You are sick of winter, the kids are driving you crazy by now, the end of March Break and you need a quick getaway. Like now. Head to Montreal and visit some incredible museums, brush up on your history. This year may be Canada’s 150th but it is also Montreal’s 375th. This is the year to visit Montreal as the city will be throwing parties year round in that way that only Montreal can. www.tourisme-montreal.org
But you need to get away now that is indoors (we are all sick of the snow). Here is a good overnight (or weekend) trip for you and the kids. Bear in mind everything is closed on Mondays in Montreal.
Stay
Hotel Bonaventure is a fantastic choice as it has an outdoor heated pool to keep the kids busy and you can watch from the outdoor hot tub. You actually could just camp out at the hotel. There is an indoor gym and the restaurant is kid-friendly but almost feels like a bar.
See
Since Ottawa has incredible museums, you want to see things you can’t see in O-town. Here are four options and they are all fantastic.
Barbie Exhibit. Seriously. World-class designers have dressed up 1000 Barbie dolls in outfits that astound. Worth the visit and it is free. Located at 1455 Peel Street (Cours Mont-Royal)
Space for Life is the world’s first ever site dedicated to both human beings and nature brings together, the Botanical Garden, Insectarium, Biodôme and Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium. It is the largest natural sciences museum complex in Canada. http://espacepourlavie.ca
For over 45 years, the Montréal Planetarium shared its passion for the sky and the stars. Make sure to catch We Are Stars and One Day… on Mars, movies at the Planetarium and search of the secrets of the Universe and the Red Planet.
Definitely worth the visit.
Try your hand at the I Spy Challenge, and attempt to spot the some 250 animal species living in the five ecosystems of the Americas at the Biodôme. Keeps the kids busy for hours. The Biodôme houses over 4,500 animals from around 220 different species and 500 plant species
The Grevin is a wax museum that has history, culture and fun wax characters. http://www.grevin-montreal.com
Culture (and The Wall)
Endless opportunities. Montreal is a cultural mecca that you could write a book about but for to find out what is going on, visit www.tourisme-montreal.org or visit the 375 website http://www.375mtl.com/ for options.
If you head to Montreal this weekend or next, be sure to catch the Opéra de Montréal world premiere of Another Brick In The Wall – The Opera, based on the legendary work The Wall, by Roger Waters. The original album was actually inspired by a concert Pink Floyd played in Montreal. Go figure.
http://www.operademontreal.com/
History
Ok, so you are trying to avoid outdoors but a trip to Montreal is not complete without a visit to old Montreal. Even in winter. Explore Old Montréal with the Cité Mémoire free mobile app. www.montrealenhistoires.com/home It is a fantastic way to brush up on history. It is a creative take on history, projecting images on buildings and trees as you listen. It is visually stunning.
Being Montreal’s 375th birthday, it is fitting to walk back in time. Besides, you can get a feel of what it was like to live in torturously cold snowy weather without the amenities of today. Just a taste then head back to the warmth of the Bonaventure’s hot tub.
More to come on summer adventures in Montreal because this year is the year to hit Montreal. Well, any time is the right time because Montreal is an oasis of culture, of history, of food (more on food options to come in future posts) and joie de vivre.
