Can I do Old Quebec City in a Wheelchair?
I went to Canada last August with my mom and dad. The weather was perfect so it was crowded. We drove 3 hours from Montreal to Quebec City.
When I was planning the trip, I knew finding a wheelchair accessible hotel in the old town AND for 3 people was going to be a challenge.
Where I stayed
I did find one though, The Clarendon Hotel. I started googling it to see if it looked doable, and doable it looked. I don’t want to lie, but what really hooked me were the bright yellow walls.
The handicapped entrance was the door around the right side of the building. There was a little ramp made of concrete, they also had an automatic door opener, but it was quick to close.
A second ramp to the ground floor. At the registration desk was a man wearing a yellow tie. How fitting?!
They had a suite that was accessible, they said. Their handicap suite had a king bed and a sofa bed within the same room. They had big windows with floor to ceiling curtains that made me feel like royalty.
In the room they had a TV on the wall, (mostly French channels), 2 gold chairs, and an alcove with a desk and this room was on the first floor. (Second floor in America).
When I was in Montreal, I realized that ADA is only good in America (I mean duh, Americans with Disability Act) I never really made that connection. Apparently Canada’s disability laws vary in each of the 7 provinces.
First off, the bathroom had a tub with a shower chair, even though I was told over the phone that my room DID have a roll in shower. I don’t know if that’s true in a different room, but I do believe I was in the only handicap room. (IDK, it was all French).
The toilet had drop down grab bars on each side. They had a sink with a big countertop that went from wall to wall, with a mirror behind it along the entire wall; and under the sink was completely empty so I could roll under.
I didn’t like the actual toilet seat, it was round instead of oval making it tight fitting around my butt. And I do not have a big butt! They also had a bathrobe, an eye mask and slippers. I felt fancy!
There was only one elevator, and at busy times you may have to wait, but not long. On the ground floor (or 1) they had a seafood restaurant, Mordus, that was open all day.
Mordus Restaurant
When we first got there in the evening we went in for a quick bite, I ordered
the deviled egg seafood. OMG these were delicious!
Every morning we went downstairs for breakfast (Which was included) and they had toast with raspberry butter (I wanted to bathe in this) luckily it’s also sold here.
We had breakfast here every day, both convenient and delicious. My meals included eggs and salmon lox with capers and a salad; a cappuccino and oatmeal with chia pudding with a honey drizzle! I highly recommend this restaurant, even if you are not staying here.
Night Stroll
The first night we got there it was late but we walked around downtown. The walkway was not quite cobblestone but they were big square stone blocks, which didn't give me much trouble. We saw a lot of artist stalls with caricatures hanging up, they were closed by now.
The Fairmont Hotel, which was right down the street, is like a castle and it was all lit up at night. This hotel is popular, and they probably had a handicap room. But they were very expensive.
When we ended up with the total for our hotel it was still expensive. I think I paid $200 dollars just in taxes and fees every night. Canada is expensive.
Monument
Just up a block from our hotel, was this monument that was always surrounded by street performers. I couldn't get close enough to see what it actually is. #WheelchairProblems
Hop On/Hop Off
We went on the Hop On and Hop Off bus, and I really liked this because I got to roam all around Quebec City,quickly. If we were staying longer I would have liked to hop off the bus at every stop. But it was still helpful getting a feel for the city! Your ticket is good for 2 whole days.
Boardwalk
After the Hop On and Hop Off we stayed at the top, behind the monument there is a very long boardwalk. There was a big Toboggan Slide (click H E R E for tickets), which is only open in the winter; you ride a toboggan down. Like tubing in America.
Funicular
Behind the monument is the Funiculaire. An outdoor elevator. Take the wheelchair lift down to the platform level. Then a quick Funicular ride away (With beautiful views of the river). It is $5 and you have to do it at least once! Not for you? They do have stairs.
Old Town
Most of the shops and restaurants had steps, not all. (But I didn’t go there to shop).
There was a walkway with a bunch of colored umbrellas. Made up for me not seeing them in Puerto Rico. After that was where they had the actual wall.
Walled City
Quebec City is the only walled city in North America north of Mexico. The wall is near the water with a ramp going into the walled city.
On our final day, we planned to go see Montmorency Falls, a massive waterfall in Quebec, but we weren’t thinking and totally forgot it was Labor Day weekend. And there was New York City like traffic.
While we were sitting in traffic, I looked online and apparently you had to pay to go see the waterfall. So we skipped it. I’m not going to pay to see nature. Then we started our drive home.
