Montreal or Toronto?
 

Hi!! <BR> <BR>I am taking my wife and 2 sons (18 & 19 years old) to Canada, for the first time, for a few days in July. My basic concern is whether my 2 boys would have better time visiting Montreal or Toronto. <BR> <BR>All suggestions and advice is deeply appreciated!!

Both cities are a blast; 18 and 19 year olds should enjoy them tremendously whichever one you choose. If it makes any difference, the drinking age in Quebec is 18 while the drinking age in Ontario is 19.

I would pick Montreal and if you had more time, Quebec City to! <BR> <BR>Montreal is great for 18 & 19 yrs old. They should love Old Montreal, La ronde, the Casino and the Mountain. <BR> <BR>If you happen to be in Montreal during the Jazz Festival, they will have a ball! Lots of free concerts (not only Jazz) all over downtown Montreal (June 28th to July 8). Big crowds though. <BR> <BR>check these sites : <BR>http://www.tourism-montreal.org/3_0/index.html <BR> <BR>http://www.montrealjazzfest.com/accueil_en.htm <BR> <BR>Other special events are "The just for laugh festival" amongst others... But the Jazz festival beats them all <BR>

Toronto. Because: Hockey Hall of Fame, decent major league baseball team (Blue Jays versus Expos, puh-leeze), fabulous restaurants (name your cuisine and you can get it a three different budget levels), very friendly folks able to help you with directions in English on every corner, safe, clean, beautiful waterfront, great shopping from boutique (Yorkville) to glamourous downtown mall (Eaton Centre) to outlet (Dixie Outlet Mall) and all at your fabulous exchange rate...need I say more? Yes, I am biased, but since I am not from here originally and had to be converted, it doesn't count!

Let's face it...Toronto and Montreal BOTH have tons to offer. In Toronto, it's true that you can get directions in English everywhere. However, exposure to the French language and a culture different from that of English North America might be what some visitors prefer. And frankly in Montreal most people are happy to help in English when they hear a visitor struggling to ask something in French. It can be more challenging believe it or not for an anglophone to be served in FRENCH if they so choose (trying to practice, etc...). <BR> <BR>If I had to pick one and only one to visit from let's say the USA, it would be Montreal...simply because it is quite a different experience linguistically- and culturally-speaking. But honestly whichever one you pick, you would have a great time. Just think, do you want a multicultural city with a French overtone or a very multicultural city with a more English overtone?

Montreal is a very sophisticated city, so if your boys are sophisticated, take them there. <BR> <BR>Toronto is much more cosmopolitan - more Americanized, really. <BR> <BR>To be honest, you and your wife - MONTREAL...lovely, romantic...you and the kids, TORONTO ...less likelihood that they will get bored.. <BR> <BR>The language issue is nice at one point, but at another it can be frustrating when you have four people to get organized. <BR> <BR>Enjoy whichever you choose!

I have to disagree with Natalie. I don't find Montreal more sophisticated then Toronto. Montreal & Toronto are both very multicultural cities and Montreal is very bilingual so there would not be any problems with communication in either cities. <BR> <BR>Montreal may be a more romantic city as it is an older city compared to Toronto. <BR>and has "Old Montreal" which might make you feel as if you were in Europe. <BR> <BR>But if you want to feel like you're far away from home, then Montreal is your first choice. <BR> <BR>I think your sons have a greater chance of being bored in Toronto.

As a person who is probably between your son's ages, and your's, I have to say, Montreal has been a total blast for me. Your sons will probably want to experience a little freedom--and I think you can feel relatively comfortable giving it to them in Montreal, especially if you want them to have fun, too. They will make their own fun in that case. And you and your wife can do your own thing--at least to some degree. I'll be going to Toronto for the first time this coming weekend. I'll let you know what I think when I return.