This is the first in a new Tuesday feature on places I’ve been, places I love, and places I’d love to visit, and since today is Canada Day, our first armchair excursion is to Quebec. (Note: I took this trip back in the pre-digital photography days so the photos are from my Art Explosion CD collection.)

Quebec is one of the settings used in my French & Indian War-set historical romance, Rogue’s Hostage. When I was writing the book, my husband and I took a vacation to Quebec Province so I could do some research. We started in Montreal, where I managed to find my way around the Metro using my college French.

Chateau Frontenac

After a couple of days we took the train to Quebec, and I fell in love with the charming old city, though I had to keep reminding myself that the city in my book was the previous city, the one that was destroyed by the British shelling.

Since I wanted to stay in the old part of the city, I booked us a room at Chateau Frontenac, the venerable Canadian Railway hotel. Picturesque setting, but we were pretty sure they gave us the smallest room in the place! Instead of a view looking out toward the river, our window looked down onto an alley. Oh, well, we didn’t spend much time in the room anyway.

We were far more interested in wandering the streets, taking pictures of the old houses and the fort and battlefield. On the last day we took a boat ride on the St. Lawrence for the spectacular views of the city and countryside. What a beautiful area! I’d love to go back some day.

But the house needs a new roof so we’ll be staying home this summer. How about you? Do you have vacation or staycation plans? Leave a comment below to be entered in my monthly drawing for a $15 Starbucks e-gift card.  Follow the blog and earn a second entry. (If your comment doesn’t pop up right away, it’s because first time comments have to be moderated by yours truly.)

Linda McLaughlin