Travel Destinations Calling Your Name
Snap Shot
Montreal, Quebec
A stunning sunset shot across the water from Parc Jean-Drapeau in Montreal…
Author: Artsy Chow Roamer
Bringing you just a peek into destinations that should be on your bucket list. Not an in depth guide, just some luscious pics, tips and guides to highlight why I love this place and you might too!
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The second most populous municipality in Canada, Montreal lies in the beautiful French province of Quebec. Founded in 1642 as the ‘City of Mary”, it is named after Mount Royal, the triple peaked hill in the heart of the city.
With a four season continental climate and over four million population in the metropolitan area, French is the most common language spoken at home. It is an international city having hosted the ‘67 World’s Fair Exposition, the ‘76 Summer Olympics, the Canadian Grand Prix of Formula One and the yearly Montreal International Jazz Festival.
Boasting an endless list of possibilities for things to do, places to see and good stuff to eat, this charming city will steal your heart. Are you ready for a quick Snap Shot?
Go
An antique map of the city of Montreal, Quebec in Canada… Art by: Tina Lavoie
Montreal is Southwest in the province of Quebec in Canada where the St. Lawrence and Ottawa Rivers meet.
When
Montreal has four seasons with spring and fall being your best bet to visit
While it is great that Montreal has a four season climate, it does mean that spring and fall might be your best bet for visiting to get those moderate temperatures. Winters can get quite cold and icy while summers can top 90 degrees with a good amount of humidity-pack accordingly if visiting in these months.
Snap
Founded in 1984 by street performers, Guy Laliberte and Gilles Ste-Croix, Cirque du Soleil makes it’s home in Montreal.
Cirque du Soleil calls Montreal it’s home base in Canada… Courtesy: Cirque du Soleil
See
The Underground City (RESO) is a sprawling network of connected subterranean tunnels in Montreal
RESO, commonly referred to as The Underground City, is a network of connected subterranean tunnels running underneath the city and hooked up with the subway. Cooled in the summer and heated in the winter, this is the place you use to go from office towers to hotels, shopping, restaurants and more.
Don’t miss the indoor ice skating rink, Atrium Le 1000 and the Time Out Market, the space that encompasses the best food, drinks and culture that Montréal has to offer.
Day or night, head over to the Old Port so you can take a spin on La Grande Roue de Montreal which will give you a breathtaking panorama view of the city throughout the year. Plenty of spots to pop in for drinks, snacks or meals too!
Take a spin on the La Grande Roue de Montreal in the Old Port for fabulous views of the city
Take time to tour the Notre Dame Basilica. For a $10 ticket that goes to helping preserve this magnificent piece of architecture, you can have a truly luminous tour with time to pray or just sit in the quiet and contemplate the splendor.
The lovely interior of Notre Dame Basilica in the old city of Montreal…Photo: Wikipedia
You can buy a tour ticket with a guide or walk around by yourself to view all the fantastic graffiti street art murals located on Saint-Laurent Boulevard between Maisonneuve Boulevard and Saint-Viateur by artists both raw and recognized.
Originally built as the US Pavilion for the ‘67 Worlds Fair, the Biosphere is now a museum dedicated to the environment. Designed by Buckminster Fuller, they offer dozens of exhibitions and guided tours each day.
The Jacques Cartier Bridge is a steel truss cantilever bridge crossing the Saint Lawrence River from Montreal Island, Montreal, Quebec to the south shore at Longueuil, Quebec, Canada. Named after the explorer who declared Montreal for France, the lighting at night is spectacular.
Eat
An interior shot of Au Pied de Cochon where duck in a can is featured…
Au Pied de Cochon is consistently listed in the top five restaurants in Montreal. Under the steady stewardship of Chef Martin Picard, this bright modern restaurant has given upscale treatment to working class food. Best known for it’s foie gras poutine and duck in a can it is a must try for anyone visiting.
Lovely plates of upscale working class food at Au Pied de Cochon…
Maison Publique get’s a shout out from me for being more affordable and cozy chic with it’s gastro pub design. Check out the comfort food on the menu and you will begin to appreciate the direction that Derek Damann brings to this top ten restaurant.
For those wanting a taste of Little Italy, Nora Gray’s is everyone’s top pick. Ryan Gray and Emma Cardarelli bring the South to this intimate cozy bar and small restaurant. You can’t go wrong with any pick from the menu (top two photos above).
Last, but not least, Marconi makes my top five list with Chef Mehdi Brunet-Benkritly creating beautiful tasting menu’s and small plates in a place with a neighborhood feel (bottom photos above).
Stay
Hotel Nelligan has an excellent location in Old Montreal with two restaurants and cozy rooms…
Hotel Nelligan is my hands down favorite for a great place to stay. The location is fabulous in Old Montreal; walkable to shops, restaurants and bars. The rooms are cozy with exposed brick and stone details and fireplaces. It offers both an upscale restaurant and a more affordable Brasserie. You can always rent great Airbnb’s too but if you want to pamper yourself without paying a fortune-try this little jewel of a spot.
Guides
The most popular sport is ice hockey. The Montreal Canadiens is one of the original six teams of the National Hockey League. It has won the Stanley Cup a record 24 times. Their major rivals are the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Boston Bruins. Pick up a game at Bell Center where they play.
Montreal is composed of 19 different boroughs subdivided into neighborhoods. Many of these were independent cities until they were merged in 2002 in a reorganization plan. The borough with the most neighborhoods is Ville Marie which encompasses the downtown and Old Town areas as well as Chinatown, Gay Village and the Latin Quarter. All have their own charm and are very explorable by foot.
The Canadian and Quebec flags flying high in the wind…
Don’t miss the Montreal International Jazz Festival for 2020 starting on June 25th and running through July 4th. Great way to spend your American 4th of July holiday right? Enjoy this video highlighting the best of the best.
Great music
Smile! You just got your Snap Shot of Montreal, Quebec. When are you going?
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