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08/09/2009 11:00:23 PM · #1 |
So we're going on vacation next week, heading up through the New England states, and I planned to spend a day in Montreal. And it just occurred to me that I really don't know anything about the city, other than the fact that it is in Canada, a foreign nation north of my home country :)
We're not big into museums or shopping or zoos... but I'm looking to see what kinds of attractions might be interesting to visit (again, keeping in mind we'll just be there a day). I'm also not entirely ruling out the idea of skipping Montreal and heading off to Quebec City if it's super compelling to go there instead.
Soooooo... any advice? Any scenic vistas or unusually interesting attractions we shouldn't miss? What about the Biodome... is that worth seeing?
Thanks in advance, eh! |
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08/09/2009 11:03:37 PM · #2 |
As a PS... I'd also be interested in any cool tips about the other places we're planning to visit, including:
Cape Cod/Plymouth
Kennebunkport
Boothbay Harbor
Acadia National Park
Burlington, VT |
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08/09/2009 11:07:12 PM · #3 |
Originally posted by alanfreed:
So we're going on vacation next week, heading up through the New England states, and I planned to spend a day in Montreal. And it just occurred to me that I really don't know anything about the city, other than the fact that it is in Canada, a foreign nation north of my home country :)
We're not big into museums or shopping or zoos... but I'm looking to see what kinds of attractions might be interesting to visit (again, keeping in mind we'll just be there a day). I'm also not entirely ruling out the idea of skipping Montreal and heading off to Quebec City if it's super compelling to go there instead.
Soooooo... any advice? Any scenic vistas or unusually interesting attractions we shouldn't miss? What about the Biodome... is that worth seeing?
Thanks in advance, eh! |
I've never been to Montreal, so I can't really comment (although there's ton to do there, I'm sure), but if you have the opportunity to go to Quebec City, I would. My wife and I went there for our honeymoon, and we are so glad we did!
I have plenty of pictures, if you'd like to see them. Although we spent a week, you could certainly see plenty in a day (Plains of Abraham, the Chateau Frontenac, plenty of old cafes and restaurants, re-enactments of famous events, etc., to name just a few). |
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08/09/2009 11:16:03 PM · #4 |
I was in Montreal last week.... went to Quebec City as well. Some places I would suggest:
The Old Port - visit the Basilique Notre Dame while you are there.
Ile Ste Helen - Great view of the city, an amusement park, and the bio dome. Didnt go in the bio dome myself, but it was a cool site.
Mont Royal - There is a chalet up there that gives great panoramic views of the entire city.
 (this shot looks a lot better printed as a 1'x6' canvas)
Jardins Botanique - Botanical gardens... great bonsai tree collection
Quebec City is great too. Old quebec is beautiful... i liked it better than old montreal.
Message edited by author 2009-08-09 23:21:09. |
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08/09/2009 11:26:28 PM · #5 |
Figured I would include some quebec city stuff too. Ive been to quebec city for a total of a half day... so I am practically an expert :D
Here are some of the places I liked in Quebec City.
Quebec City
D'youville building
Basilique Notre Dame de Quebec
Chateau Frontenac
The Citadel
Plains d'Abrams
I was amazed at how pristine the city was. The old parts looked new, not modern, but just impeccably clean.
A few minutes outside the city there is a great waterfall called Chute Montmorency. Great falls, you can walk over them on a pedestrian bridge, and they often have fireworks going on at night.
A few more minutes east of the city is a beautiful church called Sainte Anne de Beaupre.
Message edited by author 2009-08-09 23:26:50. |
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08/09/2009 11:33:10 PM · #6 |
Originally posted by VitaminB:
A few minutes outside the city there is a great waterfall called Chute Montmorency. Great falls, you can walk over them on a pedestrian bridge, and they often have fireworks going on at night.
A few more minutes east of the city is a beautiful church called Sainte Anne de Beaupre. |
They're a bit more than a few minutes, but yes, both places were absolutely beautiful. I second everything Brad said. |
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08/10/2009 09:43:18 AM · #7 |
| Thanks for the help... I doubt we'll have the time to make it to Quebec City... we'll have to see how willing the rest of the family is to drive out of the way at that point :) I'll have to look into a few of the Montreal places mentioned! |
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08/10/2009 09:44:29 AM · #8 |
| Go Bush hunting in Kennebunkport. |
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08/10/2009 10:09:07 AM · #9 |
I'd pick Quebec City over Montreal but that's just me.
For Montreal, there's the Biodome, Notre Dame, Mount Royal, just to name a few places of interest. |
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08/10/2009 11:05:08 AM · #10 |
In Acadia
- Bass Harbor Lighthouse is a must....trail for the best view is behind the restroom.
- Water crashing on the coast
- Sunset from Cadillac Mountain
- Morning shots across some of the glacial lakes
- In Somesville there is a white arched bridge across a small lake....a post card shot |
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08/10/2009 01:57:46 PM · #11 |
For Montreal, Chez Paree (pronounced Shay Paray)
Hee, hee!
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08/10/2009 05:52:31 PM · #12 |
Originally posted by alanfreed:
...
What about the Biodome... is that worth seeing?
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Biodome is awesome! Lots to see and do around the Old City as well. |
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08/10/2009 06:20:58 PM · #13 |
I'm sure  AmeedEl-Ghoul would know of some places to shoot, too. |
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08/10/2009 08:07:34 PM · #14 |
So my wife comes home from work tonight and asks, "Are we going to be anywhere near Quebec City?" I hadn't really talked about going there with her, other than doing some research here and elsewhere about it. Apparently her co-workers were talking about how nice it is there.
It looks like I'm going to rearrange our itinerary a little so that we can go there instead of Montreal (although we might swing through Montreal on the way back to Burlington, VT, from QC).
I'll have to look into those falls, and other suggestions for QC then! :) Thanks again to everyone who has replied so far! |
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08/11/2009 06:56:56 AM · #15 |
I was in Quebec City briefly this summer as I was driving west. I had not been there since the early 80s. I was pleasantly surprised. Lots to see and do, especially around the "Vieux Quebec".
Quebec City has a much more European feel than Montreal and the pace is a bit slower too. I have a friend who lives there and I am SO jealous.
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08/11/2009 07:07:39 AM · #16 |
Visit the Ile d'Orleans which is 15 minutes away from the city and close to Montmorency Falls (Parc de la Chute-Montmorency) and close to Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré cathedral, a modern wonder. It's a nice time to go now - but the better time, IMO, is in March when the snow is deep and the people very few (and the prices very cheap). It is a lovely city, one of the nicest in North America, and the people are nice. Speak French, at least try to.
Message edited by author 2009-08-11 08:24:21. |
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08/11/2009 08:48:47 AM · #17 |
Quebec City is beautiful. I've been there twice. Montreal is ok, have only been there once.
If you go to Montreal, check out the mini eiffel tower on the bridge.
If I were you, I'd head straight for Quebec City though, it's so much more beautiful, especially lower Quebec. Ride the La Fineculaire down there and stroll around photographing all the old buildings. It's a photographers dream. There is even a massive mural that looks amazing on the side of a building.
Come to think of it, old Montreal is pretty good for that too. Don't waste your time in the new city in Montreal, head straight for the old one. Much more picturesque.
Old upper Quebec is a walled city and absolutely beautiful.
Montgomery Falls are ok but they are nothing special. They are on the side of the road so you will see them easily enough.
Hope you make it there and show us your pictures!
Message edited by author 2009-08-11 08:51:09. |
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08/11/2009 08:53:28 AM · #18 |
Originally posted by cpanaioti:
I'd pick Quebec City over Montreal but that's just me... |
...ditto, no question!
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08/11/2009 09:24:20 AM · #19 |
Originally posted by in2truth:
Montgomery Falls are ok but they are nothing special. |
Absolute rubbish. |
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08/11/2009 09:44:04 AM · #20 |
Originally posted by pineapple:
Originally posted by in2truth:
Montgomery Falls are ok but they are nothing special. |
Absolute rubbish. |
Montgomery Falls
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08/11/2009 09:55:07 AM · #21 |
| Don't miss Rue de la Petit Champlain. Below the Chateau Frontenac. |
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08/11/2009 07:21:33 PM · #22 |
Originally posted by in2truth:
Montgomery Falls are ok but they are nothing special. They are on the side of the road so you will see them easily enough. |
I think it's Montmorency Falls, and perhaps the reason you didn't find them special is because, like your advice, you simply watched them through the car window as you drove past. They are absolutely beautiful, and you can do an excellent hike up and beside them if you have the energy to climb all those stairs (or, take the gondola). |
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08/11/2009 07:38:52 PM · #23 |
Originally posted by geoffb:
I think it's Montmorency Falls, and perhaps the reason you didn't find them special is because, like your advice, you simply watched them through the car window as you drove past. |
I've got it marked on the GPS, along with a number of other tips here... thanks to all! |
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