We are thinking about doing a driving vacation through New England into Montreal, Canada this summer. It would be DH, DD (18), DS (16), and me. Thinking about hiking, sightseeing, ect on way there and then hanging in the city for a few days. Our other choice is same trip ending in Boston, but kids like the more "foreign" aspect of Montreal. Anyone vacation/live there and have opinions, ideas, etc?

I've been there many times!

1) Have smoked montreal meat sandwiches from Schwartz's Deli (it's a local legend) http://schwartzsdeli.com/

2) Visit the many breweries! (sans kids, of course!)

3) Watch the Montreal Dragon Boat Race Festival (July 19-21) I love paddling in it! http://www.tourisme-montreal.org/Wha...-race-festival

4) Many historical sites and buildings

5) Notre Dame church- quite the site!

6) St. Joseph's Oratory -incredible history!

7) Order Tim Hortons in french (Je voudrais un double double!)

8) The museums! The biodome, the art gallery- tonnes of stuff!

9) La Ronde theme park and roller coasters!

10) Dinner in Old Montreal

11) Walk down Rue St Catharine- main shopping district! It is also the sex district...lol so...careful which stores you choose! It's a fun neighbourhood, regardless!!

TONNES OF STUFF !

Enjoy!!

Montreal is awesome during the summer, honestly. The city is just so ALIVE

Depending on when you are visiting, there is tons of festivals during the summer, from Jazz Festival (June 28-July 7), International Circus Arts (August), Osheaga in August (music like the Lollapaloosa one, but smaller), Hot Air Balloon Festival in St-Jean-sur-Richelieu in August too, just to name a few.

As it was said, the Notre Dame Basilic is really nice to see. There is also the Mont Royal to walk, Old Montreal with tons of shops and places to eat, the Olympic Stadium, La Ronde for the Rollercoasters, etc

There is also the International Fireworks competition being held one night everyweek if I am right. They take place at La Ronde but you can walk on the sidewalks on the Jacques Cartier Bridge and enjoy them from there.

For hiking, there is a few nice mountains in the area between Montréal and the US lines, but if you are coming from New England, they might look pretty smaller

Don't order the poutine if you are watching your carbs and diet haha

even though it is the BEST thing ever in canada
Fries, Gravy, and cheese crumbles

study your french though..
I am canadian and visited Montreal plenty times.. however, there are some people who will refuse to speak English even though they know it.. so study some main words in french.. other than that Montreal is amazing
DO get tim hortons

You guys are awesome! Montreal it is! I'll have to brush up pm my horrid high school French (last class 1983 when I was a sophomore--haha!).

Actually it is very easy to be serve in english, specially downtown. People refusing to serve people in English are pretty stupid in my opinion, what if they are travelers? But you are right, there has been tons of langage issues in the past, but it is mostly between people from Montréal to another.

Best way to ease up all the process : just saying Bonjour is polite and if you switch to english after, it is unlikely you'll get in trouble

I'm just outside of Montreal (and very close to Turbo!), in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu.

Nobody here expects an American to speak any French don't worry. Just say "Bonjour" and "May I speak English", you should not have any issues, especially in tourist areas.

If your kids are interested in a 'foreign' experience, might I recommend Quebec City instead, which is not much further. The outdoor scene is amazing (Parc de la Chute-Montmorency) and it is much more French (English is fine for tourists). Google images for Quebec City. It is really the most beautiful city in North America.

I don't know if you've been to Quebec before but our drinking age is 18, so DD can enjoy some local brew And tbh, so can the other one, it's pretty liberal here with booze.

I live in Ontario, but travel a lot for business. Montreal is nice, but I have to agree with Sacha...Quebec City is incredible. By far one of the nicest cities in Canada. Lots of hills too, so you'll get some good exercise!

Totally agree, esp. if this family loves hiking! The boardwalks are intense, the waterfalls, etc. Don't get me wrong, Montreal is good to visit, but (imo, being from the Rocky Mountains myself), Quebec city is a better visit for physical activity/French culture. Montreal is more for younger people who prefer late nights, bars, parties, etc.. but it's a bit too tourist trappy for my own liking.

I live here, but I'm not from here originally, so I recommend based on a tourist's POV but with local knowledge. I am very familiar with Quebec City (MIL lives in the old town) so if you decide on that, I've got great recommendations

True, Quebec City would give a bigger foreign feeling, especially Old Quebec parts!

Oh and btw, sasha, my boyfriend is actually from St Jean! Small world!

I live in Montreal! You shouldn't have any problems being served in English. Some of my neighbors don't speak a word of French and they live here!

I agree with the suggestions above. A walk on mont Royal is a must (if you go on Sunday you'll see the drum circles, it's a lot f fun) and you must see Old Montreal. The Olympic stadium and the Biodôme can be fun.

Someone mentioned the fireworks competitions. They're on Wednesdays and Saturdays and the best place to see them is Jacques-Cartier bridge.

As for food, you'll have lots of choices depending on what you like. I agree, avoid poutine if you're watching your weight, but if you want to treat yourself it's oh so good! Beaver's tails are great too if you have a sweet tooth (no they're not actual beaver tails ).

I have visited Montreal many times and don't speak French at all. It was never a problem. I love walking up Mount Royal especially.

I didn't mean everyone in montreal.. I meant there are a few people who were kind of rude to me because of not speaking french.. but montreal is beautiful and they are the home town of my fav team ( GO HABS GO ) and its not just montreal its other places in Quebec that I have visited that was like that

... and now I'm craving a Maple flavor Beaver Tail YUMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

I go to Montreal a few times every year but mainly for parties and stuff, staying up until 9 AM, etc. I wouldn't really think of it as a destination to bring family there, but there are some beautiful spots, cool historic buildings, and a lot of great food, and it's all very walkable if you're in OK shape which is great. I've never used the subway there.