Travel-savvy attendees to the ICA conference in Montreal this month can visit another of Canada's great and historic cities without even leaving the province of Quebec. Quebec City, about 150 miles northeast of Montreal, is the capital of the province of the same name, one of the oldest cities in North America, and a renowned center for tourism. Quebec City is a three-mile journey by car and a very quick flight from Montreal, making it an exciting attraction for those who wish to continue exploring after the conference has concluded.

Quebec City celebrates its 400th birthday this summer: it was founded on July 3, 1608 by the great navigator Samuel de Champlain, who built a fortification at the point of the Cap Diamant peninsula as an outpost for missionaries and fur traders. ("Quebec" is an Iroquois word meaning "The river narrows here.") Over the next 150 years, the city continued building ramparts and reinforcements for the fortification walls, and the British continued doing so after capturing the city in 1759. These walls, in fact, still exist today and are the only remaining fortified city walls in North America; the gates, bastions, and cannons remain intact.

As in Montreal, Quebec City uses both of Canada's official languages, French and English. However, while Montreal is really a bilingual city, French is vastly dominant in Quebec City-English speakers, in fact, make up about 1.5 percent of the metropolitan area.

Tourism is a major industry of Quebec City-as evidenced by the mammoth Chateau Frontenac hotel that dominates the city's skyline. The 4-star, 618-room hotel opened in 1893, and was the site of the 1943 Quebec Conference at which Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill planned the invasion of France during World War II. Today it is a symbol of the city, and offers guided tours as well as accommodations to Quebec City visitors.

A major attraction of city is the area known as Old Quebec-the section still enclosed by the old fortification walls. In fact, much of the tourist appeal of this section lies in the fortification itself, which includes three Martello towers and the large Citadelle of Quebec military installation. Within the walls, however, can be found an enclave reminiscent of old Europe: stone buildings, winding cobblestone streets, and rows of open-air shops and restaurants. Among the popular sites are the Notre-Dame de Quebec Cathedral, the Old Quebec City Hall, and the historic houses and buildings along the river in Lower Town. To the west of the fortifications are the Plains of Abraham battlefield and Parliament Hill, where the National Assembly (the legislature of Quebec) meets in the city's famous Parliament Building.

Quebec City is home to a plethora of museums. Among them, the Musee National des Beaux-Arts du Quebec, a repository for the art and artists of the province of Quebec; the Musee de la Civilisation, which archives and exhibits artifacts from Canada's cultural history; and the Royal 22nd Regiment Museum, which chronicles the history of the Citadelle of Quebec, are among the best and most popular.

There are also two famous sites outside of, but very close to, the city. Just northeast is Montmorency Falls, a giant waterfall whose peak is nearly 100 feet higher than Ontario's Niagara Falls. The Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupre, 19 miles east of Quebec City on the St. Lawrence River, is an important Catholic sanctuary built in 1876 and the recipient of half a million Catholic pilgrimages per year.

Finally, Quebec City is particularly known for its festivals, which run throughout the year. The most beloved and best-attended are the Winter Carnival, the Quebec City Summer Festival, and Saint Jean-Baptiste Day. None of these will coincide with the ICA Conference, unfortunately, but another favorite event will: the Carrefour International de Theater de Quebec, a program of diverse national and international contemporary theater. This year the festival takes place May14 and 31, giving you plenty of time to catch at least one stage production.

Quebec City is far from the metropolis that conference attendees will find in Montreal. However, if you're looking for a reprise from the hustle and bustle, seeking a more picturesque atmosphere, an excursion up to Quebec might be the best kind of postconference chillout.