Travel with Heart

Quebec City is the capital of the province of the same name and one of the oldest cities in North America, founded in 1608 by Samuel de Champlain. Thanks to its centuries of history, its remarkable architecture and its exceptional natural setting, it remains an emblematic place in Canadian heritage. Its surroundings are full of natural spots where the hiking is exceptional. 

Quebec City is the capital of the province of the same name and one of the oldest cities in North America, founded in 1608 by Samuel de Champlain. Thanks to its centuries of history, its remarkable architecture and its exceptional natural setting, it remains an emblematic place in Canadian heritage. Its surroundings are full of natural spots where the hiking is exceptional. 

On rue Saint-Paul, across from the Old Port market, Légende is the little sister of Tanière³. Opened in 2014 by Karen Therrien, the restaurant earned a star in the very first edition of the Michelin Guide in Quebec, in 2025. In the kitchen, chef Elliot Beaudoin creates a boreal cuisine that tells the story of wild Quebec: fish from the estuary, game and local meats, plants foraged in the forest and vegetables from local producers.

The all-white, Nordic-inspired dining room leaves the spotlight to the plate, and the service manages to stay warm without ever being stiff. We had the fall tasting menu, with its wine pairing, on a Thursday evening in October: balsam fir, yarrow, cattail, fireweed and sweet clover slip into every course, like a walk in the forest from one end of the meal to the other. An address to keep for a special occasion.

When people think of New York State, Manhattan usually comes to mind first. Yet just south of the Quebec border, the state shows a completely different side: the Adirondacks, a vast territory of mountains, lakes and forests. Created in 1892, Adirondack Park covers about 24,000 km², making it the largest protected area in the contiguous United States. It is home to thousands of lakes and 46 High Peaks, including Mount Marcy, the state's highest point at 1,629 m.

Every season has its charm. In the fall, maples and birches paint the mountains, usually from late September to mid-October. In winter, Lake Placid, a two-time Olympic host, and Whiteface Mountain draw skiers and winter sports fans, while summer is all about canoeing, hiking and swimming in the lakes.

New York State is also a great food destination. It's the second-largest producer of apples and maple syrup in the United States, and in the fall, orchards serve up fresh cider and cider donuts. Around Plattsburgh, you can't leave without trying michigans. And across Lake Champlain, Vermont is just a short ferry ride away, making it easy to combine both states.

About two hours' drive from Montreal and just over five hours from Quebec City, the Adirondacks make an ideal long-weekend getaway. We spent three days there in October 2026, sleeping in our Tesla in Wilmington, at the foot of Whiteface Mountain.

Founded on May 17, 1642 under the name Ville-Marie by Paul de Chomedey de Maisonneuve and Jeanne Mance, Montreal is the second-largest city in Canada and the largest French-speaking city in the Americas. It occupies an island at the confluence of the St. Lawrence River and the Ottawa River, about 230 km upstream from Quebec City.

Its history goes back even further: in October 1535, Jacques Cartier reached the Iroquoian village of Hochelaga and named the hill that overlooks the island Mount Royal, the name from which the city's own derives. Today, Montreal blends heritage, culture and food in a cosmopolitan atmosphere, and it has been recognized as a UNESCO City of Design since 2006.

Host of Expo 67 and the 1976 Olympic Games, the metropolis has kept unique sites from those great events that you can still visit, such as the Olympic Park, home to the Biodôme, set in the Games' former velodrome.

You can’t leave the Adirondacks without trying a michigan, Plattsburgh’s signature dish. For our last stop before the border, we chose Gus’ Red Hots, a true local institution on Route 9 north of town, right by Cumberland Bay State Park and the ferry to Vermont.

It all started in 1951 with a small hot dog stand opened by Peter Larios and his brother-in-law, Gus Neforus. It has since grown into a real family diner serving three meals a day, with a full menu that runs from breakfast to sandwiches to Lake Champlain perch. But the michigan is what people come here for.

A michigan is a red-skinned hot dog in a steamed bun, topped with a finely ground meat sauce, mustard and onions. Every Plattsburgh stand keeps its recipe a secret, and at Gus’, it comes in a little cardboard boat. Despite the name, it’s a local creation through and through: you won’t find it in Michigan! The town is so proud of it that it made July “Michigan Month,” with a passport to get stamped at the four classic stands, Gus’ included.

The decor is far from fancy and shows its age, but that’s exactly what gives this 1950s spot its charm. Prices are reasonable, and Interstate 87 is right next door: the Lacolle border crossing is about twenty minutes away. Gus’ is open year-round, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Saturday and from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Sunday.