Hello Darlings,Near or far, a big part of enjoying a healthy and happy life is making time for the occasional weekend getaway! Whether it's a spa day, a road trip, or a beach getaway doesn't so much matter. The key is treating yourself once in a while, and last weekend was my own much needed winter getaway in beautiful and historic Quebec City.

One of the prettiest cities that I've visited, Quebec City is also one of the oldest in North America. First settled almost 500 years ago by French explorers, Quebec City is a charming and romantic destination to discover. The city has a very old European look with an abundance of stone buildings, and is perfect if you enjoy walking dates and discovery magnificent views.

Not one to sacrifice my creature comforts, I stayed at the boutique Germain Dominion hotel located in the old part of the city close to the water. This was my second time staying at a Germain hotel (which is a boutique chain with hotels only in Canada) and I highly recommend the Germain Dominion if ever you decide to visit Quebec City. While the 8 story building turned 100 years old in 2012, the hotel was recently renovated and is modern and luxurious.

Loved the cozy fireplace in the Germain lobby, with a real wood fire blazing day and night. Also really enjoyed the communal continental breakfast served in the lobby, since it encourages interacting with the other guests! And since Quebec City is a tourist destination and the Germain is an upscale hotel, there were certainly a lot of interesting characters that I met during my 2 day visit :)

So many picturesque streets to explore, and an abundance of french restaurants to try. My favorite during my 2 day trip was the quaint little SSS restaurant in the lower Quebec City neighborhood just around the corner from the Germain. Food was amazing and so was the atmosphere, with the cold outside fireplaces were a theme for this girl :)

In the coming days, I will post part 2 of my Quebec City trip with more about my excursions about the city, especially at the famous winter Carnaval event.

With Love...

Marta