It is an easy 20-minute drive from Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport to the Hôtel Place d’Armes in Vieux-Montréal, the historic center of the city, also referred to as the Old Port. Despite its location across from the busy plaza fronting the magnificent Notre-Dame Basilica, this property is exceptionally serene and feels like a world unto its own.

After checking in, head to Olive + Gourmando for lunch. The Cajun chicken sandwich, composed of roasted chicken, homemade guacamole, fresh tomato and mango is a delight. You could also place a to-go order and enjoy lunch on a bench along the waterfront.

This afternoon, explore some of the many highlights of the Old Port. Browse shops displaying works by local Québecois artists in the Marché Bonsecours, a silver-domed Greek Revival building dating back to 1847, and stroll the picturesque main street, Rue St. Paul, lined with former warehouses converted into specialty boutiques and cafés.

Enjoy dinner tonight at Brasserie 701, the formal restaurant at Hôtel Place d’Armes. Afterward, consider having a nightcap at Modavie, a jazz club a short walk away.

Today, step aboard one of Le Bateau Mouche’s 90-minute cruises along the St. Lawrence River for some of the best views of the city. Plan for a seafood lunch at Pincette - Bar à Homard, attached to the Auberge du Vieux-Port hotel, then perhaps visit the Pointe-à-Callière archaeology museum or relax in the serene French colonial-style gardens nestled behind the historic Château Ramezay. Have dinner at the atmospheric speakeasy-like Le Club Chasse et Pêche, a subterranean restaurant discreetly tucked on a side street in the Old Port.

Check out of Hôtel Place d’Armes and drive to the Cantons de l’Est, also known as the Eastern Townships, located in the province’s southeastern corner on the border of Vermont, Maine and New Hampshire. This is a picturesque region of rolling hills and flat countryside dotted with vineyards, New England-style covered bridges and quaint Victorian-era towns. Make your first stop the Domaine Cartier-Potelle to stretch your legs and taste its cidre de glace, a cider equivalent of ice wine. Wander through the estate’s orchards and pick some apples for the road if in season.

Overnight at Manoir Hovey, an idyllic lakeside retreat outside the quaint town of Hatley. Be sure to reserve a Treetops Suite, which features a private terrace with a cedar hot tub and a comfortably furnished screened-in porch. This evening, savor French-Canadian chef Alexandre Vachon’s gourmet seasonally inspired cuisine in the hotel’s award-winning restaurant. The duck egg topped with Lake Saint-Pierre sturgeon caviar was a highlight of our meal, as was the magnificently presented and well-stocked cheese trolley. Our waiter’s genteel professionalism and affable charm were reminiscent of a bygone era.

Spend the next two days enjoying Manoir Hovey and the many activities offered at the resort. In summer, play a round of tennis, borrow kayaks or take a lake cruise, and in winter, spend time snowshoeing or ice skating. Lounging in the cozy library, soaking in the outdoor hot tub or enjoying a treatment in the spa are wonderful ways to spend your time at the estate in any season.

Depart the Manoir Hovey and drive the 2.5 hours to the province’s capital, Québec City, founded in the 17th century and terraced down the side of a promontory overlooking the St. Lawrence River. Check into the 95-room Auberge Saint-Antoine, located in the Lower Town of Vieux-Québec, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1985.

Join one of the hotel’s archaeological tours to admire the historical treasures on display throughout the property, which were unearthed during the construction of the hotel in 1988.

Have dinner at Chez Muffy, the hotel’s rustically elegant restaurant housed within an atmospheric wood-beamed warehouse, serving refined French-Canadian fare.

Overnight at the Auberge Saint-Antoine.

With a private guide booked through Tours Voir Québec, head first to Montmorency Falls, a massive waterfall higher than Niagara Falls, then to the Île d’Orléans, a 21-mile-long island located just 15 minutes outside the city.

On the island, taste fine ciders at Le Cidrerie Verger Bilodeau and delicious locally made chocolates at La Chocolaterie de l’Île d’Orléans. Plan a stop at Cassis Monna & Filles to sample its unique cassis (black currant) liqueur and to dine at the excellent on-site restaurant, where every dish incorporates black currant in some form. The warm goat-cheese salad paired with black currant honey is not to be missed.

Return to the city for an aperitif at the hotel’s Bar Artefact, where magnificent relics are set in dramatic backlit glass cases. Plan on dinner at Le Saint-Amour, a romantic restaurant festooned with hanging plants that serves updated Québecois cuisine.

Overnight at the Auberge Saint-Antoine.

Before leaving Québec City for the three-hour drive back to Montréal, walk along the Citadel, which contains parts of the city’s original fortified walls, then stroll down to La Promenade des Gouverneurs, an expansive boardwalk offering uninterrupted views of the magnificent Château Frontenac. For lunch, order the beef tartare or regularly changing fish carpaccio at Échaudé.

Back in Montréal, check in to Le Germain Hotel Montréal, a charming boutique property set in the downtown district near McGill University. Explore the neighborhood, maybe stopping at the Museum of Fine Arts or MAC (Musée d’Art Contemporain de Montréal), the city’s contemporary art museum. Dine this evening at Holder, a lively restaurant that epitomizes the spirit of Paris’ grandes brasseries. The fork-tender braised beef cheeks and lobster ravioli are particularly memorable.

Start the day with a guided tour of the largest open-air market in North America, Marché Jean-Talon, with food writer Mayssam Samaha. Inaugurated in 1933, this expansive market is where fishmongers, farmers and cheesemakers come together to sell their specialties year-round and where top chefs source some of their finest ingredients. Stock up on picnic supplies before heading off for an afternoon roaming Mount-Royal, the wooded mountain from which Montréal takes its name. In September and October, the fall foliage is especially dazzling.

Tonight, head to Hoogan et Beaufort for dinner. Located a 20-minute drive from downtown in the residential Rosemont borough of Montréal, this restaurant, with its joyful energy, genial staff and perfectly executed contemporary wood-fired cuisine, is worth the trip.

Check out of Hôtel Le Germain, drive back to the airport and board your flight home.