I Crashed The Web

When planning a trip with the kids, our family tends to prefer cities that are easy to explore by foot and have good public transit, so we don’t have to drive everywhere (if possible). This summer’s recent visit to Montréal checked off all those boxes! I love Montréal. I hadn’t been there since B and I visited during the winter before kids, and before that, I only had a few visits there in high school and college, so we were due for a return visit with kids.

Montréal has beautiful architecture, great food, lots of family-friendly attractions, and is a city with European charm. I was a little worried before we got there, because the weather looked like rain most days, but we lucked out – for the most part, the weather held out, and we were able to take advantage of indoor activities on the times it did rain. Whether we were exploring Old Montréal, climbing Mont Royal, visiting the Biodome, or eating maple-flavored treats, there was always something to do.

Here are some of the highlights from our trip:

Staying in Old Montréal

We stayed in Old Montréal and absolutely loved it. The historic buildings, cobblestone streets, and waterfront views make it so charming, and it really does feel almost like a European getaway. (Especially since everyone speaks French!)

One thing I love about traveling with kids is staying somewhere that allows us to explore on foot, and Old Montréal was perfect for that. We spent a lot of time simply wandering through the streets, popping into shops, grabbing snacks, etc. We stayed near the Notre Dame basilica, which comes alive at night with lights and even an epic light show (that we missed, but will need to check out next time).

If you visit during the summer, many of the streets are closed to cars and become pedestrian-only, making it even easier for families to explore. It’s great to be able to walk along the cobblestone streets, or even let the kids run ahead, without having to worry about traffic!

Climbing Mont Royal

One of our first adventures was heading up Mont Royal for views of the city.

The climb is manageable for kids (our family walked from Old Montréal to Mont Royal and up the hill and back!) and rewards you with gorgeous views overlooking Montréal. It was a great way to get outside and burn some energy before spending the rest of the day exploring. I will note that my kids did complain – it was hot and they were tired, thirsty, etc. But I’m glad we did it and would definitely do it again! Bonus- along the way we walked through McGill’s campus, adding another siteseeing stop to our trip.

Visiting the Montréal Biodome

If your family loves animals, this should be at the top of your list.

The Biodome ended up being one of our favorite attractions of the entire trip. Instead of traditional zoo exhibits, youwalk through several recreated ecosystems, each filled with animals and plants that would naturally live there.

The capybaras completely stole my heart, and I may have been just as excited to see the puffins as the kids were. GM walked around like a puffin for a while after that 🙂

Of all the attractions we visited, this was probably the one that generated the most excitement before, during, and after our visit.

Tip – get tickets in advance! We took the train there from our hotel, and as soon as I knew what time we were going to get there, I reserved our timed tickets so when we got there we were able to just walk right in, vs. wait in line and then have to wait for the next time slot to open up.

Seeing Olympic Park

The Biodome is located within Montréal’s Olympic Park, making it easy to combine the two into one day.

Even kids who don’t know much about the Olympics can appreciate the size of the stadium and all the flags. It was fun to see a piece of Olympic history up close and explore the surrounding grounds. There was a playground-type of area where the kids could also burn some energy while we explored the area.

Playing at the Montréal Science Centre

Located in the Old Port, the Montréal Science Centre was another big hit. The hands-on exhibits kept all of our kids entertained, and there was plenty to explore for a range of ages. I’m always grateful when museums encourage kids to touch, build, experiment, and play instead of simply reading display signs.. The first room was an exhibit about the native people of Quebec, and it had a scavenger hunt that my kids could have spent hours in!

If you happen to get a rainy day during your trip, this is an excellent option.

Walking/Running Around the Old Port

Besides the closed off streets of Old Town, the Old Port ended up being one of the areas where I spent the most time.

This waterfront district is home to several family-friendly attractions, including the Montréal Science Centre and La Grande Roue de Montréal. We enjoyed walking along the river, trying new food (poutine!) from the many food vendors, and taking in the views. I ended up going for runs most mornings, and ran along the waterfront there too.

Riding La Grande Roue de Montréal

Speaking of the Old Port, we couldn’t pass up the chance to ride La Grande Roue de Montréal, the largest Ferris wheel in Canada.

The views from the top were incredible, giving us a bird’s-eye view of Old Montréal, the St. Lawrence River, and the surrounding city.

The enclosed gondolas made it comfortable for families, and the ride quickly became one of the kids’ favorite experiences. We had the whole gondola to ourselves, giving us a private adventure.

Place Jacques-Cartier and Summer Nights in Old Montréal

One of our favorite evening activities was wandering through Place Jacques-Cartier and the surrounding pedestrian-only streets.

Yes, it’s touristy. But it was perfect for our family! We enjoyed all our dinners in the area, as well as ice cream nearly every night.

During the summer, the square comes alive at night with musicians, street performers, artists, and crowds enjoying the atmosphere. One evening we grabbed ice cream and spent time watching a violinist perform while people gathered around to listen. The kids were captivated.

There’s something special about strolling through a bustling square on a warm summer evening with music playing and ice cream in hand. It ended up being one of those simple vacation moments I’ll remember just as much as the bigger attractions.

Pool Time

No matter how many attractions we visit, or where we go, our kids somehow always rank the hotel pool among the highlights of the trip.

This particular hotel featured a glass-bottom pool with views to the entranceway of the hotel, which made daily swim breaks even more exciting. We built pool time into every morning after breakfast, usually heading out after lunch for our adventures. The pool also featured a hot tub, a cold plunge, AND a sauna. B and FW liked the cold pool – I tried it one day but preferred the hot tub and sauna.

Bonus Stop: Boldt Castle

On our drive home, we made one final stop at Boldt Castle in the Thousand Islands region.

While it’s not technically part of Montréal, it was a fun addition to the trip that it’s worth mentioning. You take a boat ride to the castle and it feels like something out of a storybook. After getting off the boat, you can explore the beautiful castle grounds, the power house, and the old castle itself, where the rooms are decorated as they would’ve been when the castle was built. The castle is actually still undergoing renovation, so the top floors were under construction, which was also really cool – we were able to see how the rooms looked when the castle was first discovered/bought, vs. done up with their decor! It was a memorable way to end our vacation before heading home.

Questions for you:

• Do you prefer staying in cities or somewhere else when on vacation?
• Have you ever been to Montréal?