It comes to no secret to anyone that Quebec City, besides hosting one of the country’s best races at the Beneva Quebec City Marathon starting September 30, also has lots of entertaining enticements to offer a racer when they’re not going for their gold, or resting. These are just some of the fall highlights in Quebec City that are particularly appealing at the end of the month.
1. The changes to the course at the Beneva Quebec City Marathon makes it double as an excuse to go sightseeing along some of Quebec City’s most beautiful vantage points. For the picture-postcard scenery of the course and for the joy of running past the iconic Château Frontenac and along the shores of the St. Lawrence River, there’s no better way to explore Quebec City than in your shoes on race day! Pro tip: here’s the course for the marathon. If you’re running a different distance, this is also a great trail to explore on a bike.
2. Late September in Quebec City is jam-packed with fun things to do, from dining to exploring to beautiful hikes! It’s also the ideal time to go apple picking on Île d’Orléans and enjoy some of the delicious local cuisine. From black currant berries to iconic, delightful European style pubs, Quebec City brings a world of delights to a marathon runner, a sampling of which can be found here.
3. Being a runner, we know you don’t want a completely relaxing vacation, even when you’re not doing your race. Alongside the beautiful opportunities for hiking and cycling, Quebec City is also an ideal location to hike. Whether it’s the North Arms Trail or the Wolves Trail, there are many different locations and degrees of difficulty in your hikes to choose from, all close to the Delta Hotel Quebec, which is the host hotel. For a smattering of hiking ideas, please click here.
4. It’s hard to beat an 83-metre high waterfall, and that’s why all visitors to Quebec City should travel the 15 minutes from Old Quebec (just 15 minutes!) and check out Montmorency Falls. There’s a zip line and, beneath the falls, a promenade, and, like the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec, it’s well worth a trip.
The enticement this month to Quebec City is the races, from a 2K kid’s event to a marathon, with a brand new picturesque course. But if you’re heading to Quebec City from out of town for race day, there’s much more than a medal awaiting your trip.
Explore Quebec City, and, while running your race, see the world.
