15 replies to this topic

[NittanyLion]

Finally found the time to be able to put up something from the trip. Pictures will follow in another post.

1st stop on the trip was 4 nights, 3 full days in Quebec City where even the 4th time seeing it is an amazing city.

We tried to see some different things than the other times we were there (twice in winter, now twice in summer). Some of the things we saw were the Citadel, the Observation Tower, the new Aquarium, Montmorency Falls, and of course the Old City. One of the coolest things that I have ever seen was the International Fireworks Competition that took place when I was there. It is across a 3 week period from July into August and we were there on Argentina's performance night. 30 minutes of non-stop fireworks set to music, and set right over Montmorency Falls.

The next stop in line was up the Saint Lawrence River, which is by-far the largest river I have ever seen (about 60-70 miles across, so no view of the other side whatsoever), in the town of Sainte-Anne-Des-Monts. The attraction here was the nearby Parc-National de la Gaspesie (Gaspesie National Park). This was quite an amazing place. Just about a half hour from the river, is a large mountain chain called the Chic Chocs which are the northern extent of the Appalachian Mountains (there is even an International Appalachian Trail that runs from Maine to the end of the Gaspe Peninsula). The two largest mountains there are Mont-Albert and Mont Jacques Cartier (2nd largest in Quebec), and on top of these mountains is actual tundra. The most arctic-like tundra can be found on Mont Albert but the trail was 10 miles long and my family was not up to it, so we chose the 5 miles Jacques-Cartier. Still amazing with the tundra scenery, and we even saw a herd of caribou on the mountain. And like Mount Washington, at the base it was around 80, and at the top no higher than 50 with strong winds and fog. Even had a thunderstorm on the way up. Height of the mountain btw was a little over 4,000 feet. Mont Albert still had some snow on it, visible from another mountain we hiked, Mont Ernest-LaForce. Lac aux Americains was also beautiful and looked a scene from Glacier National Park.

Next stop was Gaspe and the Forillon National Park (Parc National de Forillon), which is now on the Gulf of Saint Lawrence and the Gaspe Bay. Yet another amazing place with the mountains, light houses, and cliffs right along the sea. Saw some seals resting out in the bay as well. The one hike was to Mont Saint-Alban and had a 360 degree view because there was an observation tower. This was cool because we were in part of a cloud, above a few, and then they started to clear, so that proved to make for some great scenery.

After that, it was to our last true destination, Perce and the Perce Rock. This was beautiful and very much out of the ordinary. There is a small village (yet very rich and touristy) nestled in between two mountains out on the edge of the Gaspe Peninsula where this massive rock sits just offshore and people can walk out to it on low tide. It is extremely large and is made of red rock which added to its majestic appeal. Also offshore is Ile Bonaventure which is another National Park. Ate in a very high priced, fine dining, restaurant (1st true one of these in my life) and then headed home the next day.

We had to drive through New Brunswick to get home and let me say, the Northwestern parts of this province are some of the most desolate areas I have seen except for a very few locations out west. Came back into the United States through Van Buren, Maine (which was very weird due to the lack of use and publicity there--not even a place to exchange money--) and stayed overnight in Waterville, ME, about 20 minutes out of Augusta. Came home the next day.

An Amazing trip...

Pics or something of the sort to follow.

[NittanyLion]

Here is a small video of part of the Fireworks

[satellite_eyes]

Interesting trip.  That's awesome.  Never knew about a lot of that, esp the Int'l App. Trail.  Speaking of New Brunswick, I really want to do a Nova Scotia/St. John's cruise next summer.  I also heard Prince Edward Island is amazing.  That might be a little too far to drive though.  The St. Lawrence is definitely the cleanest river I've ever seen.

[NittanyLion]

Yeah thats another thing I noticed, it is a very clear river. It is about 16 hours driving time all the way up to Perce, so its probably a little less to Prince Edward Island. Also heard that was a verrry nice place to visit. I recently saw an add for some of the cruises in a magazine, also looks awesome.

Rather than upload some pictures, I am trying to upload a movie that I put together with a lot of pictures in it (since I made it for my family and put it on a DVD). Tried to save some work instead of uploading individual pictures, but not sure if its going to work, having some problems. If not, the pictures will be up later tonight.

[NittanyLion]

Well that really didnt work out haha so heres some pics:

View of Quebec City from the Citadel
[img width=600 height=450]http://i18.tinypic.com/66vmaev.jpg[/img]

View of Quebec City from the Observation Tower
[img width=600 height=450]http://i15.tinypic.com/5zc5vs4.jpg[/img]

A street in the Old Port section of the city:
[img width=600 height=800]http://i16.tinypic.com/4zut7bc.jpg[/img]

Place Royale near the Old Port
[img width=600 height=450]http://i14.tinypic.com/4pwe14h.jpg[/img]

Montmorency Falls where the fireworks were
[img width=600 height=450]http://i16.tinypic.com/4y6ttlt.jpg[/img]

The family eating on the streets
[img width=600 height=450]http://i17.tinypic.com/4y9d300.jpg[/img]

Some windmills which looked pretty cool. There are many of them up there.
[img width=600 height=450]http://i9.tinypic.com/4r2bzok.jpg[/img]

[weatherbowl]

Very nice, the weather looked like it was pretty nice also.

[NittanyLion]

Now the next spot on the trip:

The town of Sainte-Anne-Des-Monts on the river at low tide
[img width=600 height=450]http://i12.tinypic.com/4lpgswz.jpg[/img]

Looking out onto the Saint Lawrence at low tide as we walk in it
[img width=600 height=450]http://i14.tinypic.com/4v8u0xg.jpg[/img]

Mont Ernest-La-Force
[img width=600 height=450]http://i11.tinypic.com/6g223w8.jpg[/img]

My sister and I on Mont Ernest La-Force. Some snow in the background.
[img width=600 height=450]http://i10.tinypic.com/68c8e51.jpg[/img]

Lac Aux-Americains
[img width=600 height=450]http://i13.tinypic.com/4uo8cjs.jpg[/img]

Some caribou on Mont Jacques Cartier
[img width=600 height=450]http://i13.tinypic.com/6aprrpc.jpg[/img]

The outhouse at the top of the mountain
[img width=600 height=450]http://i13.tinypic.com/4zum990.jpg[/img]

A nice view of some of the tundra
[img width=600 height=450]http://i12.tinypic.com/6g3vs49.jpg[/img]

[NittanyLion]

Quote

Very nice, the weather looked like it was pretty nice also.

Yeah the weather was terrific, only had two days with some rain, the one that we went Jacques-Cartier and one of the travel days.

Now the next stop:

Forillon National Park:
[img width=600 height=800]http://i16.tinypic.com/676rqds.jpg[/img]

Lighthouse at Cap-Gaspe
[img width=600 height=450]http://i19.tinypic.com/4ta7l74.jpg[/img]

Heres from the observation tower on Mont Saint Alban:
[img width=600 height=450]http://i18.tinypic.com/4mch8d1.jpg[/img]

[NittanyLion]

And our last stop at Perce:

Theres Perce Rock as seen from our hotel
[img width=600 height=450]http://i15.tinypic.com/4v6yo0k.jpg[/img]

Here is everyone walking out to it
[img width=600 height=450]http://i10.tinypic.com/66ct7v9.jpg[/img]

And a final parting look at the rock
[img width=600 height=450]http://i17.tinypic.com/669llk9.jpg[/img]

[satellite_eyes]

Wow I have to say between your winter trip up there and this one, you definitely post the best pictures out of all of us.  Good stuff.  Even nicer than I imagined it.  Question - is the old port section of Queb. City the same thing as the 'old city'?

[NittanyLion]

^^Thanks!

"Old Quebec" refers to the part of the city that is within the fortifications. The Old Port area is actually out of the fortifications and below but I believe looks older and more quaint than any other part of the city as no cars are allowed to pass through.

Heres 2 pictures of "Old Quebec", which is where Chateau Frontenac is

[img width=600 height=450]http://i11.tinypic.com/4yqx72t.jpg[/img]
[img width=600 height=450]http://i15.tinypic.com/6f7fd50.jpg[/img]

Here are the stairs down into the Old Port area

[img width=600 height=450]http://i19.tinypic.com/63t0yhe.jpg[/img]

And here is the shot from the observation tower again:
[img width=600 height=450]http://i10.tinypic.com/4ya1l6d.jpg[/img]

[rgwp96]

great photos Nittany.  When do you leave for school?

[NittanyLion]

Thanks rg, I leave on the 29th of the month.

[lab94]

Those were great! Good luck in school. (Hope you have all the sleet and we get the snow!LOL)

[summer]

Nittany,

Great write up on your trip and the pics are outstanding
Thanks for taking the time and effort to do this.

[NittanyLion]

Thanks everyone!

Quote

(Hope you have all the sleet and we get the snowLOL)

Ha it'll be the one year Vermont gets less than New York City