Montmorency Falls and the Île d'Orléans Loop

Arrive at the falls early, before the tour buses, and do the island in the afternoon when the farm stands are open. In late summer and early autumn the island’s harvest is at its best: berries through the summer, then apples. For the frozen falls and the ice cone, come in January or February.

Parking at the base lets you take the cable car up to the manor, cross the suspension bridge and walk back down the staircase, which is the best way to see the falls from every angle without climbing all of it. Check that the cable car is running on the day you visit.

Access, parking and the cable car are priced separately, and Sépaq sometimes sells combined tickets online. Fees differ for Quebec residents and non-residents, so check the official site for current prices rather than relying on older guides.

Standing on the suspension bridge directly over the falls thrills most children, and the cable car saves little legs the climb. The staircase is long and exposed, so hold on to younger kids and save it for the way down.

The Île d’Orléans is where Quebec City goes for strawberries, apples, cider, maple products and local wine. Stop at the farm stands and roadside shops along the Chemin Royal rather than planning a single sit-down meal, and bring a bag for what you buy.

Most visitors do this as a half-day or day trip from Old Quebec. If you want the island at its quietest, stay a night at one of the inns or bed and breakfasts in its villages and watch the evening light over the river from Sainte-Pétronille.

Spray keeps the lower staircase and paths wet in summer, and in winter they can be icy. Wear shoes with grip, stay behind the barriers near the crest, and do not walk out onto the ice cone at the base.

Turning left at the end of the bridge takes you along the north shore first through Saint-Pierre, Sainte-Famille and Saint-François, then back along the south shore, so you finish at Sainte-Pétronille with the view of the falls and the city as the light drops.