HELP! Trying to figure out which Montreal PARK to visit...
 

Hi Everybody,

I am hoping to make another Montreal visit this summer from NYC. For those who know Montreal pretty well, could you please give a "run-down" of your favorite Montreal park, and why it is your favorite.

We definitely would like to visit atleast one park, but may not have time to see all of them. So your descriptions will help us focus our trip.

Many thanks,
Betty (NYC)

Hello? Anyone?...

Hi,
The Parc du Mont-Royal (i.e. "the mountain") is my favourite park overall: best view of the city, nice paths to walk on, a very small lake/pond, lots of space...
Definitely the first place I would go to, but will be interested in seeing what others propose...

Trin: Thank you for your response! I had heard nice things about Parc La Fontaine, and I was starting to confuse the two parks!

By any chance, do you know any nice B&B or small hotel convenient to the park? (I was looking at Anne Ma Soeur, but I have a feeling it is not very close.)

Thanks again.

The two parks are different, but are not that far apart. Parc Lafontaine is ok, but I'd go to the Mount-Royal one first.
Anne ma soeur Anne is where one of my friends stays when he comes to town. It's about a 15 minute walk from there to the trail that leads up to the mountain, and it's in a very trendy area, great for coffee shops, window shopping, etc. AND it's also a 15 minute walk from there to Parc Lafontaine, so you could do either one.
Unfortunately I don't know of any other B&Bs to recommend, as I haven't had to stay there...

Trin: You're the greatest...thanks!!!

Both Mt Royal and Fontaine are quite nice. Mt Royal is quite a bit larger, and has the 'mountain' with the views. However, we generally prefer to stay near Fontaine since we prefer this area. Since it's on the eastern end of the downtown, there is more of a French influence, and so many cafes, shops and b&b's in the Plateau district, which Fontaine is located in. The park itself is pretty with a large pond, bicycle trails, and a bandstand. There is at least one b&b that overlooks it, I believe it may be called 'B&B Parc Fontaine'.

I honestly can't pick a favourite park in Montreal as I like the ones I mention, each for different reasons and a different mood.

Mont-Royal Park I love for its sense of "escape" from the city, in the backwoods. I also like the often sweeping vistas of the Saint-Lawrence River from high-up that you get from portions of the trail.

Parc Lafontaine you can't "get away from people" as easily as you can on Mont-Royal and no river views. However this one I love because of the romance in the air. Couples, good friends and happy dogs give it such a pure sense of relaxation (near the lake), I find it just magical.

Parc Jean Drapeau I appreciate because here you can see the force of the Saint-Lawrence River up-close, with its strong current.

Further out, there is:

Parc Nature Île-Bizard has views of Lac-Deux-Montagnes that are truly unspoilt and pristine, and make you feel eons from Montreal. The site draws an incredible variety of migratory birds at certain times of year, which make it special in the region.

Parcs Canada: Lachine & Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue. Both have some lovely historic homes/churches, which give a feeling of Lower Canada of yore. Each has a lovely waterfront view of the Saint Lawrence River, which is calmer as these locations. S.A. de B. is at the end of the island so you get water in a few directions and at Lachine it's greener and you can see the river narrow then widen.

All this said, as a visitor, I would go to Mont-Royal first, as it gives sweeping views of the city from up high.

DAN

Thank you, zootsi and Dan! I will also look into B&B LaFontaine.

If anyone has had experiences with B&B LaFontaine, please feel free to share them with me.

Warm wishes to All!

Yes, Park Mount Royal is a great place to go. There would be another place to visit, St-Helen Island where the Montreal Casino and the Formula 1 track are. It very nice, quite besides you have a nice view of Montreal from the other side of the river.

And even if you stay at the B&B Lafontaine, it's still about a 15 minute walk to the beginning of Mount-Royal park too.
And if you are on the plateau area (which you would be at any of the two B&B mentioned so far), I would recommend the following spots for eating/coffee:
Aux Deux Maries: on St-Denis, between Marie-Anne and Rachel, the favourite spot for coffees in the neighbourhood
La Belle Thaïlandaise: on St-Denis, a few buildings north of Mont-Royal St., on the west side. If you eat meat, their General Tao is one of the best and the place is inexpensive: 8$CDN for a three course meal at lunch time, 13$CDN in the evening. The food is always good and consistent in taste.
Poutine/Smoked meat: Rapido, on the south west corner of St-Denis and Mont-Royal St, is a 24 hour place, with excellent poutine, and smoked meat (you can have smoked meat on your poutine or pizza if you want there)
Portuguese: if you walk along Rachel towards Mount-Royal park, on the north side past Hotel de ville St there is a Portuguese place that sells portuguese treats, breads and chicken. You can get a cheap takeout platter of chicken, salad, rice/fries, portuguese style...
If ever you want a more copious breakfast to carry you through the day, try "The Toaster\Grille Pain" at the corner of Roy and de Mentana on the Plateau. They serve full & copious breakfasts till three in the afternoon (and even have vege options) and less expensive than the breakfast chains...
There's lots of other places too, but these are the ones the people I work with go to most (we work around here)...

Hi, orchid! I'm not much of a casino person, but you're right...St. Helen's Island might be great for the views.

Hi, trin! Really appreciate the eating suggestions. I think Montreal is one of the best "foodie" towns I've ever visited! (I'm from NYC.)

On my alreay too-long list of Montreal restaurants to try: BRUNOISE, LA COLOMBE (BYOB), P'TIT PLATEAU (BYOB), LES RAMPARTS (to see the fireworks)...help!

Also, have any of you been on the Lachine Rapids jet boats? Should I try the high-speed James Bond jet ride or the regular jet boat?

Cheers!

topping

A little bit further out but you escape the crowds that herd in Montreal. Try the parks in St Bruno or St Hilaire. St Bruno is about 15Km from Montreal. St Hilaire is about 30. Links below.

http://www.canadatrails.ca/hiking/qc/montstbruno.html

http://www.biosphere-canada.ca/reser...re/default.asp

Thank you, themop! Since our trip time is limited, we may stick to Mont-Royal this time for the stunning views. I will save your suggestions for a longer trip.

We don't mind some crowds -- we're use to them in NYC!

Have a great weekend...

I guess it doesnt really qualify as a park but outside of Lafontaine and Mont Royal I think our botanical gardens are beautiful and many newly weds get their pics taken there so I must be onto something

oneillchris: Thanks for weighing in! I love the New York Botanical Gardens, so I'll probably love the ones in Montreal.