MONTREAL, "THE CITY OF SAINTS"
BY CLAY LARROY
There is nothing more exciting than travelling. Whether
you are going for a road trip to see something new in your own state, or
heading off to Canada for the very first time to visit a city you have always
dreamed of, there are some travel
basics that you should know. Travel in the
off seasons from November to April, to avoid crowds,
save money and enjoy temperate weather. In those months, many families with
children cannot travel due to school commitments, making many tourist
attractions much less crowded. This may also result in lower costs for airfare
and hotels. When you are ready to plan a
vacation contact me!
Things to do in Montreal
Activities
Watch hockey
Considered holy ground by
many, the Bell Centre (www.bellcentre.ca) is home territory for Montreal's
beloved hockey team, the Montreal Canadiens. Big game nights bring more than
one million hockey fans to the Bell Centre every season. Guided tours of the center
and of the Montreal Canadiens' Hall of Fame are available. When hockey is not
being played, the venue is used for celebrity concerts and other large events.
Canoeing
Surrounded by hundreds of
lakes, there couldn't be a better place to take up the serene past-time of
canoeing. Oka Park, L'Anse-a-l'Orme and the Laurentians all have water access.
White water rafting
One of the best places for
white water rafting in Canada, the Laurentians has fast flowing clean rivers
with rapids perfect for the sport. New World Rafting (www.newworld.ca/en)
offers packages on the Rouge River, including kayaking.
Skiing
For downhill and cross
country, Montreal's skiers are simply spoiled for choice. Top ski hills and
resorts include Mont Tremblant, the most popular resort with tourists, which is
less than two hours' drive from the city. It offers a pretty resort atmosphere
but is expensive. Mont Saint Sauveur offers the longest ski season in the
province, Mont Blanc is the best value, whilst Bromont is the closest ski
resort to the city, only a 45 minute drive away and offers the largest
illuminated ski terrain in North America.
Hiking and
trekking
Within Montreal, Mount
Royal has peaceful paths up and around the mountain, which are ideal for hikers
and dog walkers looking to escape the sounds of traffic. Outside the city, both
the stunning Laurentians and the Eastern Townships offer scenic hiking trails
for all manner of outdoor excursions.
Shopping in Montreal
Montreal offers superb
shopping, from sophisticated shopping centres to wonderful public markets.
Key Areas
Downtown is your best bet
for choice in terms of name brands and chain stores. There is a concentrated
row of shoe shops and clothing stores on St Catherine in addition to several
tourist tat places. Head to the elite Greene Avenue in Westmount for chi chi
boutiques and quality goods. Still in Westmount, but along Sherbrooke Street
West between Grosvenor and Marlowe, there are some unique little shops which
are excellent for one-of-a-kind gifts. The Plateau (along St Laurent and St
Denis) has the edge on second hand stores and media-cool accessories. Old
Montreal is aimed at tourists and though there are some designer boutiques well
worth visiting, for the most part you'll be looking at souvenir stores or maple
syrup stands.
Markets
Montreal's markets, or
marchés publics, are wonderful places to browse a wide range of produce from
fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, seafood to maple products, honey, baked goods,
spices and other goods.
One of the city's biggest
markets is Jean-Talon, 7070 Henri-Julien Street, located in the Little Italy
district. It is packed with some of the best Quebecois street food such as
crepes, fried squid, roasted chestnuts, as well as fantastic meats, cheese,
oils, pastries. Other good markets include Atwater, on 138 Atwater Avenue,
specialising in fine foods and speciality boutiques, and Maisonneuve, 4445
Ontario Street East, which is housed in a gorgeous Beaux-Arts style building,
the former site of the old market built before WW1. All three markets are open
year-round too.
Shopping Centers
Downtown has a good
selection of shopping centres from upmarket Ogilvy's, 1307 rue Ste-Catherine
West, and Holt Renfrew, 1300 rue Sherbrooke West to more affordable garments
and perfumes at The Bay, 585 rue Ste-Catherine West. The Eaton Centre, 705
Ste-Catherine Street West, is a nice airy mall which has all your chain stores
as well as some Canadian goods you might not find elsewhere.
Shopping Times
Shops are generally open
Monday to Wednesday 1000-1800, Thursday and Friday 1000-2100, Saturday
1000-1700 and Sunday 1200-1700.
Souvenirs
First Nations crafts,
maple products, bagels, smoked meats, Inuit soapstone carvings and hardy winter
clothes.
Tax Information
The 5% federal Goods and
Services Tax (GST) and 7.5% provincial Quebec Sales Tax (QST) are levied on
most products and services.
REFERENCE SITES:
http://www.travelresearchonline.com/
You know what's nice about Montreal? Not only is it a beautiful city, but you have Cuban cigars.
Jamie Farr
No comments:
Post a Comment