Parc de la Rivière-Beauport
Here is one of Quebec City's best-kept secrets. This linear park runs along the Beauport River, cut into the limestone rock, between rue d'Everell and the parc Armand-Grenier. You'll find nearly 4 km of walking trails there as well as a bike path in the southern section — and you would never suspect you're in the middle of the city, so close to the highway, because the noise is simply absent.
The star of the place is, of course, its 10-metre waterfall, visible right from the start from the top of the pedestrian footbridge, very close to the parking lot. Stairs, boardwalks, bridges and lookouts have been built all along the route, which makes the walk pleasant and accessible to everyone.
The park is also rich in birdlife, with more than 80 recorded species, some of them considered rare. And for anyone curious about history, a few ruins remain along the river, witnesses to the flour mills, the brewery and the distillery that once kept it busy. A large free parking lot, picnic tables and washrooms round it all out. A fine escape, and entirely free!
La Cale du Port de Québec
Head to the Vieux-Port for drinks, on what is without question the most refreshing terrace in town. La Cale's concept is as simple as it is brilliant: a series of tiered basins about thirty centimetres deep, filled with Adirondack chairs and tables, where you settle in literally with your feet in the water, facing the St. Lawrence River.
Inspired by seaside resorts, the menu is tropical and puts local flavours forward: nicely chilled sangria, cocktails, a fine choice of rums, a wide selection of beers and several alcohol-free options. After a day of walking, sipping a sangria with your toes in the water and the cruise ships as a backdrop… let's just say it goes down very well!
Access to the site is free and requires no reservation, from late May to September. The place is family-friendly and the music is part of the deal. You can even bring your own picnic — but careful, bringing your own alcoholic drinks onto the site is not allowed.
Les Grands Feux Loto-Québec
And to close the day in style, the great pyromusical gathering of the Quebec summer! This year marked the 30th edition of the Grands Feux Loto-Québec, presented from August 4 to 22, with eight evenings of fireworks launched from a barge set in the middle of the river, between the Quebec City and Lévis shores. An exceptional site that lets both shores celebrate together.
The formula is generous: the sites at place des Canotiers in Quebec City and Quai Paquet in Lévis come alive from 6 p.m. with bands, singer-songwriters and food trucks, before the fireworks go up at 10 p.m. Each evening has its own theme — Rock 'n' Roll, Fiesta Latina, Épluchette… — and the event is entirely free on both sides of the river. Paid reserved seats are offered for anyone who wants a guaranteed spot.
The great advantage of the place des Canotiers? It's steps from La Cale — barely a hundred metres along rue Dalhousie. So you go from drinks to the show without having to move the car. A local tip: if you choose another vantage point (terrasse Dufferin, parc de la Baie-de-Beauport, Chute-Montmorency), tune in to WKND 91.9, which broadcasts the soundtrack simultaneously from 10 p.m. The music really does make all the difference!
