Experience Montreal On Pennies A Day
Montreal, the "Paris of North America," is one of the most luxurious, lush, sophisticated and, yes, pricey cities in this continent. But fret not, dear traveler. It also happens to be full of some of the most exciting and awe-inspiring free venues, parks, events and monuments.
For many Americans, just the flight over to Paris can be beyond reach financially. It is inherently less expensive to fly to Montreal or better yet, to drive. Only about 370 miles away from New York City, it makes for a gorgeous drive in the spring, summer or fall and gives you the added benefit of having your own transportation upon arrival to the historic city.
A wonderful juxtaposition of historic and modern, this French-speaking city (though most people knowEnglish) has something to entertain everyone. Be it a winter ball, a summer street festival or a hip nightlife scene, the calendar is always full in Montreal.
Between four walls...
No visit to Montreal is complete without attending a service at the Basilique Notre-Dame, where you will find a century-old organ with almost 7,000 pipes as well as the Jean-Baptiste bell. A fee is charged for those who do not attend a service.
Once you've seen that, head over to Basilique-Cathédrale Marie-Reine-du-Monde (1894), designed after St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. Smller than the real thing, it is still impressive at 249 feet.
The Hôtel de Ville, which is City Hall for Montreal, offers guided tours where visitors can view the Hall of Honor and its glass/bronze chandelier that weighs more than 2,000 pounds. It was from a balcony here that Charles de Gaulle, former French president, gave his infamous "Vive le Québec libre" speech in 1967.
Crazy about culture
Musée Stewart in the Fort on Sainte-Hélène has a very impressive arms collection from the 16th century at no cost to visit, and the fort itself once served as a military depot for the British in the 1820s. There are many exhibits in the museum that include physics instruments and 18th century decorative arts.
One of the last examples of rural architecture and a great place to teach kids about conservation is at the Smith House in Parc du Mont Royal. The free exhibit, "Monte Real, Monreale, Mont Royal, Montreal," gives a thorough history of the park and conservation.
Universities in any town are always a fantastic find for freebies. McGill University in Montreal is a treasure trove of free events, concerts, lectures, sports and more. The campus' Redpath Museum is free to the general public, and contains Egyptian artifacts, mummies and even shrunken heads. Children will love the T-rex skull, the extinct animal exhibit and the outdoor Geological Garden.
The Centre Canadien d'Architecture is free after 5:30 p.m. Thursday nights, and it's full of enthralling exhibits such as 19th century drawings showing how architects design and build structures from start to finish, as well as a very informative photography display.
On Thursday nights after 5:30, the Centre Canadien d'Architecture is free to the public. Exhibits include a photography display and drawings from the 19th century that show how architects design and execute a project from start to finish.
The Musée des beaux-arts de Montreal does not charge an entrance fee, and features European artwork dating back to the Middle Ages. It includes Islamic metalwork, Buddhist sculptures and African masks, and the Canadian art collection is quite large and represents a wide variety of art styles and eras.
If the weather is good, don't miss the chance to visit Parc du Mont-Royal, which was designed by the co-designer of New York's Central Park. And like Central Park, it too contains a very diverse landscape with amazing views of all parts of the city. Try to visit the Chalet du Mont Royal. A great lookout spot, it also makes for a fun afternoon for the children.
Dance under the stars
Various parks throughout Montreal offer free dance lessons on summer evenings, with no age or experience limits. On Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays, there are lessons in Parc Jean Drapeau led by instructors. You can also take on the tango at Tango Libre, a studio and dance school, which offers free intro lessons all over town. On Sunday evenings in July and August, St. Viateur Park offers tango, too.
There are a multitude of free things to do in Montreal, making this "Paris of North America" quite affordable to everyone. A little bit of research and planning is all it takes to open a whole world to the Montreal traveler. Bon Voyage!
If you are traveling to Canada to visit Montreal or anywhere else in Canada such as Toronto, you should go online to Kanetix.ca to compare visitors to Canada insurance. With Kanetix, you can save time and money by doing a quote comparison online to see which insurance provider can offer you the best quote. You can go to Kanetix for more information on travel insuarnce.
Montreal, the "Paris of North America," is one of the most luxurious, lush, sophisticated and, yes, pricey cities in this continent. But fret not, dear traveler. It also happens to be full of some of the most exciting and awe-inspiring free venues, parks, events and monuments.
For many Americans, just the flight over to Paris can be beyond reach financially. It is inherently less expensive to fly to Montreal or better yet, to drive. Only about 370 miles away from New York City, it makes for a gorgeous drive in the spring, summer or fall and gives you the added benefit of having your own transportation upon arrival to the historic city.
A wonderful juxtaposition of historic and modern, this French-speaking city (though most people knowEnglish) has something to entertain everyone. Be it a winter ball, a summer street festival or a hip nightlife scene, the calendar is always full in Montreal.
Between four walls...
No visit to Montreal is complete without attending a service at the Basilique Notre-Dame, where you will find a century-old organ with almost 7,000 pipes as well as the Jean-Baptiste bell. A fee is charged for those who do not attend a service.
Once you've seen that, head over to Basilique-Cathédrale Marie-Reine-du-Monde (1894), designed after St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. Smller than the real thing, it is still impressive at 249 feet.
The Hôtel de Ville, which is City Hall for Montreal, offers guided tours where visitors can view the Hall of Honor and its glass/bronze chandelier that weighs more than 2,000 pounds. It was from a balcony here that Charles de Gaulle, former French president, gave his infamous "Vive le Québec libre" speech in 1967.
Crazy about culture
Musée Stewart in the Fort on Sainte-Hélène has a very impressive arms collection from the 16th century at no cost to visit, and the fort itself once served as a military depot for the British in the 1820s. There are many exhibits in the museum that include physics instruments and 18th century decorative arts.
One of the last examples of rural architecture and a great place to teach kids about conservation is at the Smith House in Parc du Mont Royal. The free exhibit, "Monte Real, Monreale, Mont Royal, Montreal," gives a thorough history of the park and conservation.
Universities in any town are always a fantastic find for freebies. McGill University in Montreal is a treasure trove of free events, concerts, lectures, sports and more. The campus' Redpath Museum is free to the general public, and contains Egyptian artifacts, mummies and even shrunken heads. Children will love the T-rex skull, the extinct animal exhibit and the outdoor Geological Garden.
The Centre Canadien d'Architecture is free after 5:30 p.m. Thursday nights, and it's full of enthralling exhibits such as 19th century drawings showing how architects design and build structures from start to finish, as well as a very informative photography display.
On Thursday nights after 5:30, the Centre Canadien d'Architecture is free to the public. Exhibits include a photography display and drawings from the 19th century that show how architects design and execute a project from start to finish.
The Musée des beaux-arts de Montreal does not charge an entrance fee, and features European artwork dating back to the Middle Ages. It includes Islamic metalwork, Buddhist sculptures and African masks, and the Canadian art collection is quite large and represents a wide variety of art styles and eras.
If the weather is good, don't miss the chance to visit Parc du Mont-Royal, which was designed by the co-designer of New York's Central Park. And like Central Park, it too contains a very diverse landscape with amazing views of all parts of the city. Try to visit the Chalet du Mont Royal. A great lookout spot, it also makes for a fun afternoon for the children.
Dance under the stars
Various parks throughout Montreal offer free dance lessons on summer evenings, with no age or experience limits. On Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays, there are lessons in Parc Jean Drapeau led by instructors. You can also take on the tango at Tango Libre, a studio and dance school, which offers free intro lessons all over town. On Sunday evenings in July and August, St. Viateur Park offers tango, too.
There are a multitude of free things to do in Montreal, making this "Paris of North America" quite affordable to everyone. A little bit of research and planning is all it takes to open a whole world to the Montreal traveler. Bon Voyage!
If you are traveling to Canada to visit Montreal or anywhere else in Canada such as Toronto, you should go online to Kanetix.ca to compare visitors to Canada insurance. With Kanetix, you can save time and money by doing a quote comparison online to see which insurance provider can offer you the best quote. You can go to Kanetix for more information on travel insuarnce.
