James Beard Foundation: Southeast Canadian Explorations

Montreal is the largest city in Quebec, Canada, and is also the largest inland port in the world. Situated between a majestic mountain and the sparkling St Lawrence River, sailing into the port with its impressive skyline of grand 19th century grey stone buildings never loses its fascination for passengers. Old Montreal is one of the main attractions, where visitors can travel by horse-drawn carriages, stroll along the cobble stone streets, visit museums, art galleries, chic boutiques and vintage coffee shops. Read more about Montreal, Canada

Quebec, capital of the Canadian province of the same name, is so ‘French’ it is said that to visit Quebec is to experience France without crossing the Atlantic. French must be the predominant language on signs, retail or food service employees always greet customers in French, and there are even laws dictating whether parents can send their children to English or French school. The architecture, ambience and mostly French-speaking citizens are proof that some of France has been permanently ingrained in North America. Read more about Quebec, Canada

Quebec, capital of the Canadian province of the same name, is so ‘French’ it is said that to visit Quebec is to experience France without crossing the Atlantic. French must be the predominant language on signs, retail or food service employees always greet customers in French, and there are even laws dictating whether parents can send their children to English or French school. The architecture, ambience and mostly French-speaking citizens are proof that some of France has been permanently ingrained in North America. Read more about Quebec, Canada

Gaspe is a town at the tip of the Gaspe Peninsula in eastern Quebec, Canada. This is where Jacques Cartier took possession of Nouvelle-France, now Canada, by planting a wooden cross with the King's coat of arms, and the sentence ‘Hail to the King of France’. The isolated promontory, known locally as La Gaspesie, has remnants of a colorful colonial past, which can be seen on a coastline that bulges into the gulf, overlooking rusting shipwrecks and migratory whales. Read more about Gaspe, Canada

Îles de la Madeleine or the Magdalen Islands form a small archipelago in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and are part of the Canadian province of Quebec. Formed from molten rock that escaped from middle earth, the islands are the visible peaks of a deep underwater ridge that connects wind-swept dunes and sandy beaches. Read more about Iles de la Madelaine, Canada

Louisbourg is located on the SE coast of Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Canada, where the very well-known Fortress of Louisbourg proudly stands. Its very scale gives us pause. It is no mere fort, this destination is a fortified town, alive with citizens, soldiers and sailors from the four corners of the world. Read more about Louisbourg, Canada

Halifax, the capital of Nova Scotia, the Gateway to Atlantic Canada, is a lively and colourful combination of urban and rural living at its best. It is situated on the world’s second largest harbour, and the beautifully restored waterfront buildings recall the city's centuries-old maritime heritage, which is also cleverly explained at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. Visit the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21, and the Halifax Citadel that explores the unique local heritage. Read more about Halifax, Canada

Perched on a peninsula jutting out into island-studded Casco Bay, Portland - a progressive, lively city - is the largest city in Maine, USA. The city seal depicts a phoenix rising from the ashes, which refers to the city’s recoveries from four devastating fires. It is home to a friendly and hardworking people and is ranked nationally as one of the ten safest and culturally fascinating cities of the US. Read more about Portland, Maine, USA

Perched on a peninsula jutting out into island-studded Casco Bay, Portland - a progressive, lively city - is the largest city in Maine, USA. The city seal depicts a phoenix rising from the ashes, which refers to the city’s recoveries from four devastating fires. It is home to a friendly and hardworking people and is ranked nationally as one of the ten safest and culturally fascinating cities of the US. Read more about Portland, Maine, USA

The 11 km long Cape Cod Canal, in Massachusetts USA, was built during the Great Depression and remains the widest (at 146m) man-made sea-level canal without locks in the world. It is home to the Cape Cod Canal Railroad bridge, a vertical lift bridge that carries railroad traffic across the Canal. Of additional interest are the two car bridges, and the best way to appreciate the beauty of all three is to take a boat tour that provides a fascinating ‘underbelly’ view of all three bridges. Read more about Cape Cod Canal, USA

New York is situated on the Atlantic coast of NE United States. With its world-class museums, big statues, even bigger buildings and being the most linguistically diverse city in the world, the Big Apple’s hyperactive rush keeps drawing more and more people to it. The City of New York is a densely packed mass of humanity and all this living on top of one another makes the New Yorker a special kind of person. Read more about New York, USA

New York is situated on the Atlantic coast of NE United States. With its world-class museums, big statues, even bigger buildings and being the most linguistically diverse city in the world, the Big Apple’s hyperactive rush keeps drawing more and more people to it. The City of New York is a densely packed mass of humanity and all this living on top of one another makes the New Yorker a special kind of person. Read more about New York, USA