SUMMER & FALL 2012 - VOLUME 3 - Senior Tours Canada

TENTATIVE ITINERARY FOR QUEBECDAY 1DAY 2DAY 3DAY 4DAY 5DAY 6DAY 7DEPARTURE / MONTREAL. We departToronto by coach for Montreal. Upon arrivalwe check-in at our centrally located hotel.This evening we enjoy our Welcome Dinner.MONTREAL / QUEBEC CITY. Thismorning we enjoy a tour of Montreal'shighlights, and some free time, beforedeparting for Quebec City. En route we takea scenic diversion on the first road built inNew France, "le chemin du Roi" where wecan see some of the area’s finest and oldesthomes. In Quebec City we check-in to ourhotel located by Old Town.QUEBEC CITY. This morning we embark ona guided tour of Quebec most famous sightsincluding Place Royal, little ChamplainQuarter and the Plains of Abraham. Theafternoon is at leisure to explore OldQuebec's enchanting streets and boutiques.QUEBEC CITY / TADOUSSAC. A shortdrive this morning takes us to MontmorencyFalls - a magnificent waterfall 100 feethigher than Niagara! You may wish to ridethe cable car to the top and walk thepanoramic promenade for breathtakingviews. We then visit the Basilica of theshrine of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré - theoldest pilgrimage site in North America.Continuing our journey through Charlevoixregion we enjoy the beautiful landscapeswhich have long seduced painters. We stopin Baie-Saint-Paul - a charming little town ofartisans nestled in a valley, and enjoy somefree time before proceeding to the quaintvillage of Tadoussac.TADOUSSAC. A tour highlight will be ourwhale watching cruise on the St. LawrenceRiver, renowned for its large concentrationof resident belugas. The afternoon is atleisure to perhaps visit the Marine MammalInterpretation Center or stroll on one of thepicturesque walking trails near the hotel.MATANE. We ferry across the St. Lawrenceand proceed to Reford Gardens -internationally renowned as an exceptionalhorticultural achievement, and continue toMatane, a maritime village famous for its"Nordic shrimp".PERCE. Our scenic drive around the GaspéPeninsula shows a perfect blend of sea andmountains, coastal villages and fishingDAY 8DAY 9DAY 10DAY 11DAY 12DAY 13coves. We will stop at Forillon National Parkfor time to discover the unique geologicalformations and astonishing flora and fauna.We arrive in Perce for a two night stay.PERCE. Today we enjoy a cruise aroundPerce Rock and Bonaventure Island - thehome of thousands of nesting birds andmany seals. You may disembark on theisland for a close encounter with NorthAmerica’s largest community of NorthernGannet! Tonight’s dinner includes freshlobster.PERCE / CARLETON. Morning at leisure toenjoy the stunning scenery or perhaps takea walk out to the imposing Perce Rock. Laterwe depart for the quaint village ofPaspébiac with its beautiful natural harbor.We visit the historic site of the "Banc dePêche de Paspébiac" which once belongedto Jersey's most important fishing companyand we will learn the traditional trades suchas barge construction, blacksmithing and netmaking. We overnight in nearby Carleton.RIVIERE-DU-LOUP. Our first stop today isMiguasha Park, a UNESCO World HeritageSite where many species of fish, plants andfossils reflect 370 million years of history!We then follow the Matapédia River wherewe may see the salmon fishermen in action!We overnight in Rivière-du-Loup.MONTREAL. On our way back to Montrealwe stop at Saint-Jean-Port-Joli. Forgenerations the artisans here have depictedFrench Canadian customs and habitsthrough works of art now on displaythroughout the village, local museums andshops. Then we continue to St-Prosper for avisit and country-style lunch at a Buffalofarm. This evening in Montreal we will havea chance to try our luck at The MontrealCasino.MONTREAL. A day at leisure. Visit one ofthe city’s many unique museums, BotanicalGardens, go shopping on Ste-CatherineStreet or enjoy Old Montreal’s waterfrontpromenade with its boutiques, streetperformers and cafes. Tonight we enjoy ourFarewell Dinner at a local restaurant.HOME. We bid "au revoir" to la belleprovince and return home.11.