When traveling in the second-largest country in the world, time is of the essence. Despite the dual-language status for the entirety of Canada, it is not easy to preserve the francophone tradition in a sea of Anglo culture.

The charm of Quebec City is hardly matched by other towns in North America. With its bastions, towers, and city gates that guard narrow streets converging toward the cathedral and Chateau Frontenac beautiful promenade, Quebec is a major tourist destination.

Just a little East of the city is Charlevoix, or Nouvelle France, with its pleasant little towns that spread all the way to Saguenay River. South of Saint Laurent estuary is the remote and beautiful Gaspe Peninsula whose north coast is full of quaint little towns and charming villages all in a landscape of primeval beauty. The tip of the peninsula is a paradise of the gannets of the Bonaventure Island.

West of Quebec is the Anglo bastion in Ottawa that sport a Parliament building that is as “British” as it can be, and its business center, Toronto, closer in spirit and look with New York.

On the west coast, Vancouver is an oasis of relaxed life and comfort, just a short ride to the busyness of the cities of the American Pacific coast.