Upcoming Trip to Montreal

[lio45]

Originally Posted by Parkway

2. Things to skip, they might be in the guidebook and all over the internet but its really just not worth it. (Philadelphia example: the Liberty Bell)

I have to say, licking the Liberty Bell has been on my to do list for years now...

[lio45]

Originally Posted by le calmar

As someone mentioned, don't go up to the observation deck at the Olympic Stadium. Too expensive and far from everything.

Yeah. Please don't go anywhere near the Olympic Stadium...

As mentioned several times already, whatever you do, Old Montreal is a must. Though being from Philly your own bar for older areas might be set higher than basically any other American's, I still think you'll like it (especially since I assume from being on SSP that you're interested in architecture).

And if you end up liking it, Old Quebec City is the next step -- it's nicer

[Rico Rommheim]

I visited the planetarium and the stadium environs last week. The facilities are good (insectarium, biodome, botanical gardens, planetarium) but jesus, the neighbourhood is embarassing.

Please don't go to the east-end of town at all!

[Parkway]

Thank you guys for the advice!

To answer a few questions:

We will likely not have access to a car, we are arriving by train from Philadelphia (it was less than half the price of flying).

I also speak a serviceable amount of French if that makes a difference.

I'm a law student and she's a dental student to cheap is always good. She is big into nature walks and I like bike rides so the route posted for the bike path and a hike around Mount Royal are definitely on the list. I'm the architecture nerd and she puts up with it but Old Montreal was definitely something we were looking at as well.

[le calmar]

Originally Posted by Parkway

She is big into nature walks and I like bike rides so the route posted for the bike path and a hike around Mount Royal are definitely on the list.

Because of the feeling of being in the middle of the water, the ride I suggested is nice if you want to see nature. (and nice views on the skyline as well) The islands also offer a natural setting and there are a couple of things to do and see there (fort Stewart, F1 Grand Prix track that is open to the public so you can ride your bike on the track, the Expo 67 "ruins", the Biosphere, the Casino...) You have the choice between two routes to go there by bike and each one has something special. The Jacques-Cartier bridge allows you to get some other nice views on the city, and the bridge itself is nice to see from up close (that would be the Brooklyn bridge of Montreal). With the Concorde bridge route you can stop and visit Habitat 67.

The bike path along Canal Lachine is equally interesting IMO, so perhaps you should choose one between the two, or do a bit of both.

[begratto]

Originally Posted by Rico Rommheim

I visited the planetarium and the stadium environs last week. The facilities are good (insectarium, biodome, botanical gardens, planetarium) but jesus, the neighbourhood is embarassing.

Please don't go to the east-end of town at all!

I don't agree. Then they'd miss out on some interesting areas such as :

• Place Valois and Promenade Ontario https://goo.gl/maps/PuxxYBTLqss
• Rue Masson https://goo.gl/maps/APNPRdUuQqj and Vieux-Rosemont (Old Rosemont), the area around rue Masson. If you enjoy architecture, a stroll through the old CPR Angus Shops could be interesting.
• Marché Maisonneuve (https://goo.gl/maps/k1QnqbFATpF2) and Hochelaga's civic buildings (https://goo.gl/maps/pRbY1uBfznF2 or https://goo.gl/maps/zVL35mjcP592)

[Rico Rommheim]

Originally Posted by begratto

I don't agree. Then they'd miss out on some interesting areas such as :

• Place Valois and Promenade Ontario https://goo.gl/maps/PuxxYBTLqss
• Rue Masson https://goo.gl/maps/APNPRdUuQqj and Vieux-Rosemont (Old Rosemont), the area around rue Masson. If you enjoy architecture, a stroll through the old CPR Angus Shops could be interesting.
• Marché Maisonneuve (https://goo.gl/maps/k1QnqbFATpF2) and Hochelaga's civic buildings (https://goo.gl/maps/pRbY1uBfznF2 or https://goo.gl/maps/zVL35mjcP592)

I'm talking about the area immediately around the stadium, not a few blocks down ina much different neighbourhood.

[begratto]

You did say this though:

Originally Posted by Rico Rommheim

Please don't go to the east-end of town at all!

which I thought was quite an exageration, as there are very nice areas in the east-end of town.

[Rico Rommheim]

^You're right. The old city of Maisonneuve is quaint.

[wacko]

This thread is quite timely, as my parents and I will be visiting Montreal in June (we'll be going to Mont-Tremblant and Ottawa as well). So I'll be sure to try out some of the suggestions listed here.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by Rico Rommheim

I'm talking about the area immediately around the stadium, not a few blocks down ina much different neighbourhood.

It's mostly going east from the stadium that is crappy (and to a lesser degree, south).

Driving from downtown along Sherbrooke to get to the stadium is fine and is typical, normal Montreal.

If you go up Pie-IX northbound from the stadium the buildings are nice for a good distance as well.

[begratto]

Originally Posted by Acajack

It's mostly going east from the stadium that is crappy (and to a lesser degree, south).

Driving from downtown along Sherbrooke to get to the stadium is fine and is typical, normal Montreal.

If you go up Pie-IX northbound from the stadium the buildings are nice for a good distance as well.

Not sure I agree with this. Sherbrooke isn't anything special to look at going from the stadium to autoroute 25, but I wouldn't say it's "crappy". It's an ok-looking dense suburbia.

And as soon as you leave the main streets like Sherbrooke and Hochelaga, you get into this, or this, or this, which are quite nice areas.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by begratto

Not sure I agree with this. Sherbrooke isn't anything special to look at going from the stadium to autoroute 25, but I wouldn't say it's "crappy". It's an ok-looking dense suburbia.

And as soon as you leave the main streets like Sherbrooke and Hochelaga, you get into this, or this, or this, which are quite nice areas.

I don't disagree overall. But I wasn't just thinking about Sherbrooke. I was thinking of other streets in the area like Viau, etc.

[matthew6]

There are miles of blocks in the east end of Montreal that could pass for a typical Plateau street.

https://www.google.ca/maps/@45.54697...7i13312!8i6656

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by matthew6

There are miles of blocks in the east end of Montreal that could pass for a typical Plateau street.

https://www.google.ca/maps/@45.54697...7i13312!8i6656

Very true. One big difference is that the main neighbourhood commercial streets they are adjacent to are not as attractive as the ones in the Plateau and some other more chic districts.

[matthew6]

Originally Posted by Acajack

Driving from downtown along Sherbrooke to get to the stadium is fine and is typical, normal Montreal.

The drive along Sherbrooke starting in Westmount and heading to and through downtown is quite pleasant too.

Another west-east axis drive. St Catherine starting in Westmount and going east.

North south axis drive? The Bleury/Ave du Parc drive. Nobody has mentioned Parc yet? The Mt Royal to Van Horne section is fantastic. As it the urban landscape on either side.

[Martin Mtl]

I don't know how I could forget about the Botanical garden, which happens to be one of my favorite place in town. The Chinese and Japanese gardens are amazing. It's a must.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by Martin Mtl

I don't know how I could forget about the Botanical garden, which happens to be one of my favorite place in town. The Chinese and Japanese gardens are amazing. It's a must.

Just checked and it's the second largest in the world after the Kew in London.

Definitely worth a visit.

[matthew6]

You can even check out the path system on streetview!


https://www.google.ca/maps/@45.55851...7i13312!8i6656

[Razor]

Montreal is a great wander around and follow you nose city.

Everytime we visited Montreal just for dinner or tripping around , we've always encountered some sort of serendipitous event or mini festival in a random park.

Old Montreal for sure..Great restaurants with patios chalk full of fellow friendly tourists having a good time. Also, all the other destinations others have stated already.