New Up North: Fresh Things to Do in Québec, Summer 2026
From convivial spas to cultural hubs, Vermonters heading north of the border have plenty to explore. Here’s how to make the most of the season.
Head North!
The Vermonters’ Guide to Québec is produced by Seven Days and underwritten by Bonjour Québec. Discover more about Québec at bonjourquebec.com.
Offbeat Places Vermonters Love in Montréal
From hidden gardens to an F1 racetrack, in-the-know Vermonters share Montréal’s most thrillingly unexpected destinations.
Three Québec Abbeys to Visit for Food, Fun and Spiritual Nourishment
Current and former religious communities scattered across Québec offer fascinating reasons to visit: culinary experiences, historical tours and outdoor recreation.
Kent Monkman’s Monumental Queer, Indigenous History Paintings
The Montréal Museum of Fine Arts presents a massive solo show of the Cree First Nations artist’s work, which uses humor to turn history painting on its head.
Vermonters Share Their Favorite Ways to Experience Montréal
Chefs, bartenders, arts lovers, travel professionals and more offer pro tips on what to do when visiting Québec’s largest city.
Current U.S.-Canada Border Wait Times
See “St-Armand/ Philipsburg, QC/ Highgate, VT” for the I‑89/133 entry.
Canadian Border Services Agency
See “Highgate Springs” for the I‑89/133 entry.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Border Tips
What you need to know about traveling to Canada from Vermont and back, including:
- Bringing food and goods back to the U.S.
- Traveling with children and pets
- When DUI restrictions expire
- Using your cell phone in Canada
- Getting there by boat or train
Cold Calling: What to Do in Québec This Winter
From family-friendly festivities and epic skiing to world-class dining and caribou cocktails, here are good reasons to bundle up and head north this winter.
Despite New Restrictions, Short-Term Rentals Abound in Montréal
The new municipal “bylaw” targets properties not previously restricted: homes that owners identify as their primary residence.
Soundbites: Crossing the Border for POP Montréal
Music editor Chris Farnsworth journeyed north for one of the coolest music and arts festivals in North America. Even the border cops think so.
Day Trip: Eating and Drinking in Bedford, Québec
An hour north of Burlington, Bedford offers excellent coffee, dueling poutine spots and a Montréal-level restaurant — minus city traffic.
Montréal Used to Be Canada’s ‘Sin City.’ What Happened?
Three years ago, a trio of Montréal superheroes went up in smoke. The women of the Super Sexe strip club sign — clad in high heels, black bikinis and red capes — had brazenly soared over rue Sainte-Catherine for decades, flickering symbols of Montréal’s libertine spirit. That is, until meeting their demise in October 2021…
Tasting Québec’s Michelin Green Star Restaurants
Three Québécois restaurants earned accolades for sustainable gastronomy. A road trip revealed their delicious, distinctly different approaches to green cuisine.
A Guide to Montréal Neighborhoods Worth Exploring This Summer
From foodie adventures to “the coolest street in the world,” you’ll find much to explore in Verdun, Chinatown, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce and Shaughnessy Village.
Are Americans Even Welcome in Canada Right Now?
President Donald Trump has sparked outrage across Canada; where does that leave American tourists? Travel writer Jen Rose Smith offers a thoughtful answer.
New Reasons to Head to Québec This Summer
From Michelin picks to a Euro-style trail-running station, the coming months usher in a long list of fresh excuses to cross the Canadian border.
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
