European flavor, Canadian prices

Where did you go? Cobblestoned Quebec City, the oldest walled city in North America outside Mexico.

Where did you stay? The Palace Royal, two blocks from the gates of Old Quebec. It has interior balconies overlooking a tropical garden and swimming pool, a small fitness center and sauna, and Internet access in rooms and lobby. Breakfast is included with certain packages. (See jaro.qc.ca.)

What did you do? People-watched on the Dufferin Promenade below the grand Chateau Frontenac, which is also close to the Plains of Abraham, superb for hiking and for checking out historical sites. Wandered past the lively restaurant patios on Grand Allée Street to the Musée des Beaux-Arts du Québec (Fine Arts Museum), where the permanent Riopelle exhibit alone was worth the visit. The Petit Champlain is a busy shopping area, where rows of stone houses converted to stores give it a distinct European flavor.

Where did you eat? Just outside the walls on St. Jean Street we found the Veau D'or, a friendly French restaurant where we enjoyed delicious beef bourguignon with soup, sugar pie, and coffee for $11. In the old city, the St. James Hotel has a funky bistro bar in the form of an old English pub with giant buffets, from low-carb to eggs Benedict.

• Where have you been? What did you do? Write us at Weekend