Quebec with a 12 yo in late winter
 

I'm looking ahead to next spring break and considering a ~4 day trip to Quebec with my then-to-be 12 yo. Any suggestions on things to do/where to eat? I know restaurants especially could change, but just trying to get ideas here. This is the first time we will be on a traditional school calendar (vs year-round) and need to travel when everyone else does. I want to avoid the traditional "spring-break" destinations.

What about Chicago?

Trying to keep the budget in hand and will be flying from CMH.

Do you mean Quebec as in the province or Quebec as in Quebec City or a combination of both (eg Montreal and then up to Quebec City by train/bus/car)? Even if you throw YUL in the mix and not just YQB, the plane tickets themselves and the travel will be more expensive/difficult from CMH - YUL/YQB compared to Chicago (ORD/MDW), FWIW. With Chicago, you could even save the money and drive if you find that you will need a car once in Chicago.

Having said that, I understand the appeal of going out of the country but the travel costs should be considered.

As for things to do, we also have a twelve year old and when we go to cities, the things to do usually centres around specific attractions or what they're into. Right now our kid is really into vintage clothing and vinyl records, so when we go somewhere, we look for cool neighbourhoods that offer those things. Besides that, they are good with going with the flow and enjoying the same parks, museums and restaurants that we enjoy.

Quebec City.

Old Quebec (City) has tons of history sights like the Citadelle & Plains of Abraham but the Old Town is interesting to walk with many streets closed to traffic. I had read about a new way to experience the history through VR goggles called Immersion Québec younger travelers may find cool. And there also an aquarium a few miles south along St. Lawrence from the Citadelle.

A question best asked in the FT Midwest forum rather than the Canada forum.

Quebec City is an interesting place from my perspective but I don't know that it's a slam dunk for 12 year olds, especially if they don't have a good working knowledge of French. Not to say that it's a bad choice as I'm sure some 12 year olds would love Quebec City, but I think Montreal might be a better option being a bigger city, more bilingual (and therefore accessible to English speakers) and more options all around.

And I love Chicago, personally with my kids (8 and 10 but experienced big city travellers, our last 3 trips were to London, NYC and LA), I'd probably rank the destinations I've mentioned as 1. Chicago, 2. Montreal, 3. Quebec. My 10 year old is a junior hockey freak and Quebec is a great junior hockey town, so even though it's third ranked I know at least one of my kids would be going nuts over a trip there, haha.

I agree with heraclitus. I view Quebec City as a great romantic couples destination. I think a 12 year old will be quickly bored. Chicago has infinitely more things to do for a pre teen -- museums, boat tour, sporting events, skyscrapers.

I think we've decided to wait for next years PWHL schedule and pick a game to go to and enjoy that city. So that means either Montreal, Boston, Minneapolis, Ottawa, or Toronto. We don't want to do NYC since we've tons of times

The exchange rate bonus USD ----> CAD traveling to YYZ, TUL or YOW a factor?