We have a friend who says that when she's in the mood for France she just heads for Québec.

Interesting advice—but it doesn’t do justice to the unique New World culture and landscape of this historic province. True, the first Frenchmen sailed up in 1535, and their influence is obvious everywhere in the food, language and architecture. As the only fortified city in North America, Québec City might seem equally at home on the Dordogne River as the St. Lawrence. The farmland may even remind you of Normandy. The most startling discovery, though, is that the rich European past thrives so near to home. The Charlevoix region, where we spend much of our time, was declared a Heritage Cultural Region by UNESCO. On a fascinating series of walks, we’ll learn why as we visit the villages, the tradespeople and the terrain which make this one of our favorite destinations anywhere. Join us and see how it feels to go to Europe without leaving the continent.