kbeths

Hi all. I am hoping for some advice as to where to stay and what to see during our end of August trip to these destinations with two boys, ages 11 and 14. We have about 10-12 days leaving by car from NYC area and have narrowed choices down to a few days in Lake George and/or Lake Placid for some r&r, then a drive to Montreal for 2-3 days and then Quebec City for 2-3 days. My 11 year old is very active and sports-oriented so we'd love a mix of adventure/amusement parks (probably in the Adirondacks) and then would love to infuse the boys with some culture on the Canadian part of the trip. Any advice as to kid friendly places to stay and things to do would be much appreciated as well as thoughts as to whether the itinerary is too ambitious and we should eliminate a stop? Interested in a mix of some mid range hotels and some luxury so long as they are kid friendly. Thanks so much for any help.

Southam

Quebec City is great for kids because it looks like Europe as seen by a movie -- walled city above the river, horse-drawn carriages, the trademark Chateau Frontenac towering above it all. The teens should enjoy the tour of the Citadel, a key destination in Canadian history and still a working fort for the Royal 22nd regiment, which during the summer stages a flag-raising ceremony complete with their mascot goat (but not when it is rainy since the bearskin hats don't like moisture.) Other simple pleasures include the cruise ships that tie up right below the walls, a tiny funicular on the boardwalk near the chateau, the farmers' market in the harbour, and the ferry across the river. The city also has a baseball team, the Capitales, about double-A level. It's amusing to see Latin Americans playing at the rickety old stadium in French.
Bicycles are a big deal in Montreal and you could rent some for the day and explore Mont Royal or the harbour and the old canal running to Lachine. The Bixi scheme rents bikes for commuters by the hour. The Insectarium near the old Olympic stadium and the wonderful botanical gardens (not for kids I suppose) can be interesting. The amusement park from Expo 67, La Ronde, is still open on an island in the river. Montreal has a good subway if the teens have never seen one and many kilometres of underground shopping for the wintertime along rue St-Catharine. The city is competitive in both the Canadian football league (somewhat different rules and more wide-open action than the US version) and Major League Soccer. Bowling is different too. Persuade the boys to learn how to say hello and thank-you in French.
https://montreal.bixi.com/
http://espacepourlavie.ca/en/insectarium
http://www.laronde.com/larondeen/
http://www.capitalesdequebec.com/cal...lendrier-2014/
http://www.lacitadelle.qc.ca/en/

snowgirls

We have stayed more than once at the Hampton in Lake George.
Great hotel with Microwave and frig. Big rooms.I think this area must be "kid heaven" Too many attractions to list here. And Shopping too! There is a paved separate path that goes for 6 miles through a wooded area, so if you rent bikes, easy for kids to navigate.http://www.lakegeorge.com/thingstolo...m/articleid/12
Placid has a similar woodsy vibe, but more grown up with sports action on the lakes and hiking.

kbeths

Thanks so much to the two of you for the great combo of Adirondack and Canada advice. Would love to hear of any great places to stay in both Montreal and Quebec. Thanks all.

snowgirls

http://www.tremblant.ca/ Your kids might even enjoy this resort( north of Montreal) and you could skip Placid. I know I do, having been to both. Zip lines, hikes up mountains, going up the gondola, boat or swim on lake, mini golf, a pedestrian village makes it safe for kids and absolutely great condos or hotel rooms. many places to eat, outdoor pools or hot tubs. A full town for shopping within a 10 minute drive too.http://www.tremblant.ca/activities-a...ies/index.aspx
In Montreal, I have stayed at the Westin , right in heart of city.http://www.tourisme-montreal.org/off...-ZsBoClO_w_wcB Offers for many 2 for 1s , See bottom of page for other good offers and a bit of explanation of Montreal neighbourhoods. Enjoy the vacation.

zootsi

Some comments on Montreal - Although there are some great b&b's in the city, with two boys you might want a hotel with a pool. The Delta on Kennedy and the Hilton Garden Inn have indoor pools that overlook the city, and are in a great location - in the heart of downtown, but a short walk to Old Montreal and the Plateau.
At the old port, lots of things to do - boat rides, Imax theater, bicycling and roller blading, etc. The Jean Talon market and Atwater Market (on the bike trail) are large European style indoor/outdoor markets, with lots of goodies and free samples. There's also an excellent chance there will be some kind of street fest going on. In the evening, walk up to Prince Arthur street or down to Old Montreal to take in the street entertainers, and dine at a restaurant with outdoor tables.

laverendrye

Good suggestions by zootsi. I would also recommend the jet boat ride through the Lachine rapids. They boats leave from the Old Port. I also recommend the Biodome (along with the Insectarium recommended by Southam) at the former Olympic site. Don't confuse the Biodome with the Biosphere on St Helen's Island, also worth a visit.

kbeths

Thank you. So far we have settled on 4 days in Montreal, 2 in Quebec City and 4 in Lake Placid. We are staying at the Le Square Phillips Hotel & Suites in Montreal and the Mirror Lake Inn and Spa in Lake Placid. Working on Quebec City hotel. We plan to do many of the activities you suggested in each locale so thank you for the advice.