For children, Quebec City's Chateau Frontenac is a fairy-tale castle with its green turrets perched high above the fortified walls of this UNESCO World Heritage site. For parents, the 618-room hotel is the premier address in this charming city. At the Chateau Frontenac, the city comes to you, with street performers appearing right outside the doors around the Samuel de Champlain statue. Tour buses come and go to see the view of the St. Lawrence Seaway from this height and to tour this grande dame, which first opened her doors in 1893.

But don't expect a dusty old museum piece. To celebrate the 400th anniversary of the arrival of Champlain in 1608, the Frontenac, now owned by Fairmont Resorts, refurbished all of her rooms, replacing mattresses and adding upscale accessories like Miller Harris soap and shampoos. After walking all day up and down the hills of the city, children will enjoy the large indoor pool, while mom and dad can soak up the bubbles in the nearby Jacuzzi. There's also an outdoor lounge area next to the pool to relax with a newspaper or book in hand.

Yet, the best part about the Chateau Frontenac is the location, high atop the city. The promenade behind the hotel leads to the Plains of Abraham and Canada's first urban national park, Battlefields Park. Or head down the Breakneck Stairs to the Lower Town and the many boutique shops that line Petit Champlain. With creperies, patisseries, boulangeries, and fromageries around every corner, this North American slice of France rewards travelers young and old with a smorgasbord of culinary treats they'll want to sample -- and then bring back home as souvenirs.

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