city left on the continent north of Mexico. It’s one of the most historically rich cities in Canada. It’s a joy to walk through these centuries-old cobble- stone streets. The city’s cliffside centrepiece, the stunning Fairmont le Château Frontenac, is the most photographed hotel in the world. In winter, taking a ride on the toboggan slide next door at Au 1884 is an essential and quintessentially Canadian experience. With a ride down the cliffside on the funicular rail- way, you’re wandering through the streets of Lower Quebec, popping into locally owned shops and enjoy- ing maple taffy poured on snow as a sweet treat. Whether you’ve got a few hours or a few days to ex- plore Quebec City, there’s always something new to discover. En route to Village Vacances Valcartier The Hôtel de Glace is built each year on the grounds of the Village Vacances Valcartier, located 30 minutes north of Quebec City. This year-round resort is billed as North America’s largest winter playground. It of- fers more than two dozen snow tubing runs, an in- door water park, a Nordic spa, an arcade, on-site res- taurants and more. If sleeping in a hotel made entirely of ice is not your thing, you can opt for a self-guided tour during the day instead. When the build begins each November, more than 30,000 tons of snow are used to create an amazing work of art. It’s assembled by roughly 50 people, including 15 professional ice sculptors and more than 30 workers, and many walls and surfaces are carved with intricate themed designs. The structure is made with unique molds designed to help it support its own weight. Apart from the
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