Quebec City

Quebec City sits on a bluff above the St. Lawrence River, and the old town behind its stone walls is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Château Frontenac, a massive hotel built in the style of a French château, dominates the skyline from nearly every angle. The cruise terminal is near the lower town at Petit-Champlain, a strip of craft shops and restaurants on a narrow cobblestone street, or at the Quai Paquet across the river, reached by a short ferry. The upper town, reached by funicular or stairs, has the fortifications, the Plains of Abraham (the battlefield where the British took Quebec in 1759), and the Citadelle, still an active military garrison. French is the working language, and menus, signs, and conversations default to it. For food, poutine (fries, cheese curds, and gravy) is everywhere, and the bakeries sell proper croissants. Winter visits mean snow and sub-zero temperatures, but the Christmas market in December is worth seeing.