8 Activities to do for an enjoyable March break on the Plains of Abraham
The Plains of Abraham don't take time off during March break! Whatever you enjoy — the great outdoors, history, or video games — this historic site and vast winter playground has something for every taste. So put on your tuque, your mittens, or your headphones! Here are 8 activities to do in March on the Plains…or at home!
Join a family rally at the Museum
Spring 1759: war has begun. All men 16 to 60 years old must join the French army to defend the colony. Despite your young age, the captain may accept you into its ranks... if you have good teeth!
Parents may also contribute to the war effort. To meet the challenges of this rally, good powers of observation are needed, as well as memory, sense of timing, and bravery. In exchange, you’ll get to tour the exhibitions of the Plains of Abraham Museum, in the company of characters dressed in period costumes.
And good news! Anyone 17 years old or younger gets free admission for the period March 1 to 15.
Glide round and round the Skating rink
Put on your skates and enjoy the refrigerated skating rink on the Plains of Abraham, which we jointly offer with the Ville de Québec. The rink will provide an enchanting place for exercise and movement until March 10.
Need equipment? A rental service is available at the Skaters’ Chalet, where you can also warm yourself up and buy snacks.
Go on a treasure hunt
Take your family on a quest for a legendary good-luck charm that enabled the greatest winter sports champions on the Plains to make a name for themselves.
Bring a smartphone and go from one interactive station to the next, solve the puzzles, and learn different stories about winter sports on the Plains from the 19th century to today.
This interactive adventure was jointly created with Défi-Évasion.
Slide down a hill for free on your snow carpet
The site offers two sliding areas behind the Plains of Abraham Museum, where you can slide downhill in complete safety. Snow carpets can be rented at the reception of the Plains of Abraham Museum.
Get the knack of cross-country skiing in a historic park
The Plains offer more than 14 km of cross-country ski trails, and they’re available for free in downtown Quebec City. Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, you’ll find a trail at your level of ability. Each of them is named after some aspect of the Plains’ history. For instance, the Des Braves Trail refers to the Battle of Sainte-Foy in 1760, and the Martello Trail is named after Martello Tower 1, which was built in the early 19th century to defend against the threat of an American invasion.
If you’re in the vicinity, be sure to stop at the Café La Maison Smith to sip a hot beverage and munch on pastry. Trail 53 passes in front of the Central Pavilion, where the café is located. You can leave your skis on a rack at the entrance.
Explore the virtual landscape of Québec 1759 in Minecraft
Minecraft fans will be enthralled by the prospect of exploring Quebec City as it existed in 1759. They will enter a world faithfully recreated through extensive historical research.
If you love video games, or one of your children does, you can download for free the virtual world Plains of Abraham – Québec 1759. As you wander through the shell-shattered streets and into buildings of that period, you’ll meet and hear witnesses from that momentous time.
Tour a virtual exhibition about the battle of 1759
Go back to 1759 and relive certain key stages of the Battle of the Plains of Abraham through sixty or so activities: comics, videos, games, interactive maps, and much more.
This exhibition will take you alongside French, British, Canadian, and First Nation soldiers as it shows you the changing fortunes of a fight to the finish for the conquest of French America.
Learn about the attempted American capture of Quebec City in the winter of 1775
Discover the surprising story of the American attempt to capture Quebec City in 1775. A poorly known chapter of history, it was nonetheless one of the first major military operations of the American War of Independence.
Six artists portray the key points of this conflict, which took place in very harsh winter conditions. The events are recounted by a woman nicknamed Baboche, an informant for the British.
Whether you’re an outdoors person, a history buff, or a devoted Minecraft fan, the Plains of Abraham have something for your lineup of March break activities.
Skating, cross-country skiing, a family rally, an escape game, and virtual experiences — we’ve got something for everyone!
