I am trying to plan a road trip for 7-10 days in mid August from Boston with DH and two kids 5 and 1 year old. From reading the forum I am planning to go to Montreal first for 4 days as I understand it has more places to visit than Quebec city. I read that QC is smaller and more relaxed so think that it might be better to visit it when we are little exhausted from our M visit with two active kids. I am looking for recommendations for the following in each city:
1. Hotels with kitchenettes and parking
2. Kid friendly restaurants
3. Places to visit
4. Good shopping area (I want to squeeze that in)
5. Are 4 full days in M and 3 full days in QC sufficient to cover the major sight seeing places
6. Any other suggestions for traveling to Canada (our first time) with young kids are greatly welcome.
Many thanks.
SMTC
Boston-montreal-quebec city-bostoon
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Hi SMTC,
.
#1, #2, #6. I'll let others chime in for these two who have kids.
#3. MONTREAL. With kids, you might enjoy going to the Botanical Gardens and more specifically the Insectarium.
The Biosphere on Ile Sainte-Helene I think is terrific for kids as well, a museum with interactive activities that manage to simultaneously educate all about the environment.
There's something called SOS Labyrinthe as well at the Old Port, a maze where one has to piece clues together. Adults should be limber who participate (I'm in pretty good shape but found it challenging at one point sliding into a barrel to get to a different zone of the maze when my nephews came to visit.
#4. Downtown Montreal (most options and "familiar name" clothing stores), Saint-Denis Street (bit more boutiquey/pricey, more local designers), Mont-Royal Avenue (some good deals/ funky).
#5. That's a good visit to Montreal and Quebec City; you might not "see it all", but that's ok. A reason to return
Best wishes, Daniel
A recent thread with some ideas about suite hotels
http://www.fodors.com/community/canada/what-area-in-montreal-is-best-to-stay-for-6-days.cfm
I think 4 days/Montreal, 3 days/quebec makes sense. You could easily spend longer in either city
In Montreal your kids would probably like the Biodome (different habitats, with animals) as well as the Biosphere mentioned by Daniel. There is also an amusement park, La Ronde but that might not be geared to the right age range.
If your 5 year old is interested in military history Quebec has lots of that (Citadel, Plains of Abraham)
There is a ferry ride from the port in Quebec City with good views. Both cities have different cruise options.
I will try to think more about restaurant options with kids. I have to admit when our kids were young we often got take out and brought it back to the hotel. There are restaurants in Montreal Chinatown with buffets which would be easy. Chinatown was always fun for our kids but maybe not so interesting to your kids if they are from Boston. Le Commensal in Montreal in several locations and I believe also in Quebec has good vegetarian buffets.
Thanks Daniel and Vttraveler. I am still researching to build my itinerary, this information is helpful. I am looking forward to more suggestions on my questions.
Call ahead or visit their website to be sure the Insectarium will be open. Right now the site notes they are closed but are reopening "Summer 2011" with no date specified. They were closed the last few days of May when I was in Montreal.
Here are a few more ideas for Montreal:
Kid friendly restaurants - There are many sidewalk eateries in both Old Montreal and on Prince Arthur street. There is often street entertainment going close by. Many of the restaurants on Prince Arthur are byob. Another good place with kids is Le Commensal, which is a small chain of veggie cafeterias. Don't let the veggie connotation scare you away - the food is VERY kid friendly (pizza, pasta, Mexican, yummy desserts), and the dining area is comfortable and spacious. There is a large Le Commensal downtown on St. Catherine, and another on St. Denis near Sherbrooke.
Montreal is blessed with two big beautiful parks in the heart of downtown - Mt. Royal and Parc La Fontaine. Great places to picnic and let the kids run free.
The Old Port has a long, wide pedestrian prominade where you can rent family sized pedal carts to explore the waterfront. There are lots of other family activities on the waterfront, like boat rides, the Labrynth, etc.
In Quebec City there is also a Le Commensal. There is also another place called Maison du Spaghetti which offers every kind of pasta imaginable. Not high end, but kids love it.
There is a zoo just outside Quebec City.
Of course there is the very large Animal Park and amusement park in Granby.