girlonthego

Well I am returning to Canada much sooner than I had expected! I promised my daughter a trip with just the two of us when she graduated college. I want some one on one time before she goes off in life on her own. She asked if we could go to Montreal to see a U2 concert and since U2 is one of my faves, I got tix! Yay!
We are flying into QC for two nights and then off to Montreal via the train for three nights.

In QC, last time, I stayed at the Chateau Fronternac,, which is pricier than I want to spend this time. I am looking at the Hotel du Vieux in the old town. It gets high rankings on Trip advisor and looks very cute and comes with a simple breakfast. I can stay at the marriott and that is fine too because I pretty much know what I get there. But the idea of staying in the smaller hotel with more charm seems nicer on this trip. Anyone here stay there or know of it?

Since I did not spend any time in Montreal last time, any recommendations for a mid June trip? I know there is a beer festival in town and may hit that. We are not museum people. We are more people watching people.

colduphere

GOTG - here is my cheap recommendation. Walk up Rue de la Montagne or Rue Drummond (uphill), keep going when they end and you will find yourself on Mount Royal with a great view of the city. And it will count as your daily workout.

girlonthego

Thanks for replying cold!! I feel like the canadian forum gets little traffic .

Are you in Toronto area or Montreal area?

colduphere

If you are driving from Montreal on your way to Toronto, and you miss a turn, you end up in Ottawa after a couple of hours. That's where we are. Actually a friend of mine was killed making a u-turn after he missed that turn.

Montreal is loaded with activity. You have probably searched for festivals etc but I will do the same.

Daniel_Williams

Hi girlonthego,

Montreal is a fun people-watching city. For whatever reason, we draw in the over-the-top fashionistas, some uber-hipsters, the eccentric. This can lead to a very fun energy at times.

In the summer, there's always some sort of festival going on. I've lived here for many years and have never even HEARD of the beer festival (which is probably great), that's how many festivals there are.

I second colduphere's suggestion to go up the mountain; on a Sunday, drummers play in front of the angel statue in an event known as the Tam-Tams. Parc Lafontaine can have an enjoyable energy too, with circus performers and musicians practicing their art at times. If you like markets, the Jean Talon Market and Atwater Market are good for people-watching and food. Exploring the side streets of the Plateau Mont-Royal and Mile-End neighborhoods can be fun to catch some of our more creative characters. If you enjoy creative and innovative costumes, a stroll in the Gay Village a stop at Cabaret Mado will show you some incredible drag queens that aren't of the yawn-beauty-pageant-winner-look-alike variety.

You'll probably want to check out Old Montreal also, for the oldest part of the city, for the architecture and possibly a stop inside the beautiful Notre Dame Cathedral. If you like biking and get a nice day, I'd recommend a bike ride from Old Montreal along the Lachine Canal to Old Lachine. There are many other great choices from Old Montreal for bike rides too (Ile Ste. Helene, Lachine Rapids, Iles de la Visitation, Ile des Soeurs/Estacade), but you'll probably just have time for the one ride.

Wishing you a great trip! Daniel

girlonthego

Thanks Cold and Daniel!

I assume as we get closer, more things get listed on local events pages.
We will not be there on a weekend. We will be there during the week which may have less going on.

How's the location of the Loews Hotel. I got a pretty good rate on that one and I chose it because I think we can walk back after the concert. But for sightseeing, is the Loewes in a good location? I know the metro runs all underground throughout the city and that will make getting around easy.

Daniel, I love people watching!
Looking forward to a fun trip with my daughter!

Daniel_Williams

RE Loew's: You're in the heart of downtown Montreal, near a number of the popular brewpubs on Crescent & Bishop such as Hurley's, Brutopia, if that sort of thing appeals to you. Downtown has a certain energy that some people enjoy (those that like to shop, for example). I think the location is fine for visiting the city.

girlonthego

I actually read about Hurleys. Is it a fun place? I thought it would be fun to go to a pub with my daughter and nice to know we can walk a short distance home!
Not sure if we are shoppers, more like window shoppers. Are they high end stores? We will most likely not shop there then.

Daniel_Williams

I haven't been to Hurley's in about 15 years... I have vague recollection of having fun there . McKibbin's is another one in the neighborhood that I've enjoyed in that neck of the woods.

zootsi

Possibly the best area for people watching and just strolling around is the Prince Arthur-Sq St Louis- Rue St. Denis neighborhood on the plateau. This part of the city is hopping on pleasant evenings with street entertainers, outdoor cafes and restaurants and lots of funky shops. Nearby is Duluth street which is lined with fun BYOB restaurants, many with outdoor terraces.

Daniel_Williams

Zootsi-- I agree that the Plateau area in general can be fun for people-watching. Unfortunately, Prince Arthur Street is not what it used to be; these days Prince Arthur has become a sort of nearly lifeless area of boarded-up restaurants-- only a handful of stores remain open and the mimes/buskers are mostly gone. I think it had to do with competition from other pedestrian-only streets drawing the attention away from Prince Arthur; perhaps the rising prices in the Plateau drove away some of the artsy folks?

There were quite a few overpriced, so-so restaurants on Prince Arthur taking advantage of its reputation as a destination in tourist guidebooks. I believe that in order for people to come back to re-invigorate the pedestrian-only stretch, quality restaurants need to re-emerge on Prince-Arthur. My hope would be that given its potential as a reasonably central location, that with quality establishments, the street will come out in a few years in a better state than it was before. But who knows?

girlonthego

Thanks!

Daniel, so does the area I am staying in have people walking around at night? I have looked at a map and the crescent street area where the pubs are is close by. Is that an area that has lots of people out and about in June?

zootsi

Dan, thanks for the heads up on Prince Arthur - haven't been there in about 3 years. I agree that the restaurants in Prince Arthur were never too good, but it was good for just strolling and people watching.. However, close by is St. Denis and Duluth, which are both rich in interesting restaurants (many BYOB). Although Crescent St is fun, I always found that St. Denis and the surrounding area was the most interesting part of the city for eating, walking, and window shopping.

Daniel_Williams

In answer to your question, yes, girlon the go, there will be lots of people walking around at night around the Loew's Hotel area and Crescent Street in June.