Montreal with a toddler?

[615bride]

I searched and found old Montreal threads but nothing along this line. We're living about 4 hours from Montreal for a bit longer (1.5 years?) and then we'll be moving on to wherever. I've always wanted to visit Montreal but we have a toddler. I'd love to go this summer (or late spring) but he will have just turned three. Would that be crazy? I know it will rule out some of the nicer restaurants and jazz clubs and that's okay. I guess I'm wondering if there would be anything there worth seeing to a family with a toddler. A good zoo? Great parks? etc. I'm thinking a long weekend....

[615bride]

shameless self-bumpage and then I'll let this thread die....

[gobluem82]

It's been about 5 years since we visited Montreal, and when we went, our kids were elementary-school age, but I think there are still a lot of things in Montreal that would interest you all. There is a wonderful botanical garden in Montreal as well as the Biodome. We missed out visiting the Montreal Science Centre as it was on strike while we were there:( , so I don't know how many of the exhibits would appeal to toddlers--you might want to check it out, though. If you enjoy biking, there is a bike trail along one of the canals with shops, farmers' markets, etc. Unfortunately, we planned this for our last day there, and of course it rained :mad:

Regarding restaurants, there is a section of Montreal where the streets are blocked off, and there are lots of open-air restaurants and wandering entertainers. I can't remember the specific area, but hopefully one of our Canadian BB'ers can help out with the details.

I really enjoyed our visit to Montreal and hope to go back someday sans children :) HTH!

[HejazSunKat]

We were just there last September and one place we visited was Montreal's amazing botanical garden. Inside of it they have an awesome...I forget what they called it...a bug museum (for lack of the proper word) that your child would probably really enjoy. It was included in the price of admission to the gardens and I wasn't even looking forward to seeing it but I LOVED it and was wishing we'd had our little grandchildren (5 and 3) with us. I thought it was all going to be dead bugs on pins (yawn) but it was LIVE bugs in terrariums going about their buggy business.

Near there is the old Olympic park (the botanical garden has a shuttle service over to it) and within that complex is (God, my brain is shot, I can't remember what they call that either) a building where they have 4 or 5 different habitats for live creatures from different types of climates (jungle, desert, arctic etc). I'm sure that would be a big hit too.

Two I can think of anyway that would be enjoyable for kids as well as adults. Also, not that your child would probably enjoy it but make sure you see their beautiful basilica in the old city. It's truly one of the most beautiful churches I have ever seen anywhere and beautifully maintained. Celine Dion had her wedding there if that's any kind of endorsement! :) The main altar is backlit in blue and the large chapel behind it has a huge, contemporary and very unusual bronze altar piece. Well worth a visit if that would be of interest to you.

[gaja]

We were just there last September and one place we visited was Montreal's amazing botanical garden. Inside of it they have an awesome...I forget what they called it...a bug museum (for lack of the proper word) that your child would probably really enjoy. It was included in the price of admission to the gardens and I wasn't even looking forward to seeing it but I LOVED it and was wishing we'd had our little grandchildren (5 and 3) with us. I thought it was all going to be dead bugs on pins (yawn) but it was LIVE bugs in terrariums going about their buggy business.

Near there is the old Olympic park (the botanical garden has a shuttle service over to it) and within that complex is (God, my brain is shot, I can't remember what they call that either) a building where they have 4 or 5 different habitats for live creatures from different types of climates (jungle, desert, arctic etc). I'm sure that would be a big hit too.



That would be the Insectarium (http://www2.ville.montreal.qc.ca/insectarium/en/index.php) and the Biodôme (http://www2.ville.montreal.qc.ca/biodome/site/site.php?langue=en) - definitely fun family activities :)

You might also enjoy spending time in the Old Port (http://www.vieux.montreal.qc.ca/eng/accueila.htm) which is beautiful in the summer.

Here are a couple of links for kid-friendly activities in Montreal:
http://www.montreal.com/tourism/kids/index.html
http://www.independenttraveler.com/resources/article.cfm?AID=603&category=41

[HejazSunKat]

Thank you gaja! Absolutely right on both counts.

[615bride]

Thank you, thank you for the info!

[Lisa W]

Last March my husband and I took our two boys, then 4 and 8, by train (15 hrs) to downtown Montreal. We stayed for three days and had a wonderful time! We did the Biodome and Insectarium --- loved them! We visited different restaurants and did a lot of walking/exploring through the underground part of Montreal. It was funny -- our 4yo acted like he lived there his whole life! Both boys ask at least once a month, "when are we going back to Montreal?" :)

[erinlovesmarc]

I found a book that might help you find things to do in Montreal!!!

http://www.bootsnall.com/articles/02-02/montreal-for-kids-montreal-quebec-canada.html

and here is a list of activities I found - I highly recommend the Biodome, as others have suggested!!!!

http://www.montrealfamilies.ca/fun.htm

Planetarium (http://www.planetarium.montreal.qc.ca)...Montreal Science Center...

You might also want to check for places just outside Montreal like the recreatheque in Laval (http://www.larecreatheque.com)...Cosmodome in Laval...there is also "Musee pour Enfants" also in Laval (http://www.museepourenfants.com/)...Jungle Adventure (http://www.jungleaventure.com/)..."Cache a l'eau" indoor kid amusement (http://www.cachealeau.com/)...

If you rent a car you can also get to "Pays des Merveilles" if you go in late spring/summer (http://www.paysmerveilles.com/cfm-e/photos.cfm)...it is in Ste-Adele...north of Montreal...there is also Granby Zoo which also has a mini water park for kids (http://www.zoodegranby.com/) and Park Safari (http://www.parcsafari.com/index.php)...these are all outside montreal though...

There is also the IMAX theatre in the Old Port of Montreal (http://www.montrealsciencecentre.com/csm/index.html) and La Ronde Amusement Park (http://www.laronde.com/larondefr/)

If you drive about an hour north of montreal there is a big water park (http://www.parcaquatique.com/fr/st_sauveur_waterpark/)

The park on Ile St-Helene (Island) is really nice and it's accessible by subway...