the jolly owner and treated to an amazing breakfast spread of baked beans, tourtière, scrambled eggs, crepes, pork ribs, endless coffee and of course—maple syrup on everything! Traditional music and spoon playing followed before visiting the gift shop and sampling the warm maple syrup poured on the snowy trough and scooped with a stick. A real highlight of the trip!
Before heading home, the group stopped for photos at Montmorency Falls—an impressive sight in the frosty sunshine. The falls, while not as big as Niagara Falls, are in fact much higher.
We continued on our coach back to Montreal for our last night and a farewell group dinner complete with Ugly Sweater Contest! Our very own Dave Marshall won in his Grinch attire.
It was a Trip to Remember
From festive markets to gourmet meals, snowy streets to maple-sweet mornings, this holiday tour was filled with laughter, discovery, and unforgettable moments. It’s clear everyone had a wonderful time—and we’re already working with Alison and Network Travel to plan another adventure for 2026/27.
Stay tuned… more memories are waiting to be made.