Everyone looks forward to it, young and old: spring break in March. In Quebec, the very first spring break was in 1979. Students from back then are parents now, and they’re looking for interesting experiences to have with their own children. For the occasion, the concierge team at Hôtel Château Laurier Québec has decided to offer some great recommendations of indoor and outdoor activities to energize you.
Put On Your Scarf, and Let’s Go Out!
The final days of winter in Quebec are full of surprises, but there are often very nice days with higher temperatures and warm rays of sun.
During the school break, the Aquarium de Québec welcomes families with special programming. There are mascots, karaoke, ecological product-making workshops, music, group murals, inflatable games, maple taffy, aquatic life, magic tricks and science-themed escape games, all available from February 29 to March 8. And of course, many indoor pools are open to admire the tens of thousands of aquatic creatures. For the break, the aquarium is open until 8 p.m. every evening, except on the final day. Consult the programming to find out the schedule for each day.
Spring Break at Aquarium de Québec. Photo : Courtesy.
Le Jardin d’hiver is an outdoor path where you can stroll along and discover works of art, illustrations, sculptures, and poetic installations by six artists, both local and visiting. This artistic journey was specifically designed for children to marvel at, taking you from the Old Port to Old Québec City.
Estée Preda, artist exposed at Place d’Youville in Québec City. Courtesy Manif d’art
In addition, many parks, walking and cross-country ski trails, sledding hills and outdoor skating rinks are located around Québec City, often within walking distance of Hôtel Château Laurier Québec. Don’t hesitate to ask us for advice!
A Seaside Feeling
Even if this is Québec City, why not escape down south, for just a few hours?
Within 20 minutes to the north of the city, Bora Parc in Village Vacances Valcartier is a gigantic indoor water park. There are a variety of slides, water games, a wave pool, pools, a surf wave, hot tubs, an adventure river, rest areas and a restaurant area. It’s a whole lot of fun for the whole family!
Bora Parc, Village Vacances Valcartier, 20 minutes from downtow Québec City, Courtesy.
You can also just enjoy the facilities at Hôtel Château Laurier Québec a few minutes – or even seconds – from your room! Put on your swimsuit and come and lounge in our indoor saltwater pool (open every day from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.), enjoy the Finnish sauna, our two outdoor spas and our beautiful four-season indoor garden.
Stay Warm
Prefer to stay warm and dry? Not to worry – here are some suggestions for great experiences to have with your family without getting wet or facing late winter weather surprises!
From February 29 to March 8, 2020, the Festival de cinéma en famille de Québec presents feature films and short films, animated movies and documentaries appealing to a wide range of audiences. For the 9th edition, the programming offers dozens of films, workshops and activities, including film-philosophy, a pyjama screening, an introduction to special effects workshop, a film concert, a movie workshop where you create a magic wand, a brunch screening, meetings of young comic book authors – and even an intriguing bicycle movie, where you have to pedal to keep the battery charged to watch the film!
Photo : Courtesy.
Escape rooms are very popular these days. If you’re not familiar with the concept, which is very popular with teens, then spring break is a great opportunity to get started! You are “locked up” in a room you have to escape from in a certain amount of time, using a series of clues. One of the most fun strategies is to play as a team. Some places offer even more: for example, the Stadaconé Distillery created an immersive game that takes us back to the era of New France, where we have to find a medicine to cure a captain suffering from scurvy! The visitors are invited to discover the distillery’s services, as adults taste the alcoholic products, and kids can learn to recognize the different fragrances of flowers, grains and fruits used in the composition of the gins.
The hold of the ship where you have to solve the puzzle to save the captain’s life. Photo: Stadaconé distillery, courtesy.
Do you have military history buffs in your family? Take advantage of your break in Québec City and discover the Musée Royal 22e Régiment, at the Citadelle of Quebec. The permanent exhibit “Je me souviens” reveals a wealth of fascinating information on military life in Québec City. The medals room, interactive displays, and the objects on display tell the story of a rich period in history. There’s also a family exhibition where you can discover the many animals (horses, pigeons, dogs and even goats) that accompanied the soldiers on missions abroad and in training!
* * * * *
As you can see, our beautiful Québec City has a lot to offer! We’ll be happy to offer you more information – for example, great restaurants to visit with family or other museums to attend. We hope that this break in Québec City will bring everyone, young and old, the recharge they need to end the school year in style!
