Quebec City Winter Carnival

Every year on three weekends in the middle of winter, Quebec City hosts a million visitors and it's all about family fun, with parades, an ice palace, snow-rafting, snow sculptures, kids' games, a maple sugar shack... Presiding over all is Bonhomme, the ambassador of the Carnival, shown above.

Visitors can also explore historic Quebec City, which is like a mini-visit to Europe. (Quebec City is French-speaking but all those in the tourist trade speak "anglais".) And don't miss a tour of the Ice Hotel, a short drive away.

2013 dates are February 1st to 17th: if you missed it, plan for next year and combine your trip with a ski day at nearby Mont-Sainte-Anne.

See more:

• Introduction to the Quebec Carnival
• Fun Things to do at the Quebec City Winter Carnival
• Quebec City for Family Trips
• Quebec City Plus Skiing at Mont-Sainte-Anne

Photo courtesy of Quebec Carnival.