Bonjour! We went to Canada.
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Dustin has been longing to go to a Formula 1 race since we started dating. And last year over St. Patrick’s Day, as he and his friends contiiiiinued to talk about, I was like, “Sure, why not?! Let’s go.”
So this past June, we packed our bags and headed for a long weekend in Montreal, Canada so the boys could watch fast cars. Christine and I planned to explore Quebec’s largest city, so it wasn’t half bad for us either!
Did you know Montreal is an island?? Because we did not until about 2 hours before we boarded our plane. Another surprise was just how French it was. It felt like we were in real Europe in certain areas. Locals described Montreal as 50/50 and it definitely was. Everyone could speak English, if not multiple languages. Another noticeable difference from my usual day-to-day: it’s definitely a walking culture. That again reminded me of my trip to Europe. I noticed even the little daycares took the kids on walks- no matter which daycare, they all wore matching vests, baseball hats, and were connected by a long rope. haha So cute!
For whatever reason some of the best places we hit, I did not get photos. But I’m including them in the list because they definitely deserve a visit if you go to Montreal! Links in titles. 😊
FYI: the Montreal Tourism website is chock full of short and sweet, easy to digest information. Highly suggest giving that a look before you visit.
La Banquise
This was our first stop- for poutine, because when in Rome…- and it did not disappoint. Vibrant restaurant with big menu. I only ordered poutine once on the trip, which was plenty enough for me, and I’m glad it was from here.
Montreal Botanical Garden
This botanical garden is huge and could have easily been a full day excursion. Seriously it’s like… almost 200 acres. Christine and I did not plan for that and left after a few hours mostly due to hunger. Once you’re in the gardens, you’re in deep and the only place to eat is in the main building. So bring snacks! Unfortunately the rose garden was not yet in bloom and we missed all the interior greenhouses. So that was a bummer. However, the flowers and trees and architecture we did see were beautiful!
Old Montreal
I loved seeing the architecture of Old Montreal. That felt most European to me. Ornate architecture and cobblestone roads. This neighborhood also fully embraced Formula 1. I appreciated the touches of race decor that popped up. And from the old port, Christine and I could hear the cars racing from the next island over.
Olive et Gourmando
This place was tiny and hopping and for good reason! Their google description says, “Foodie destination for artisanal breads & sweets, with panini & salads, in a charming rustic space.” And it is quite literally that. The boys grabbed paninis on their way to the track while Christine and I split a croissant and their housemade sweet ricotta with honey, orange zest, and salt on toast and it was divine.
Notre-Dame Basilica
Prime example of “the photos don’t do it justice”. The amount of detail in this city’s “crown jewel” was amazing. Definitely a must to tour and learn the history!
La Petit Dep
C-store and bakery dripping in colorful, leafy, trendy goodness.
Old Port of Montreal
We stumbled upon the Old Port during a huge festival. Decided to beat the heat and go for a covered boat tour. Did I mention it was abnormally hot that weekend?
St-Viateur Bagel Shop
Staple. Had to stop in for a fresh one.
MoUnt Royal
The city’s namesake. It was the toastiest climb to the top of this small mountain and we definitely got our steps (and stairs) in that day.
St Catherine Street + THE VILLAGE
Christine and I walked around St Catherine Street East, which runs through The Village, so we could see the “Rainbow Balls” installation. We stumbled on an outdoor gallery and loved the abundance of colors in this LGBTQ neighborhood.
MILD END + LE PLATEAU MONT-ROYAL
Like Old Montreal, this area (within the Le Plateau neighborhood) gets a separate call out. It was our last stop just Dustin and I before we headed to the airport. It was such a short period of time, but I think I could have explored this artsy district for a while.
Pastel Rita
If I could work in a coffee shop all day, it would be Pastel Rita. This trendy little spot combined my love for color and design with architecture and I just wanted to snap photos incessantly. Plus their avocado toast looks like art… I mean…! So happy Dustin and I stopped in our final hours.
Other snapshots from our trip. Mostly architecture- I’m a sucker for signage and exterior facades!
