A family weekend in Montreal is international travel lite. Your kids will cross an international border and spend a few days in a city where French is the predominant language, the money is different and Montreal's rich European roots are around every corner.
But English will be spoken virtually everywhere, the exchange rate is practically one-to-one and, if needed, you'll find a Starbucks or Burger King within reach. It is the perfect on-ramp to breaking in those sparkling new passports.
While there is so much for families to do in Montreal that it could take weeks, here's a blueprint for a perfect, albeit busy, three-day weekend.
Thursday Evening
Arrive Thursday in time to settle in to your hotel before dinner. There are many, many hotels in Montreal, but we suggest staying downtown, with easy access to just about everywhere. Three great options include: the recently-renovated Le Centre Sheraton, which offers a pretty indoor pool and excellent location; the Sofitel, that boasts a warm, homey feeling and connecting rooms that feel more condo than hotel, plus an in-room check-in service that allows the kids to explore their weekend-home while you take care of the paperwork; and the W Montreal, that delivers a contemporary feel in an ideal location.
Start off your weekend with dinner at St. Hubert Rotisserie. An extensive family-friendly menu offers something for everyone, from Asian-inspired entrees to ribs. But the don't miss is the poutine, a Montreal staple that is something along the lines of French fries topped with gravy and cheese curds, but trust me, it tastes better than it sounds. End your dinner with “pudding chômeur” -- the poor man's bread pudding that is so delicious, we asked for the recipe.
Friday
Friday is a day to explore the city and check out some cultural sites. Set out early and jump on the metro (an experience in itself) and take the green line towards Honore-Beaugrand to visit the Biodome, the Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium and the Montreal Botanical Garden. Don’t miss the recently opened Exalto, the first urban acrobatic park in Canada.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nqMOcHVmnY#t=32
Return downtown and spend the afternoon exploring the shops on Sainte-Catherine Street. Take a break from shopping to visit the Grevin Wax Museum -- the first to open outside of France -- where your kids will have the chance to be photographed with celebrities from Albert Einstein to Elton John. With several shopping centers and many, many stand-alone stores and boutiques, the afternoon will fly.
Montreal boasts more than 100 festivals a year, so there is likely to be one happening the weekend you visit. Click HERE for a lineup of this summer’s festivals, shows and events. Many festivals kick off on Friday night and evening can be a perfect time to check one out. From circus fun to fine art, jazz, light shows and tons more, there are festivals for every interest.
If the kids have had enough sightseeing by the end of the day, or the festival of choice is a strictly a daytime affair, Laser Quest on Sainte-Catherine Street provides a great opportunity to blow off some steam as you chase your kids, and a bunch of locals, around a maze.
Saturday
Weather permitting, Saturday is a day for outdoor fun and Montreal offers quite a lot to choose from.
Water enthusiasts can board a Rabaska -- a traditional-style canoe -- and head out to relive the lives of fur traders and explorers from the Musée de Lachine to the Fur Trade at Lachine National Historic Site. Or visit H2O Adventures to rent kayaks or electric boats that let you admire the city from the Lachine Canal. For slightly more dramatic fun on the canal, join the team at Saute Jet Boating to ride the rapids.
For land lubbers, Montreal offers dozens of parks to check out. Grab a picnic and head to Parc du Mont-Royal atop “the mountain” from which Montreal got its name. This 470-acre park offers incredible views of the city and the perfect backdrop for a day of exploring.
If you missed the festival du jour on Friday, find your way Saturday and, on the off chance that there’s no festival to be found, an afternoon at Six Flags La Ronde is sure to please the kids.
Weather not cooperating for outdoor adventures? No problem! Try indoor ice skating at the 1000 De La Gauchetiere office tower -- yup, it’s a skating rink in an office building lobby -- or the IMAX theater by the Old Port.
Saturday evening, head to Old Montreal where the city’s rich history is evident in the cobblestone streets and old architecture. Filled with boutique hotels and small restaurants, the fun here is in exploring and choosing the restaurant that calls to you. Close out your evening with the And Then There Was Light multimedia show at the Notre-Dame Basilica.
Sunday
Sunday morning requires a large bag of Montreal-style bagels from La Maison du Bagel along Rue St. Viateur to power your journey home. As a die-hard New Yorker, I confess I was skeptical of the whole Montreal bagel thing. And it is different than a New York bagel. Baked in a wood-fired oven, it was smaller and denser than I was accustomed to… my husband described it as something like a bagel meets a pretzel. They were delicious -- our drive home required a dozen.
The Takeaway
We loved our Montreal weekend and so did our dear friend Kristen, mom of two, ages four and six. “It’s a wonderland for kids with all of the festivals and I loved to explore the French culture. My daughter came home and declared that she wants to take French.” Voila, we say.
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The author of this article and her family were guests of Tourisme Montreal for a two-night stay. Accommodations, certain meals and activities were complimentary for the purpose of facilitating the preparation of this article.
