17 Surprising Reasons to Visit Quebec and Montreal This Summer

Pointe-Taillon National Park has miles of sandy beaches along Lake Saint-Jean and the Peribonka River. Explore the park this summer by cycling, kayaking, or hiking.

Le Festif! features musical and circus acts at a fun three-day festival over the last weekend of July. The festival takes place at nine different locations across Quebec.

Cap-Saint-Jacques Nature Park has an organic farm and more than 16 miles of hiking trails. The park is enclosed by a lake and a river and features a natural sand beach.

This drive-in movie theater is only open from the end of April through mid-September, so take advantage of it while you can. The Saint-Eustache plays first-run movies under the stars.

Don't let the name fool you—the Montreal International Jazz Festival features more than just jazz. Last year's lineup featured famous hip-hop/reggae artist Snoop Dogg.

The St. Lawrence River is one of the longest in the world. In Quebec, the Gulf of St. Lawrence is divided into five tourist regions—the Bas-Saint-Laurent, Duplessis, Manicouagan, Gaspesie, and Iles-de-la-Madeleine.

Le Train Du Massif De Charlevoix is a scenic way to see the countryside, from Quebec City to Pointe-au-Pic and La Malbaie.

A Caribbean Carnival in Canada? Yep, you read that right! The annual Carifiesta festival features a lively parade that brings a touch of the Caribbean to Montreal.

In the winter, you can't access the top of the wall around Old Quebec if the stairs are snowed under. So summer is really the best time to wander the 2.85-mile circuit around the Old Upper Town.

The 700-acre Parc Jean-Drapea has it all—beaches, a biosphere, roller coasters, and even a casino! The park is actually two islands: Saint Helen's Island and Ile Notre-Dame, a man-made island built for the 1967 World's Fair.

Cool down and get your blood pumping with a white-water-rafting trip on Quebec's Rouge River. If the rapids don't impress you, the surrounding scenery of the Laurentides will!

The changing of the guard happens every morning from June 24 to the first Monday of September, so make sure you visit Quebec during that time to see the show! The ceremony lasts for 35 minutes.

Every year in Quebec City, there are hundreds of shows during the Festival d'ete de Quebec. Star performers last year included Lady Gaga, Billy Joel, and The Killers.

The Montreal International Fireworks Competition is one of the largest pyrotechnics events in the world. Buy a ticket if you want to have the best seat in the house, or catch the show for free from a bit farther away.

No need to pay an expensive rate for a river cruise when you can take a commuter ferry across the St. Lawrence for just a few dollars.

Cool down from the Canadian summer heat with an ice cream or sorbet from Havre-aux-Glaces. This ice cream shop features unique flavors like Matcha, Masala Chai, Maple Snow, and many more.

Get refreshed at the Mont Saint-Sauveur water park in Montreal. This aquatic adventure park is actually built on a mountain, and it uses that to its advantage, with long waterslides down the slopes.

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