Quebec City

One of North America's oldest cities, Quebec City wears its heritage with pride; its skyline dominated by the splendid Château Frontenac, a renaissance castle pulled from the pages a fairytale and dropped in the heart of this riverside, provincial capital. The UNESCO listed Old Town is where the city first took root in 1608 and is the only surviving fortified, North American city outside of Mexico. The glorious Citadel is the crown of Quebec City and the highlight of the historic ramparts, watching over the Old Town's maze of cobblestone streets, churches and 17th-century homes from its lofty perch. A wealth of restaurants, shopping and nightlife can be found throughout, alongside cultural institutions like the National Museum of Fine Arts of Quebec and the Museum of Civilization. The Plains of Abraham marks the site of the momentous battle of 1759 between the British and French, a pivotal event in the nation's history that would go on to shape its future. Today, this is preserved as a national park and is a popular recreational outpost that is just as revered for its spellbinding scenery. As for festivals, there's plenty of those throughout the year, but the high point is the annual Winter Festival followed closely by summertime celebrations and the startling colors of the fall foliage. Years since its foundation at the hands of Samuel de Champlain, Quebec City retains a firm grip on its French heritage, its streets rife with old-world European charm.