One Week Quebec, Vermont and New Hampshire Roadtrip with Kids November 2024

Here’s how my family of four with two kids ages 7 and 10 road tripped through Quebec, Vermont and New Hampshire in November of 2024.

Quebec City

Day One Travel Day

Saturday November 23, 2024

We left our home around 9 am and began the drive to Canada. We stopped in Bingham, Maine for some donuts at Sherby’s homemade donuts. One of our favorite things to do on a road trip, or any vacation, is find little bakery spots along the way.

First Snow of the Year ❄️

It started to snow on our drive, the first snow of the season for us! Even after 42 winters, just like the leaves changing every fall, the first snow of the year never gets old. The drive to Canada was lovely. We saw minimal cars and excessive amounts of trees.

Crossing the Border!

We stopped in Jackman, Maine to gas up and use the bathroom before crossing the border. This was the first time visiting another country for the kids. We’d spent two weeks prior to the trip learning all about Canada and were ready!

We still had a couple of hours left in our drive after crossing the border, but the time passed quickly as we took in the new sights. Little things like: the road signs written in french, traffic lights positioned horizontally and the different styles of homes delighted us all.

Checking into our Hotel

We arrived at our hotel, a DoubleTree by Hilton Quebec Resort , around 2 pm. It was a beautiful stone building located about 20 minutes outside of Old City Quebec. We checked into our room (received free cookies upon check in) and had a late lunch of ham and cheese sandwiches in our hotel room.

Quebec City German Christmas Markets at Night

Tummies full we headed to Old Quebec City to see the Quebec City German Christmas Markets all lit up at night. The markets had started two days before our arrival and were the primary reason for our trip to Quebec City.

Parking

We easily found parking at the Hôtel de Ville de Québec parking garage. This was located right next to the majority of the Christmas market set ups and had ample parking. It cost us 15 CAD.  There are multiple parking options near the markets, all comparable in price, but this one worked well for us.

Once our car was nicely settled in we headed out to wander and explore the Quebec City German Christmas Markets!

Layout and Maps of the Market

The Christmas Markets have five separate areas; however, four out of five of these areas are right next to each other. They are small and not overwhelming. This is an easily doable event with kids in a few hours.

Here’s a map they have at every location.

There is also a map on the official website you can download in advance as well as app too.

The markets were made up of adorable wooden booths selling food, drink and various gifts.

We explored locations 2-5 taking advantage of the many photo ops and buying some churros from one of the booths.

Most booths accepted credit cards. We easily got cash from one of the ATM’s located in Old Quebec City to use for the few that didn’t.

Patinoire de la Place D’Youville

Finally we made the 10 minute walk through the beautiful lit up Old Quebec to Patinoire de la Place D’Youville. It was gorgeous here. There was a giant ice skating rink right in the middle, which we decided to save for tomorrow.

We used the porta potty ( that was clean and heated! What 🤯?!) then stopped for a German pretzel. Jamie bought some sort of German dish. We still aren’t sure what it was, but he liked it.

Dinner at McDonald’s

After going back and forth on where to eat dinner we all unanimously agreed on McDonald’s 🤣. We were curious how similar Canadian McDonald’s was to the US. We went with the basics; burgers and fries so we could easily compare. Jamie got a wrap of some sort, rebel that he is. The fries tasted the same but the meat from the burger definitely tasted different. The kids received a small fry and a yogurt with their happy meal so that was a little different too. The funny thing was another homeschool family from Minnesota was sitting next to us. They told us they like to try the McDonald’s in different countries they visit and so far Amsterdam has been the best.

We slowly made our way back to the car, stopping at various shops along the way and enjoying the architecture of the city all lit up and decorated for Christmas. Quebec City is just beautiful.

Day Two German Christmas Markets in the Day

Sunday November 24, 2024

We had coffee cup oatmeal for breakfast in the hotel room, wrote in our travel journals and then headed back to Old City Quebec for more Christmas Market fun. We parked in the same parking garage. 

We arrived around 9 AM and enjoyed the emptiness of the city at this time of day. Last night the market was packed and the crowds felt worse then Disney World. It was the first Saturday night they were open, so maybe that’s the reason why? Our visit today was much more chill.

We stopped at the Cafe La Maison Smith for coffee.

Then we wandered around looking at all the adorable streets in the daylight, popping into different shops along the way. We found our Quebec magnet. Anika sampled Canadian maple syrup and said it was delicious. This city is adorable and clean.

Ice Skating

We decided now was a good time to try ice skating. It was Jake’s first time ever and he got to do it in a pretty epic spot. Ice skating was free, but skate rentals were 25.00 CAD for a family of four. This included the skates as well as helmets, for as long as you’d like to use them.

Kindermart

Next we headed to the Kindermart area where we made a Christmas tree craft.

Hot Chocolate and a Puppet Show

After that we got hot chocolate!

We drank the hot chocolate, watched the puppet show for a couple of minutes (it was all in French and we were confused) and then continued to wander and explore looking for a place to eat lunch. 

Lunch at Le Chic Shack

We stumbled upon Le Chic Shack and were seated with a view of a castle. Yes, a castle. It was epic and I later learned it was Chateau Frontenac. We tried poutine for the first time and loved it. The gravy really hit the spot. The food here was fantastic in general. They even make their own soda out of real ingredients like orange juice and lime. This is a great restaurant for kids too.

Chateau Frontenac

After lunch we explored the area surrounding Chateau Frontenac…aka the castle.

Dessert

I bought a cannoli from a Christmas market booth. 

The kids decided to use their own money and split a pack of four churros. They were pleased with their decision.

After this we called it a day and headed back to the hotel for a bit.

Dinner at Chez Boub

That night we got dinner at Chez Boub. I tried French onion soup for the first time and the kids loved their grilled cheese and fries. Jamie got pizza. We learned that in Quebec they put butter on their pizza crust. The waitress said it was like a baguette to them.

Spa Time

After dinner we headed back to the hotel and went into the outdoor heated spa. This was a favorite memory of the trip. It was basically a heated pool with jets. It was nice and warm but not too hot. They had a sauna too. Total luxury.

Montreal

Day Three Montreal

Monday November 25, 2024

Tim Hortons in Canada

Today we sadly left Quebec City and headed towards Montreal. We had a three hour drive.

Our first stop was Tim Hortons. The kids and I are big Tim Horton fans and wanted to see if it was better in Canada. This was one of only a couple of times we had a language barrier issue. The cashier only spoke french but she had zero issues grabbing another employee who spoke English to take our order.

Bakery

We also stopped at a Bakery along the way.

Drive to Montreal

We took 138 west along the St Lawrence River for awhile. It went through small towns and country side with views of the river popping in. It was very pretty but eventually we hopped back onto 40 to speed things up a bit.

We stopped at one point for gas and ate ham and cheese sandwiches for lunch in a Walmart parking.

Checking into our Hotel

We checked into Spring Hill Suites in Montreal’s Old City. The location of this hotel was perfect for us. Located right in Montreal’s Old City (where we planned to spend all our time) and a five minute walk to the science center. They are under renovations for the next year, but I believe it helped keep the price down for us. Free breakfast too with chocolate croissants!

Exploring Old Montreal

We walked to the Notre Dame Basilica of Montreal. Our hotel was five minutes away. We learned the entrance fee was 40 dollars for all of us to go inside so we opted not to do that and just enjoy the view from outside.

We set out to wander Old Montreal.

Dinner at Brit and Chips

We got fish and chips from Brit and Chips for dinner. Yum.

Dessert

We tried a beaver tail for desert. Canada’s version of fried dough. We had it topped with strawberry ice cream.

We also tried maple sugar candies.

Exploring the Lit up Streets

Day Four Montreal Science Centre

Tuesday November 26, 2024

Today we went to the Montreal Science Centre. We have the ASTC Passport and this museum is included. We checked out of our hotel but were able to leave our car parked in the garage there until 2 PM, which was another added perk of this hotel.

This was a wonderful museum, very clean and of course interactive. I love when my kids are being tricked into learning. 🤣 We arrived right when they opened at 9 AM and stayed until 1 PM.

Here’s a photo montage of the 8,000 pictures I took there.

Lunch at Slice and Soda

We walked to get pizza for lunch from Slice and Soda. Another super kid friendly spot. The sodas were handmade and delicious. Pizza was equally good. I got a veggie pizza slice, which is one of my favorite types of pizza but normally the rest of the family vetoes this choice. Jamie got a meat sandwich of some type and fries to go from a nearby BBQ place.

Leaving Canada

After lunch we walked back to the car and headed towards Burlington, Vermont.

We stopped at the duty free shops before crossing the border to purchase some maple syrup, maple lollipops and Canadian Kit Kats. This sounds like a scene from Elf. 🤣

Vermont

Trader Joe’s

We arrived in Burlington and our first stop was Trader Joe’s. One of the biggest things I miss about living in New Hampshire is having a nearby Trader Joe’s, especially around the holidays. They have the best treats and goodies. The kids also found their stuffed animal. Every Trader Joe’s hides a different type of stuffed animal in the store. When you find it they give you a lollipop. It’s been fun when we travel to see what different type of animals each store has. Portland Maine has a lobster, Monterey California has a sea lion. Burlington, VT has a catamount, the UVM mascot.

After this we checked into the Hampton Inn and Suites. We were all pretty tired so we settled on dinner at a close by Mexican restaurant, Casa Real. It was not good and they secretively up charge for everything, so be aware that the menu price probably isn’t what you’ll pay. Zero stars, do not recommend. Boooooo.

Day Five Burlington Vermont

Wednesday November 27, 2024

Church Street Marketplace

We had free hotel breakfast and then headed out to Church Street Marketplace to wander.

We got pastries from August First.

We got beignets  from the Leuning’s Petit Bijou Kiosk

Vermont Teddy Bear Factory

We left Church Street and headed to the Vermont Teddy Bear Factory. This was located about twenty minutes away in Shelburne, a beautiful town. We took their Factory Tour. It was free for kids, 5 dollars for adults and we each got a cute souvenir pin. It lasted about thirty minutes.

Lunch at Archie’s Grill

After the tour we went to lunch at nearby Archie’s Grill. The food here was some of my favorite we’ve had on the trip. I ate a sweet potato veggie burger and side salad with house made maple zinfandel dressing.

And we tried maple creemees from The Scoop for dessert. YUMMMY.

After lunch we went to a local playground for a bit, then headed back to the hotel for a swim in the pool.

New Hampshire

Day Six North Conway New Hampshire

Thursday November 28, 2024

Today we left Burlington super early due to an incoming snow storm that put a wrench in some of our plans. The original plan was to stop in Stowe and other small towns we passed along the way as we drove across Vermont. What actually happened was we needed to get out of there and get settled at a hotel before a big storm hit. It was a very pretty drive and we will return to properly enjoy Vermont at some point in the future.

North Conway, New Hampshire

We made it to North Conway, New Hampshire around noon. The town looked adorable with a fresh coat of white sprinkled on top, like powder sugar on that beignet we’d eaten yesterday. North Conway is one of our favorite areas and it gives me warm fuzzy feelings every time we return. Winter, summer, fall and spring there is no bad time to visit this place and I’ve written many blog posts about my love of this area. Our family has wonderful memories here.

Haveli Indian Cuisine

It was Thanksgiving Day and only a handful of restaurants were open, the majority of which were super pricey Thanksgiving buffets. We ended up at an Indian restaurant for lunch and getting some microwave dinners from Shaw’s to eat for dinner in our room later on. This lunch at Haveli Indian Cuisine was one of my favorite memories of the trip. I’ve never had Indian food before and it was just what I didn’t know I needed in my life. We were the only people in the restaurant and every staff member we encountered was pleasant and welcoming. We sat by the window, ate warm cozy comfort food and watched the snow fall. For those with children who aren’t adventurous eaters the menu offered grilled cheese. 🤣

Comfort Inn and Suites

After lunch we checked into the Comfort Inn and Suites right next door. This hotel was adorable. It was decorated for Christmas and obvious that someone had put time and effort into making this place look a little extra special.

We relaxed in the hotel room and watched the snow fall down.

We ended the day and this trip with a swim in the hotel pool.

Day Seven Travel Day Home

Friday November 29, 2024

We woke up had hotel breakfast and began our drive back home.

This trip was a lovely way to break up November. I love living in Maine but wow the winter season can be rough. In particular the shoulder months of November and March are tricky for me. This quick trip away added some excitement and fun to one of the blandest and most blah weeks of the year. By the time we returned we had made it to one of my favorite times of the year to live in Maine, the holiday season.

We left brown landscape and bare trees and returned to a fresh coat of white sifted over everything. Immediately we shifted into holiday mode and found the perfect pine tree for our living room. We put up some Christmas lights, stocked up on hot chocolate and prepared to embrace cozy season and our 3:30 pm sunsets that would soon be arriving. As always so grateful our family gets to have these adventures together. ❤️