Bonjour tout le monde.

I am just planning a trip to Montreal for the late summer - completely alone, no kid, no hubby. If there is anyone out there who knows Montreal, can you recommend a nice inexpensive place to stay, preferrably near some great shopping

Also, any must see/must do's? I will probably be there about 4-5 days.

By Marcia on Wednesday, June 22, 2005 - 10:51 pm:

That's funny, I'm just researching the same thing. I'm going with my mom and kids at the end of July.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g155032-Activities-Montreal_Quebec.html

By Marcia on Wednesday, June 22, 2005 - 10:56 pm:

Vieux Montreal

http://www.vieux.montreal.qc.ca/infos/eng/shoppinga.htm

By Marcia on Wednesday, June 22, 2005 - 11:06 pm:

Vieux Quebec

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=fr&u=http://www.vieux-quebec.com/&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dvieux%2Bquebec%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26rls%3DGGLD,GGLD:2005-17,GGLD:en


These 2 "old" cities are beautiful! I think you could just wander around checking them out for days!

By Heaventree on Thursday, June 23, 2005 - 11:21 am:

I lived in Montreal for about 10 years. But have now been in TO for 10 so I'm going on memory here. I'm sure not what you like to do? Here are some suggestions:

Montreal Jazz Fest ~ incredible
Comedy Fest ~ not bad
Fireworks display ~ ok
Check on line for dates and times.

Shopping Tourist/trendy stuff St. Denis and St. Laurent streets. Great food as well and some pubs.

China Town - not as good as Vancouver, located near St. Laurent st.

Old Montreal, give yourself a couple of hours or at least 1/2 a day, the old port is fun to walk around, can rent bikes or roller blade. Imax theatre located there. Lost of people very touristy. If you are in the old Montreal of course you have to go into Notre Dame Cathedral. If you are Catholic go check out the St. Joseph's Oratory it's near the Mountain.

Architecture in Montreal is incredible, don't forget to look up on occasion.

Downtown Montreal - St. Catharine St. 3 underground shopping malls that are all connected great if it's raining or really hot.

The Mountain, just a big park with great views of the city, if you are into running a good place to go for a run. Sunday afternoons at the base of the mountain they hold TamTam, an impromptu drum fest, just be fore warned it's a bit of a smoke fest as well, if you catch my drift.

Atwater Market ~ out door food market with great ambiance. Sells, cheese, fresh bread, meats, fresh flowers, just a nice place to walk around and have lunch, a bit off the beaten path though, not much else around, good for locals.

Westmount, good place to go shopping if you have lots of money.

Botanical Gardens, nothing compared to BC. The insectatarium is located in the gardens, great for kids or people who are into bugs.

Bio-dome near the Bot. Gardens. An indoor zoo kind of sort of. 4 Eco systems with animals. I love it, but I like that kind of stuff again, good for kids.

We are going next month mid-July, so if I think of anything else or see something while I'm there I'll post some more info.

Just BTW people from Montreal refer to themselves as Montrealers in English anyway . I think in French it's Les Montrealais. Or Quebecers which is pronounced Kaybecers.

Salut/Bonjour! Enjoy.

By Heaventree on Thursday, June 23, 2005 - 11:29 am:

Marcia,

There is an amusement park for kids with a water park located there as well. It's called La Rhonde, give yourself the whole day.

There is also an astronaught place, however, I think it's located in Laval, in which case you would need a car. I can't remember what it is called. It's like a training centre, again good for kids.

Not sure on what else to do with kids, I'll keep thinking.

By Marcia on Thursday, June 23, 2005 - 01:20 pm:

Thanks Heaven. We live 20 mins from Wonderland, so we're going to skip La Ronde. My mom wouldn't be thrilled with it, either.
Thanks for the advice on the gardens. My mom and I have been to Bouchart (sp) Gardens, so I guess we'll skip this one.
My friend lives in Joliette, so I'm sure she can point us to some fun stuff to do.
I think we'll check out that market. That kind of thing keeps us all happy. Also the mountain, because we all love to walk, and the kids could get rid of some energy after we make them shop. :o)

By Frasersmama on Thursday, June 23, 2005 - 06:06 pm:

Wow, thanks everyone. I have a bit of reading to do