Performing Tour of Eastern Canada

During the course of our tour we will gain from the knowledge and insight of three half-day local guides while we are here in Canada. Visit the Biodôme de Montréal, which was originally built as the velodrome for the 1976 Olympics. It has been refitted to house replications of four distinct ecosystems. The biodome houses 230 animal species, as well as 750 plant species, with displays focusing on biodiversity and interactive touchscreen terminals. This evening, dinner will be provided in a local restaurant.

Your concert performance will be today. Venue options include Montréal’s Underground City, St. Patrick’s Basilica, and St. Joseph’s Oratory. Notre-Dame Basilica, located in the heart of Old Montréal, would be ideal for orchestral or choral groups. Additional venues include: the Atrium Le 1000; the SITQ Buildings; Le complexe sportif de l'Université de Montréal (CEPSUM); Christ Church Cathedral; Le Complexe Desjardins, which is best suited for classical and ambient music; Mary, Queen of the World Cathedral, which has welcomed many international touring groups; the McCord Museum of Canadian History; the Stewart Museum; and Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel. Ideal outdoor venues include Olympic Park (which was created for the 1976 Olympic Games), and one of Montréal’s four public markets.

Today we will travel from Montreal to Quebec City. Quebec City is the capital city of the province of Quebec, and one of the oldest cities in North America. It was founded in 1608 by Samuel de Champlain, and retains a distinctly European atmosphere and a unique character. Take a Walking Tour of Vieux-Québec, to see the city's gabled houses; the lively and beautiful Place Royale; the Quartier Petit Champlain; and the Escalier Casse-Cou (Breakneck Stairs), which lead to the spectacular Terrasse Dufferin at the top of the cliff. Visit L’Église Notre-Dame-des-Victoires, the oldest stone church in Québec (built in 1688). It features a large model boat suspended from the ceiling, to which votive offerings were brought by early settlers to ensure safe voyages. The model is of Le Brezé, the vessel that transported French soldiers to New France in 1664. Upon his arrival, the Marquis de Tracy suspended this miniature replica in the vault of the Notre-Dame-de-Québec Basilica- Cathedral; it has been hung in L’Église Notre-Dame-des-Victoires since 1955. Our base for the next two nights will be Quebec (area), where breakfast will be provided at the hotel. Dinner tonight will be at the Sugar Shack Restaurant, where we will be able to enjoy both music and dancing.

Visit the Canyon Sainte-Anne, a deep gorge created by the Sainte-Anne-du-Nord River, featuring the powerful Sainte-Anne Falls. View the thundering 243ft waterfall from several observation platforms as it rumbles into its 1.2-billion-year-old notch. The site also boasts one of the highest pedestrian bridges in Québec, at 180ft. See the spectacular Montmorency Falls, which plunge from a height of 272ft. The falls, which were named by Samuel de Champlain for his patron the Duke of Montmorency, are 98ft higher than Niagara, and are surrounded by the provincial Parc de la Chute-Montmorency. Walk across the suspension bridge above the thundering falls, from the panoramic stairs to the battery and redoubt.

This evening we will enjoy dinner on board a Dance-Cruise on the St. Lawrence River.

We will have some free time for shopping and exploration. Today we will travel from Quebec to Eastern Townships. Take Orientation Tours in Magog (located at the northern end of Lake Memphrémagog), Knowlton (on the shores of Lake Brome), and Sutton (situated at the foot of the Sutton mountain range). The Eastern Townships region is the area sharing the border of three American states: Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. The Eastern Townships are famous for their covered bridges, twelve-sided round barns and Victorian-style houses. We will continue to the Eastern Townships (area), which will be our base for the next two nights. While here, we will enjoy breakfast and dinner at the hotel.

Your concert performance is today.

Journey to Saint-Benoit-du-Lac Abbey, located along Lake Memphremagog. Founded in 1912 by Benedictine Monks from France, the monastery was designed to accentuate the harmony of natural geometric forms. The monks are also well known in the area for their chocolatier skills. Tour a local winery this afternoon, where we will tour the vineyards and try some of their products. We end our day with a sweet treat as we visit the Museé du Chocolat. Here not only will we learn of the history of chocolate, but we can try some of the chocolate that is made on site.

Today we will travel from Eastern Townships to Ottawa. Take an Orientation Tour of Ottawa, including sights such as Parliament Hill, Rideau Hall, Château Laurier, the Rideau Canal, and Dow’s Lake, to name a few. Ottawa, the capital of Canada boasts a rich culture and heritage, with its many national institutions, parklands, waterways, and examples of historic architecture. It is also a thriving international technology and business center, and a world-class tourism and convention destination. We will continue to Ottawa (area), our base for the next two nights. Breakfast will be included at the hotel. Tonight, dinner will be in a local restaurant.

Your concert performance will be today. Venue options include the Church of St. Francis of Assisi, Orleans United Church, Dominion-Chalmers United Church, and St. Joseph’s Parish, all of which are known as ideal choral venues with a receptive audience.

Take a Guided Tour of the Center Block of Parliament, the center stage of Canadian democracy. Tours begin in the Visitor Welcome Center, which offers a small exhibition describing the history, roles, and functions of Canada’s parliamentarians. A visit to the Public Galleries of both the Senate and the House of Commons may also be possible, subject to space availability. The Canadian Museum of Civilization is renowned for its permanent galleries, which explore Canada's 20,000 years of human history. The Museum also presents an ever-changing program of special exhibitions that expand on Canadian themes and explore other cultures and civilizations, past and present. With roots stretching back to 1856, the Museum is one of North America's oldest cultural institutions. Explore the War Museum, dedicated to sharing the history of war from the Vikings to the present. But also focusing on the role Canadians have played, particularly in the more recent World Wars. Tonight, dinner will be in a local restaurant.

Our rewarding and enjoyable tour comes to an end as our Tour Director accompanies us to the airport on our final day.