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Message |
    
Kevin LaPierre
Citizen
Username: Lapnlu
Post Number: 26
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 14, 2005 - 1:50 pm: |     |
My wife & I are thinking about doing an end of summer trip to Montreal & Quebec. Any reccomendations on places to stay, things to see etc..? |
Frodo Lives
Citizen
Username: Mfpark
Post Number: 1712
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 14, 2005 - 3:17 pm: | |
Kevin: Do a search on this topic (or perhaps it was just on Quebec City)--there was some great stuff, especially on QC, in a previous thread.
If you are in Montreal, see if they are having the topiary sculpture exhibit this year in the riverfront park near the Old City. It is marvelous. Rollerblading along the riverfront is also fun, if you are so inclined. If you are there during the Jazz Festival that is a blast also--especially the outdoors venues.
Go to St. Laurent Bagels and try some--unlike any bagel you have had in your life. And try some good smoked meat--it ain't corned beef, believe me.
Hang out in the Old City, but do not eat in tourist restaurants near Place Jaques Cartier--too expensive. Do take a carriage ride through the old city.
Walk up Mont Royale and enjoy the view, especially as the sun sets. It is beautiful.
But Montreal, while it feels like a modern European city, is not as much tourist fun as Quebec City. Others on MOL can give you much more info on QC.
Other tips: If you are driving up on I-87, try to change your money at the information hut a little north of the border--I found them to have the cheapest rates. And charge as much as you can since you get even better exchange rates that way. Keep your receipts because you can get rebates on taxes for certain purchases. You can get a mail-in rebate form at the border, or in most hotels. |
MEC
Citizen
Username: Mec
Post Number: 130
Registered: 4-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 14, 2005 - 6:28 pm: | |
Had a wonderful meal here!
http://www.gibbys.com/ |
TomD
Citizen
Username: Tomd
Post Number: 23
Registered: 5-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 15, 2005 - 9:02 am: | |
Old Quebec City was a lot of fun when we went a number of years ago. We stayed in two different B&B's (I don't remember the names) one inside the city walls and one just outside.
Château Frontenac is beautiful are the views around the city in general.
Enjoy a caribou or two (the local drink, I have no idea what's in it). They're not something you'll ever drink anywhere else.
http://www.quebecregion.com/e/
We had a great time having a small picnic in the park overlooking the river. |
LilLB
Citizen
Username: Lillb
Post Number: 699
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 15, 2005 - 9:22 am: | |
Here's a link to a previous thread on this topic.
/discus/messages/62746/63890.html |
Kevin LaPierre
Citizen
Username: Lapnlu
Post Number: 27
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 15, 2005 - 3:37 pm: | |
Thanks for the tips & the links everyone! |
cmontyburns
Citizen
Username: Cmontyburns
Post Number: 934
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 15, 2005 - 4:43 pm: | |
and load up on poutines.... mmmm.... |
Cato Nova
Citizen
Username: Cato_nova
Post Number: 719
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 15, 2005 - 5:00 pm: | |
http://vacations.travelzoo.com/north-american-vacations/193396 |
Frodo Lives
Citizen
Username: Mfpark
Post Number: 1725
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, June 16, 2005 - 7:50 am: | |
Ahhh, Poutine! The surest way to happy cardiac arrest. Die with a smile on your face. |
Ukealalio
Citizen
Username: Ukealalio
Post Number: 2252
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, June 16, 2005 - 10:25 am: | |
If anyone has a serious hankering for this Poutine stuff, they serve it at Pommes Frites which is on 2nd Ave between St. Marks and 7th. It doesn't look appealing to me, French Fries with Frite sauce is artery blocking enough. |
Frodo Lives
Citizen
Username: Mfpark
Post Number: 1731
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, June 16, 2005 - 10:45 am: | |
Poutine
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Poutine (pronounced, roughly, poo-tin, or peuh-tsin; exact Quebecer pronunciation is a popular junk food snack similar to American disco fries. It is a mixture of french fries with fresh cheese curds, covered with hot gravy. The curds' freshness is most important as it makes them soft in the warm fries, without completely melting. When the curds are really fresh they will often squeak between the teeth. Poutine with melted cheese is not regarded as 'genuine poutine', nor is poutine made with shredded cheese or cheese slices.
It originated in rural Quebec, Canada in the late 1950s and is now popular all over the country, especially in New Brunswick. Several communities claim to be the origin of poutine, including Drummondville, Quebec and Victoriaville, Quebec. The most popular tale is the one of Fernand Lachance, from Warwick, Quebec, which claims that poutine was invented in 1957, when a client ordered fries and cheese curds in a bag. Lachance is said to have exclaimed ça va faire une maudite poutine ("it will make a hell of a mess"), hence the name. The sauce was allegedly added later, to keep the fries warm longer. In fact, linguists have found no occurrence of the word poutine with this meaning earlier than 1978.
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ina
Citizen
Username: Ina
Post Number: 226
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, June 16, 2005 - 2:42 pm: | |
If you go to Montreal in early July you'll catch the Montreal Jazz Festival, really more of a world music festival, with lots of free daytime concerts. I'm taking my 3 year old, hope she likes it. |
Twokitties
Citizen
Username: Twokitties
Post Number: 114
Registered: 8-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, June 16, 2005 - 11:03 pm: | |
When my husband and I were students at McGill University, we used to take midnight runs to St. Viateur bagels. It's open 24 hours. Montreal bagels are like no other in the world. |
Frodo Lives
Citizen
Username: Mfpark
Post Number: 1740
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Friday, June 17, 2005 - 10:12 am: | |
Oops, meant St. Viateur bagels, near Clark Street (?). Thanks Twokitties, that is what I get for typing fast at work. Absolutely best bagels in the world--the water they use, brick ovens imported from Europe (I believe), something they do that makes them light, crisp, sweet--perfect. |
michelezembow
Citizen
Username: Michelezembow
Post Number: 142
Registered: 5-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, June 19, 2005 - 12:42 am: | |
We're also headed for Montreal and QC in August. Found a bunch of helpful info on tripadvisor.com, including a decent message board (destination specific), extensive hotel reviews by consumers, and links to very good room rates via websites like Expedia, Orbitz, hotel.com, etc. We found a few places that sound really good, though in a slightly different category, since we're looking to stay in a multiple room suite or apartment (separate sleeping area for my small daughter, thus providing the needed adult privacy/sanity). I'd never used that site before, but found it helpful with good area street maps and visitor info. Bon vacance!
Also wanted to thank FL and others for helpful Montreal tips/info, since clearly MOLers expressed a strong preference for QC in at least one earlier thread. |
susan1014
Supporter
Username: Susan1014
Post Number: 707
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, June 19, 2005 - 11:25 am: | |
We've been to Montreal/Quebec City and beyond a couple of times in the last few years. Makes a great August alternative to the beach.
We stayed at a super place in the lower city in QC a few years ago, with multiple bedrooms, nice location, decent price. Only major downside was lack of an elevator. We were three flights up, and had not packed for stairs. We also did well upgrading to a suite at the Queen Elizabeth in Montreal -- with the exchange rates, the cost was high but not insane, and the location on top of the train/metro hub was very useful (especially if you have a kid who likes to count subway stops).
Can't remember the name of the QC place right now, but can figure it out if you are interested.
Also, in QC with a little one, don't miss the museum of civilisation(?) in the lower city...excellent dress up and learn room for the kids. When we were last there, the theme was middle ages, and the kids could learn how to move stones to build a cathedral...
In Montreal, our 5 yr old daughter actually loved the archeology museum (which is very cool if you like this sort of thing).
But the absolute best was when the horse carriage driver invited her to come up on the driver's seat and let her drive the horse on the city streets. She'll be talking about that for years to come!
We also enjoyed going on down the river to the Charlevoix region, which is full of lovely lodgings and food and drink, as well as superb whale-watching. Stayed at the Fairmont castle (with Casino for my husband...), but saw many lovely-looking B&Bs too.
Happy to give more thoughts on this later if you have questions. We've found the area to be super for family vacations, and are likely to get up there every few years. |
michelezembow
Citizen
Username: Michelezembow
Post Number: 143
Registered: 5-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, June 19, 2005 - 11:24 pm: | |
Thank you, Susan. Would the QC place possibly have been the apartment part (on Haldimand Street) of the Hotel Marie Rollet? It sounds just like the booking I just made (upper floor and all).
I take it from your post that the carriage ride was in Montreal...my daughter is definitely in a "horse crazy" phase, so your daughter's experience sounds like a dream!!!
If any other great ideas/tips come back to you (or anyone else who's been to either city), please share them. I'll definitely jot them down and bring them along!
Charlevoix sounds great...didn't make an earlier trip to Canada (someone was sick, I think) that included time there, and this trip will only be the two cities and immediately surrounding area(s)...for next time, I imagine.
Thanks!
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susan1014
Supporter
Username: Susan1014
Post Number: 711
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Monday, June 20, 2005 - 12:21 am: | |
Not the Marie Rollet. Finally came up with the name...it was the Hotel Le Priori, in the Lower Town of QC. The daily funicular trips to the upper town were a treat for my daughter.
The carriage ride in question was in the old part of Montreal -- I wish I could tell you how to get the same experience! My daughter will never forget driving the carriage on the city streets, with all of the passers-by smiling up at her!
Depending on your daughter's age, Quebec City also has a great kids playground up near the gate to the new city (inside the city walls). It has a very large spider web climbing thing that is pretty amazing, and can be followed by a wonderful imaginary defense of the city walking the battlements (and ending up down from the wall at an outrageous custom doll studio near the armament museum). The playground is also right next to where the horses are rested and fed, so allows a little more gazing at the horses from a distance.
Went to the touristy but good Aux Ancient Canadiennes to eat local food. The key for my daughter was what I called a "Laura Ingalls Wilder" dessert, since we had just finished Little House in the Big Woods -- maple sugar on bread covered in cream.
Skip Chateau Le Frontanac unless you are paying to be there...it looks wonderful from the outside, but treats non-paying visitors poorly. Enjoy the look of it, but don't join the hordes tromping around inside trying to get a glimpse of something other than shops.
The Old City Montreal area also has a nice modern interactive kiddie science museum (iSci), near the archeology museum that I mentioned above. Not much that is location specific about iSci, but another good kiddie attraction on a rainly or overly hot day. Very nice botanical garden out by the former Olympics site (but the animal environment attraction in the old cycling dome was very overcrowded when we visited).
There is also an amusement park on the island in town (rebranded to Six Flags), which we managed to keep our daughter from noticing.
Have fun! |
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