Montreal Vacation

“Bonjour Montréal”

Montréal . . . a touch of Paris right next door. The largest French-speaking city outside Paris, Montréal blends the flavors of the old world with those of a modern, vibrant city. Step into the past in Old Montréal, the restored historical district, and experience the architecture and ambiance of the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. Nestled on an island surrounded by two waterways (the St. Lawrence and Ottawa rivers) and framed by Mount Royal, nature generously lavished Montréal with a breathtaking setting, one that inspires poets, writers and artists. The only question is whether you have the energy on your vacation to keep up with all that Montréal has to offer! Montrealers are serious about having fun, and their zest for life reaches new heights with each season. Imagine choosing from over 4,900 eateries featuring cuisines from nearly 80 countries.

Like a glass of champagne, Montréal sparkles with entertainment to suit all ages! With 300 free outdoor concerts and 100 free indoor events, contact Tourisme Québec for a calendar of festivals, events, and competitions. If you want to indulge your appetite for culture, Montréal offers opera, orchestras, ballet, theater, 75 art galleries, and over 30 art and historical museums.

Visiting Old Montréal is a rendezvous with history reaching back 350 years. As Montrealers say, “un histoire d’amour” (a history of love)! Forget the 21st century, feel the thrill of being part of another era, listen to horses’ hooves and their carriages’ calèche wheels clanging along the cobblestone streets, take a romantic horse and buggy ride—it is a feast for your senses! Montréal’s uniqueness is evidenced in many ways, reflected in the underground city, Biodôme, Olympic Stadium and landmarks. Montréal is exciting above and below street level! The underground city is formed by an integrated system of 20 miles of tunnels joining 1,700 boutiques, restaurants, seven hotels, theaters, exhibition halls, department stores, movies, concert halls, 1,615 apartments, thousands of offices, metro stations and parking garages. One of the connecting buildings rises 45 stories high! The Biodôme is a tribute to nature, a museum of the environment. Divided into four different ecosystems, the Biodôme takes you from a hot, humid tropical rainforest to a Laurentian forest, the St. Lawrence River marine environment and the frozen arctic world. Built as part of the 1976 XXI Olympiad summer games complex, the Olympic Stadium houses the Montréal Expos’ baseball games, rock concerts and many events. A tower rises over the stadium like a magnificent piece of sculptured modern art. Ride the cable car to the top of the world’s highest inclined tower for breathtaking views of the city. Stadium tours are available.

With nature all around you, take advantage of the plethora of sports and outdoor activities. White water rafting along the St. Lawrence River suits your adventurous spirit—tame for families, or a wilder jet boat ride through the Lachine Rapids for the more daring. Choose a romantic Paris-style glass-roofed river boat or one of many larger excursion cruises. There is hunting, fishing, bird watching, hiking, swimming, skiing, snowmobiling, ice fishing, snowshoe trekking and more. Learning is fun for the whole family at the iSci Centre. Opened in the summer of 2000, iSci focuses on science and technology featuring three interactive exhibition halls, films, quizzes, computers, forums and its special IMMERSION interactive cinema “Vital Space.”

Enjoy the beauty of flowers and nature at the Botanical Gardens—second largest in the world. Stroll down the paths to see displays of flora from around the world, with sections devoted to Chinese and Japanese gardens and an Insectarium.

Surrounded by park land and overlooking the St. Lawrence River, the Casino de Montréal offers gaming, slot machines, bars, four restaurants and a boutique.

You will find accommodations for all budgets, ranging from international resorts, hotels, bed & breakfast inns, apartments, cottages, houses, private residences, youth hostels (dormitory or private), educational institutions (students) to campgrounds.

One landmark resort, the Ritz-Carlton Montréal, has hosted presidents, royalty, politicians and celebrities since its opening in 1912 (Prince Aga Kahn IV, Robert De Niro, Bill Cosby, Neil Diamond, Elizabeth Taylor, Jim Carrey, Harry Belafonte, Luciano Pavarotti, Mike Wallace, General Charles De Gaulle and hundreds more). The gloved doormen, elegant marbled halls, superb dining, old-world charm, opulent ballrooms, landscaped gardens and an afternoon high tea service ceremony (3:30–5:00 p.m.) are just a few reasons for its success.

Just 37 miles from the United States border, within the province of Québec and Canada’s second largest city, Montréal has something for everyone! Discover the slice of Montréal that suits you! For information call Tourisme Québec, 1-800-363-7777

Boston  |  San Francisco  |  Seattle  |  Orlando  |  Miami  |  Spain  |  Site Map

Copyright 2007, 1st-Vacation