Weekend getaway: Smooth sailing to Quebec City in a 2017 Lincoln MKX

We headed to Quebec City this past weekend for a bit of rest, quality family time and a long overdue family reunion. I was offered the opportunity to test-drive the 2017 Lincoln MKX, so I turned this family getaway into a mini press tour. We had a media stay at the Hotel Chateau Laurier on the Grande Allee in downtown Quebec City, just steps away from Old Quebec, the Citadel and the port. There is so much to do, see and eat in Quebec so I will do my best to recap our awesome vacation as briefly as possible. If you’re thinking of heading down to Quebec City, you may want to keep reading and take note of some of my favourite things to do!

Where to stay in Quebec City?

We stayed at the Hotel Chateau Laurier, an award winning family-owned hotel in Quebec City, known for it’s contemporary style, central location and exceptional amenities (including a spa, an indoor pool, sauna and gym). Upon our arrival, we were greeted with a little care package for the family. A little teddy for Victor, some decadent house-made truffles and a pre-loaded wine card for mom and dad! The wine dispensing vending machine in the hallway was definitely the highlight of my stay. Our room was very comfortable and spacious, and equipped with super tall ceilings that made the room feel huge. The hotel staff were super friendly and attentive to our needs. Because of our tight schedule, we sadly didn’t spend too much time in the room or the hotel. But all in all, we were all very happy with our stay.


What to do in Quebec City?

We walked and walked for miles upon miles, and soak in the history and sights Old Quebec City has to offer. On this particular weekend, the Tall Ship Regatta was in Quebec City and we made a trip down to the port. It was absolutely spectacular! The sail boats are enormous and come from all over the world. They had professional street performances all around the port and fun water installations for kids to play in. Victor was in heaven, and such a champ. He walked all day with us, climbed every step, sat on every cannon, chased the horse and buggies and begged to play in all the water features.

On Saturday, we headed to Ste-Brigitte de Laval for a long overdue family reunion. Ste-Brigitte is a small village in the mountains where my mom grew up; it’s close to Le Relais ski resort. We had such a great family visit with my cousins, aunts and uncles. We played some games and ate all the food! I miss those guys, and am thankful that we still get together from time to time. Victor was enamored by all his big boy cousins he met for the first time and didn’t want to leave!

If you’re looking to do some serious shopping, head over to Sainte-Foy. Back in the day, we stayed with my aunt who lives right by the huge mall in Saint-Foy. Try and guess what I used to do to stay busy…. hahaha

Where to eat in Quebec City?

There is no shortage of restaurants, bars, cafes and pubs in Quebec City. The trick is to know where to go. If you want to be one with the tourists and be part of the night life (insert memories from back-in-the-day), stick to any restaurant on the Grande Allee strip or in “Le vieux” (the Old). For a more local foodie experience, stick to the West side of la rue Saint-Jean (before you enter the gated wall of Old Quebec City). This part of town is a little more quiet.

On the first day, we had a late lunch at Le Repaire, in Old Quebec and had a late-night cheese board and delicious cocktails on the outdoor patio of L’Atelier.

On Saturday morning, we ate breakfast at les Trois Garcons in Old Quebec City. We also visited the famous farmers’ market by the water, Le Marche du vieux port, and loaded up on essentials (like mini maple fudge cones!) before heading to my family reunion.

On Sunday before leaving, we headed to la rue Saint-Jean for breakfast at Le Billig, a delicious bistro that specializes in savoury and sweet crepes. We also grabbed a coffee at Cantook, a micro roaster, and shopped for some goodies to take home at J.A. Moisan a specialty grocery store.

There are truly so many great places to eat, and I received so many awesome recommendations… I just wish there was more time (and money!) to visit them all. Slowly, I will get to cross off my list!

The 2017 Lincoln MKX

We used to travel by car a lot when we were kids, particularly to Quebec City. My folks used to drive a Lincoln Continental, and now I understand why. Lincolns are quite possibly the most luxurious and comfortable way to travel by car. The Lincoln MKX is no exception. Every detail adds to the experience. I loved the cooling/heating feature in the leather seats and also that the front row has built-in massage chairs! I also loved the extended moon roof, the extra quiet cabin and the smart technology built-in to make your drive safe. Additional features like the 360-degree camera, the lane assist, the automatic breaks, smart cruise-control and automatic wipers make you wonder why these are not standard in every vehicle. We loved the drive to and from Quebec City and we are so grateful to have taken the Lincoln MKX with us!

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