60 Before 60 Project: #25 - Go on a Guided Walking Tour

Have you ever taken a guided city tour before? I have once.

Years back, we were on a vacation in Ireland and visiting Belfast. We started off by wandering around the city admiring the sites and one of our kids suggested we take a walking tour. We searched for a walking tour and were connected with an amazing guide who took us through the city sharing the historic sites and history of the city. It was a great experience. 

We just got back from a short getaway in Quebec City. Even though Quebec City is not that far a drive away from us, I had never actually been and always wanted to go. So off we went for a mid week visit.

While we were there, we decided to investigate taking a guided walking tour. And I’m so happy we did. 

When I searched “Quebec City free walking tour English” I found myself on Samuel Dubois’ website. 

Samuel offered tours through Quebec City for free. His reviews were excellent, and he even guaranteed that we would have a laugh or two. Booking was easy. I just had to submit my name, number of people in our party and email address. There were no charges however it was suggested that tips were always appreciated. 

We met Samuel at the Quebec Parliament building. We were a small group of 7 people all from different places. 

Samuel weaved us through the city sharing the history of how it was discovered and the challenges that it faced in its early development and even shared some of the issues that history continues to play in today.  

We had walked around the city before this walking tour but had no idea of the stories that were behind some of the places we saw. There were spots in the city that we went that we didn’t even know existed. Samuel brought all of this to life with us while also entertaining us with a few jokes as well. 

I am now a big fan of guided walking tours. I have found that they; 

Gain access to an expert’s knowledge 

A tour guide can provide you with expert knowledge about the history, culture, and architecture of the area you're exploring. 

Discover hidden gems and secrets of a city  

Guides can take you off the beaten path and show you hidden gems that you might not have discovered on your own. For example, I had no idea that Alfred Hitchcock filmed in Quebec City or that some faces on statues weren’t the actual person’s image as they didn’t know what they really looked like. 

Save you time 

A guided walking tour can save you time and hassle in planning and navigating a city. You don’t have to get caught up staring at your phone or guidebooks. You just simply follow the guide, listen to what they have to share and enjoy the experience. 

As well, I’m also grateful that we were able visit Quebec City in what is considered the “shoulder season” - this is the time between the peak and off-peak seasons. We were blessed with amazing weather and found that there were no crowds, lines and we received great service. The added bonus going at this time of year is that the prices were slightly lower as well. 

Here are a few pictures from my experience. A big thank you and shout out to our tour guide Samuel. He helped to make a great trip even better! 

My 60 Before 60 Lesson: Listening to others knowledge is an insightful and entertaining way to learn 

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