Montreal - Where to Play

There was tons to do in Montreal! There were a couple of things we made sure to see/do, but we also wanted to make sure we had some time to casually walk around the city. Somehow we managed to do everything we sought out, plus some!

Biodome, Insectarium & Botanical Gardens:

Our first stop as soon as we got into Montreal was the Biodome. Originally constructed for the olympics in '76, the Biodome allows visitors to walk through replicas of four ecosystems found in the Americas. Basically, it was a zoo that centered around environment and threw in some animals here and there. It was actually really cool! We walked through the the tropical forest, the laurentian (American) forest, the gulf of Saint Lawrence, and the arctic. The tropical forest and the gulf were definitely my favorites. The arctic was a bit disappointing.

We had purchased a 3-stop pass that included the Biodome, the Insectarium and the Botanical Gardens. I didn't take any photos in the Insectarium but it was very very cool. I had a few squeamish moments (there are lots of giant, live insects) but was overall happy we took the risk to go.

The botanical gardens were just gorgeous. It was very peaceful to just walk around the area and I especially enjoyed the lily garden. There was also a Japanese garden and large area that I loved  -- it was very photogenic!

Just for Laughs Festival:

Last that night, after dinner we decided to just walk around the city and see what we stumbled upon. I heard that there are TONS of festivals in Montreal and was sad to see that we had just missed the big jazz fest. I can't believe I didn't come across this in my research but we walked straight into the Just For Laughs Festival!

The festival is the largest in the world and was celebrating its 30th anniversary this year! The area looked amazing -- the streets were lined with lights and decorations. There were stages everywhere playing so many different types of music. I think there were a few comedic performances but unfortunately everything was in French so we couldn't understand :( It was such a cool environment though, so much different than anything I'd expect in Boston/NY/the Northeast. The crowd was so relaxed, you could drink on the streets but no one was very drunk, and everyone was jsut so nice and welcoming. I love Montreal!

Old Montreal:

On Sunday before we left we decided to take a walk over to Old Montreal. The are is the oldest part of Montreal, dating back to New France. With some of its buildings dating back to the 17th Century it's a huge tourist attraction. We started at the gorgeous Notre Dame de Bons Secours Chapel. It was just beautiful, inside and out.

Then we took a walk around the square. The French architecture and cobblestone streets keep the city looking just like it did centuries ago -- I absolutely loved it and unfortunately, the few photos I took don't do it justice. Shops, restaurants and art lined the narrow streets and there were tons of performers making music or painting.

Part of our route took us to Old Port where we walked along the water for a bit.

I really wish we had more time in Montreal. The city is so beautiful, unique and full of culture. The people we encountered were beyond friendly and welcoming -- we even had one guy thank us for visiting! You definitely don't find that in Boston. I really hope we go back soon!

Related Posts:
Montreal - Where to Stay
Montreal - Where to Eat