We just had a great family trip to Montreal, and today I’m sharing our favourite things to do in this beautiful city!
It was quite a hike (there are a LOT of stairs) but it was worth it to look out from the top. We even continued to the famous cross.
My girls have never done a huge amusement park and they had a blast here. We did a couple of rollercoasters together (Le Monstre is pictured), and they enjoyed several smaller rides themselves. Splash was a favourite! I even decreed that we could have whatever we wanted for lunch – above you can see me with my Triple Trip Beavertail. (FYI – our tickets were 30% off through Residence Inn Marriott Downtown which was a great savings!)
Sure, it’s cheesy – but when your 10-year-old asks for photos with at least 30 of the figures (from Katy Perry, Justin Bieber and Lady Gaga to President Obama, Prime Minister Trudeau, Gandhi and St. Kateri Tekakwitha) you know you’ve picked a good spot! They also tried a simulator to see what their own wax figures would look like! Some celebrity figures are better than others, but I thought the Nicolas Cage was particularly lifelike…and I never would have thought I’d get the chance to pose with the main character from my favourite book of all time! (Le Petit Prince, of course!)
This was the girls’ first time ever (to be honest, besides my week in London I don’t think I’ve ever been on the subway before either) and it’s a great way to travel! We took it from the hotel to La Ronde, and even with one train transfer and one bus to take us to our final destination, it was still a smooth trip! Way better than navigating the city and worrying about parking.
Explore
One day my parents came upon the Urban Forest pop-up park with an outdoor piano in front of the McCord Museum and brought us back later so the girls could try it out!
Shop
There are countless options, but I have to get a plug in for Simons, my favourite store in Montreal. I came away with a new skirt, a sweater (a pretty good RepliKate if you ask me) and four staple long-sleeved t-shirts for around a hundred bucks. I’ll share the fashions soon!
Visit Old Montreal
The oldest area in the city, it has beautiful cobblestone streets, lots of tourist attractions (bonjour, Notre Dame!) and even more eateries. A must-see for history lovers!
The girls absolutely loved this place – we had to drag them away so we could keep on schedule! It’s completely hands-on, with a current DreamWorks Animation exhibit, as well as a fascinating Human exhibit with dozens of learning activities related to the human body, plus an IMAX theatre. There’s something for both younger and older kids…and the young at heart!
The Montreal Observation Wheel*
Can you spot Grandpa and Grandma?
They advertise a breathtaking view and they aren’t kidding! The top is 60 metres high, and you have an incredible vantage point out towards the water, as well as into the city. There’s also a bar, bistro and coffee shop right on site.
Mom and I went with the girls to this national historic and archaeological site, and we all found the history fascinating – the reception pavillion actually sits on top of Montreal’s first Catholic cemetery, with remains that you can view. It is recommended that you start your tour with a really interesting 18 minute multimedia presentation that takes you on a journey through time in Montreal, from the ice age to the present. The permanent exhibitions include Pirates or Privateers, which the girls really loved exploring, and a current temporary exhibit that fascinated me was Queens of Egypt, which features over 350 prestigious objects, including monumental statues, frescos, sarcophagi, a mummy, funerary objects, and jewellery related to such legendary queens as Nefertari, Nefertiti, and Hatshepsut.
Surprise Events
Be on the lookout as you’re out and about. If we hadn’t noticed a sign in a door we never would have known about the free Barbie EXPO taking place just a couple of blocks from our hotel. The girls loved it…okay fine, I did too! (Though if I had known I would be posing in a Barbie box I would have dressed differently and done my hair!)
Some faves (clockwise): Tim & Faith, John Deere, William & Kate, Irish Barbies, Canadian Barbies (RCMP and Wintertime in Montreal) and Hudson’s Bay Company
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Thanks to all of my readers and social media friends and followers who made recommendations for our trip. I wish there had been enough time to do everything that was suggested!
And just a little P.S.: If you’re looking for accommodations, I highly recommend you stay at the Residence Inn Montreal Downtown.
Disclosure: We were provided with free admission to some attractions (marked with *) for review purposes. Opinions are, as always, my own.