Bonjour, madame,” says a bellhop with a smile as he assists me with my bags. I have just arrived in Québec City and the proverbial warmth it’s hailed for greets me, while the fragrant mist of the sparkling St. Lawrence River lifts and carries itself into the breeze.

It’s early afternoon in the charming metropolis, yet the atmosphere is bursting with excitement. A special, uniting feeling emanates, as Québec City bustles with year-long celebrations in light of its 400th birthday.

Countless locals and visitors colour the horizon, as they walk through winding, cobblestone roads where skilled artisans and gifted performers provide thrilling sensations throughout the city.

Fashion-savvy shoppers hold on carefully to packages of unique finds: Hand-painted portraits of the city’s founder, Samuel de Champlain, mouthwatering jars of renowned maple syrup, and contemporary apparel from Simons, Québec’s popular fashion house that was established in the mid-19th century. “The city’s ever pretty when it rains,” says a tourist to her husband as they stroll in front of me on rue Saint-Jean.

The Irish couple tells me they are staying at the award-winning Four Points by Sheraton Québec. The city offers luxuriously modern hotels to quaint inns tucked into European-like side streets.

The restored heritage hotel Fairmont Château Frontenac is where I’ll be staying for a few days. I stop to admire its impressive exterior adorned with a copper roof and impressive turrets. The legendary 19th century castle has been providing its guest with the royal treatment since 1893, with an elegant and romantic aura that bleeds the history it is steeped in.

I spend my days exploring archaeological digs beneath the Dufferin boardwalk, where the unearthed relics that were once the home of De Champlain and other French and English governors have been carefully preserved. Québec City is recognized as the only city in North America to have kept its fortifications.

Not too far off, cyclists glide along the 2.5 km La Promenade Samuel De Champlain, a recent development that gives the public access to the trembling waters of the river, while emphasizing the natural beauty of the region. A flurry of French and English pours from the mouths of passers-by, enhancing the city’s reputation for being the cradle of French North America. Proclaimed a World Heritage Treasure by UNESCO, old Québec’s historical value is expressed everywhere you turn.

A visit to the Musée de la civilization boasts an exhibition of water, light and plant life in The Visionaries Garden, which was created by Belgium theatre and film director Franco Dragone. Dragone is known for his involvement in 10 productions of Cirque du Soleil.

A drive past The Plains of Abraham, a historic 108-acre plateau located beyond the Citadelle of Québec, reveals the stage where legendary performer Paul McCartney performed at in mid-July. Québec native and superstar singer Céline Dion is set to draw in thousands of listeners when she performs there in mid-August.

At night, I dine at high-class restaurants renowned for their high-class menus, stunning interiors, and esteemed chefs. Dinner at Le Saint-Amour is heavenly, with an extraordinary prized wine list,
melt-in-your-mouth dishes, courteous staff, and award-winning chefs. The restaurant, which is co-owned by one of Québec’s best chefs, Jean-Luc Boulay, is often asked to cater its delicacies to special events across the city. Québecers tell me they eat extremely well, since they have thousands of restaurants to choose from. In fact, Québec City is proud to have the most restaurants per capita in North America!

As the rising sun sets a sparkle across Québec City, its charming cache of preserved heritage, mixed with the careful planning and development projects that have accumulated over its 400-year history, makes you realize that picturesque Québec City is a world-class destination. www.myQuébec2008.com